Children's home run by Leicestershire County Council in Blaby

Requires improvement

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.2

The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 The home has gone through a period of instability since the last inspection in March 2016. The combination of a number of short-notice and, in some cases, inappropriate admissions and the staffing shortages has had an impact on the quality of care provided and the progress made by young people. This has led to a judgement of requires improvement.  The registered provider has made poor decisions about the admission of some young people. Admissions since April 2016 have not always been in the best interests of all young people and have had a negative impact on the young people already living at the home. This has given rise to a significant increase in the level of incidents of challenging and unsafe behaviours.  Staff have been unable to manage the challenging behaviours of most young people, resulting in extensive damage to the property and a high level of involvement by the police.  Some young people’s placement plans and risk assessments do not always

p.3

The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

contain details of all needs and risks. This has the potential to affect the delivery of safe care.  The responsible individual has not ensured that return interviews for young people who go missing are always completed in line with procedures.  The registered provider has not ensured that all young people have access to education. This means that their ability to reach their academic potential is seriously affected, which is likely to have an impact on their future life opportunities.  The premises are in a poor state of repair, due to damage caused by young people, which means that the environment is not pleasant. However, the registered manager has produced a major refurbishment plan and work has already started to make the necessary improvements.  The registered provider does not routinely obtain documentary evidence that the agency staff who are used have been subject to all the relevant recruitment checks.

p.3

The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 There has been a significant delay in the monthly reports by the independent visitor being sent to Ofsted. This affects the ability of the regulator to monitor practice at the home.  Six requirements have been made regarding admission practices, young people’s care records, young people’s education and training, return interviews, staffing and the independent visitor reports. One recommendation has been made relating to the recruitment of agency staff.

p.3

The children’s home strengths

 Staff are committed to multi-agency working in order to plan and review young people’s care and safety. Feedback from professionals confirms that staff work closely with them to try to promote young people’s well-being.

p.4

The children’s home strengths

 Staff provide very good practical and emotional support to young people and their families to ensure that they can maintain contact, where appropriate, and in some instances re-establish relationships.  Although there are a number of shortfalls identified and requirements made, the registered persons had already identified most of the issues raised and produced an action plan prior to this inspection to make the necessary improvements to the home and the delivery of care.

p.4

Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/11/2015 Full Outstanding 26/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/07/2014 Full Good

p.5

What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered persons meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered persons must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

5. Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that staff— (b) seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the responsible individual must ensure that children have access to education, employment and training based on their individual needs, and ensure that children receive return interviews after a period of going missing from the home. 07/11/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, to ensure that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational progress and are helped to do so, the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(a)(iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; (iv) help each child understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; (viii) help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. 07/11/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure— (2)(a) that staff— 07/11/2016 (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to ensuring that young people’s placement plans and risk assessments give clear details of all identified needs and risks, and the actions to take to meet their needs and minimise identified risks.

p.7

Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must— (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 07/11/2016

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure that children— (1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to ensuring that staff can meet the child’s needs, and that admission practices take into account the needs of the existing group of children and the child being referred, to ensure that they are compatible. 07/11/2016

p.7

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI in a timely manner. (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 07/11/2016

p.7

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) This is with specific reference to obtaining evidence that the agency staff who are used have been subject to the relevant recruitment checks.

p.7

Requires improvement

A judgement of requires improvement has been given, due to the number of shortfalls identified which have had a negative impact on young people’s safety, progress and care.

p.8

Requires improvement

Young people’s care and safety have been affected by some poor decisions made by the registered provider about admissions to the home. Since the last inspection in March 2016, all admissions have been at short notice and have not always taken into account the compatibility of all young people’s needs. On occasions, the registered provider has overridden the views of the registered manager regarding the admission of some young people. This has led to an unstable environment for all young people.

p.8

Requires improvement

Young people’s progress is variable. One young person was making good progress, but this has been affected by the admission of new young people in the last five months. The combination of young people’s needs and risk-taking behaviours have had an impact on staff’s ability to work effectively with all young people. One young person’s progress is slow but evident, taking into account the short length of time that they have lived at the home. However, for another young person, progress is not evident due to their persistent risk-taking behaviours and reluctance to engage with staff and other agencies.

