Children's home run by Cruckton Hall Limited in North Kesteven

Inspector Dave Carrigan

This monitoring visit . This monitoring visit was conducted after Ofsted received concerns relating to the safety and welfare of young people.

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Inspector Dave Carrigan

This visit found that the managers do not always take decisive action to ensure that young people’s welfare is appropriately safeguarded. For example, staff did not use their professional curiosity early enough to question a young person’s sudden interest in gaining access to materials that could be explosive. Staff have failed to question a young person in possession of potentially toxic substances. This delay has resulted in the young person and others being placed at risk.

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Inspector Dave Carrigan

Staff awareness of the risks for young people using the internet is mixed. Overall, there are weaknesses in staff members’ awareness of the potential risks, so staff are not able to provide sufficient support to young people to help them to learn how to protect themselves when using the internet. For example, when left unsupervised, young people have bought potentially toxic substances on the internet. This leaves young people at the risk of harm, as adults who care for them fail to follow the home’s protection of children policy, which includes e- safety.

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Inspector Dave Carrigan

More positively, the manager ensures that all staff complete a range of mandatory training, including refresher courses and training in particular areas, such as attachment and radicalisation. This helps to ensure that staff have the skills and competencies necessary to meet the diverse needs of the young people they look after. There are systems in place to ensure that important training is regularly updated or refreshed.

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Inspector Dave Carrigan

Comprehensive risk management plans are in place for each young person. These help to safeguard young people by identifying their risks and vulnerabilities and setting out strategies to minimise risks. These plans are understood and implemented by staff, and are reviewed and updated by leaders and managers following any significant events.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home offers an integrated residential education and care package to boys with learning disabilities, specifically autistic spectrum disorders. Young people are generally in the higher performing range, with associated emotional and behavioural difficulties. The school can accommodate up to 92 residential students, mainly in small house groups located on the main campus, or at one of two off-campus facilities.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets 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 person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a) that staff: (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. 21/10/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person makes sure that all staff are familiar with the policy on the protection of children (including e-safety) and act in accordance with it, in particular how to use it to report a concern. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.22)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. out in 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

to 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, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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,

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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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

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