p.8

Requires improvement

All young people have placement plans and risk assessments which are reviewed regularly. However, the quality of these vary. Some are very detailed, whereas others lack important details about the needs and risks of the young person, and how to meet their needs and manage the risks. This has the potential to affect the delivery of consistent care.

p.8

Requires improvement

Not all young people of school age are in education, and there is no structured plan of educational activities. This does not help them to realise the importance and value of education, and does not provide them with the opportunity to reach their academic potential and/or catch up on their studies. One young person has recently started college and their attendance so far is good.

p.8

Requires improvement

Staff work very closely with a range of professionals to try to ensure that they can meet young people’s emotional and physical health needs. A worker from the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) team visits the home regularly to provide advice and support to staff, and to work with individual young people. Some young people’s health improves because they access routine health appointments and specialist services. However, some young people have refused to engage with specialist health services up to now, which means that their physical and emotional health does not improve. Some young people have caused significant damage to the home in the past five months. This means that they are living in an environment which is poorly decorated and unwelcoming. The registered persons have produced a major refurbishment programme, and some repairs were taking place during this inspection.

p.8

Requires improvement

Staff provide very good emotional and practical support to young people to maintain and, in some instances re-establish, relationships with their families, where appropriate. Staff also give good support to young people to build and maintain relationships with their friends. Young people are encouraged to become as independent as possible in preparation for their next stages of life. The home has an independence programme which includes young people having a budget to live on. One young person has just started working on this independence programme. Staff work hard to obtain young people’s views through various methods. Most young people have been reluctant to engage in the weekly house meetings in recent months. However, there is evidence to support that staff do listen to young people. For example, key-work sessions take place, staff represent young people’s views at their review meetings, when they have chosen not to attend, and

p.9

Requires improvement

complaints are dealt with appropriately. Although progress for most young people is not yet good, there is much evidence of regular and strong multi-agency working, including meetings to try to improve outcomes for young people. Staff are proactive in requesting meetings and advice from a range of professionals, when necessary. This includes CAMHS workers, the police, and staff from the child sexual exploitation teams and the youth offending service. Comments received from external professionals emphasise that staff are genuinely committed to trying to improve young people’ lives.

p.9

Requires improvement

Staff have struggled to manage young people’s behaviours in recent months, mainly due to the composition of the group and the impact that these negative behaviours have had on one other. This has resulted in high levels of aggressive and destructive behaviours, including assaults on staff and significant damage to the property. There have been increased levels of police involvement and high levels of incidents of some young people going missing. These outcomes are despite staff working very closely with a range of professionals, including the police, to identify different strategies to enable young people to change their risk- taking behaviours. Staff follow the missing person’s procedures. The number of incidents of going missing have reduced recently for one young person, but another young person continues to go missing regularly, which places them at risk of harm. The responsible individual has not ensured that return interviews have taken place.

p.9

Requires improvement

There is evidence to support that the home’s management team is challenging these shortfalls.

p.10

Requires improvement

There have been a number of incidents when staff have had to use physical restraint, which is unusual practice in the home. However, the restraints have been appropriate and were used as a last resort. Managers monitor the records of restraint and speak with staff after an incident to clarify any issues and reflect on practice.

p.10

Requires improvement

Recruitment practices for permanent staff are robust. It is clear that finding the right person is more important than filling a vacant post. This helps to protect young people from the risk of harm and abuse. However, the registered persons have not ensured that agency staff have had all the required recruitment checks. This means that managers cannot be assured that all staff are suitable to work with vulnerable young people. The registered manager started to address these shortfalls during this inspection.

p.10

Requires improvement

Staff receive a range of safeguarding training which helps them to understand their responsibilities in reporting any safeguarding concerns. They notify relevant professionals, including Ofsted, as required and are proactive in instigating risk- management meetings.

p.10

Requires improvement

Young people know how to complain and are able to raise any concerns that they may have with staff. Complaints from young people are infrequent, as most concerns are dealt with informally. Records of complaints demonstrate that the registered manager takes complaints seriously and deals with them promptly. She always provides feedback to the complainant about the actions taken and the outcome. This helps young people to feel confident that staff listen to them and this helps them to feel safe.

p.10

Requires Improvement

The registered manager has extensive experience of working with children and young people in residential settings. She is a qualified social worker and has relevant management qualifications. She is highly motivated to improve the lives of young people, and this is evident in her leadership and management style. She is supportive of staff, leads by example and is ‘hands on’ when needed. A judgement of requires improvement has been given, because this inspection identified a number of management shortfalls that have had an impact on, or have the potential to impact on, young people’s care and safety. Staff have not been able to support young people to make noticeable progress in most areas of their lives. Poor matching of young people’s needs, together with staff shortages, has had an impact on what historically has been an outstanding service. Three staff have left since the last inspection and two of these posts have recently been filled. Staff

p.10

Requires Improvement

sickness levels have been high in recent months. Although actual staffing levels have not been affected, the use of relief staff and some agency staff has not allowed for consistency of care. Young people have been cared for by some staff whom they are not familiar with.

p.11

Requires Improvement

An independent visitor undertakes monthly visits as required and produces a report. However, there have been significant delays in the reports being sent to Ofsted. This does not enable the regulator to monitor the quality of care in a timely manner.

p.11

Requires Improvement

Management monitoring systems are generally robust. For example, monthly case work supervision takes place which includes an audit of young people’s files. This helps managers to ensure that young people’s needs are being met, and to identify any shortfalls and barriers to young people making progress. The registered manager uses this information to instigate additional multidisciplinary meetings, when necessary. However, management monitoring systems have recently failed to identify a number of shortfalls which, ordinarily, would have been identified, for example the poor quality of a young person’s recently updated placement plan and risk assessment. This can be attributed to staff shortages and supporting staff to manage the extreme behaviours of young people during this difficult and unstable period.

p.11

Requires Improvement

The registered persons have demonstrated learning from the current situation at the home and the impact of inappropriate admissions on young people and on the staff team. The responsible individual contacted Ofsted prior to this inspection to discuss some of the issues, including the increased notifications to Ofsted, and the actions that they were taking to address them. The registered persons produced a detailed improvement plan prior to this inspection and some work has already started to make the necessary changes. In addition to the monthly visits to the home by the independent visitor, senior managers from the local authority are visiting the home each month to monitor progress against the actions in the improvement plan.

p.11

Requires Improvement

Staff feel well supported by the management team. They receive regular supervision which they find useful. The staff team presents as committed and caring, and demonstrates a desire to provide good-quality care. Some staff spoke to the inspector about their frustrations and the challenges in recent months which have affected staff morale. However, the transition of one young person to another placement has meant that the challenging behaviours of some young people have started to reduce. Additionally, the recent involvement and support of senior managers has improved staff morale, as they know that they will have time to make the necessary improvements and strive to provide outstanding care once again.

p.11

Requires Improvement

Staff receive a range of training to enable them to meet young people’s needs. Eight staff members have a level 3 qualification in working with children and young people and three staff are currently studying for the qualification. New staff will be enrolled once they have completed their probationary period.

p.12

Requires Improvement

There is a detailed statement of purpose which provides clear information to parents, carers and key stakeholders about the services provided. It is reviewed and updated when required, and copies are sent to Ofsted.

p.12

Requires Improvement

Although progress for most young people is not yet good, comments received from professionals confirm that staff are caring and committed to improving young people’s lives. Professionals commented that staff work closely with them and keep them updated on young people’s well-being. The registered manager and her team are proactive in instigating meetings where there are specific and/or new concerns about young people.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’. An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

p.13

What the inspection judgements mean

are in place, however, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.13

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s

p.14

Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance, ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.14

Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

p.15

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.15

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.15

Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.15