Children's home SC434100

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, the home was 'not judged' . The home remains subject to a restriction of accommodation notice and remains unoccupied. The last young person moved on from the home on 31 August 2016. Eleven requirements and one recommendation resulted from the full inspection. Managers have failed to ensure compliance with two requirements and one recommendation and have complied with five requirements. The lack of available updated policies has rendered it not possible to assess compliance with the remaining four requirements. Since the last monitoring visit on 15 August 2016, the interim manager and deputy manager have left the home and have been replaced by a new interim manager who is presently in the home on a part-time basis. The interim manager and the staff team are committed to the home, pending a final decision on the long-term

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

future. The staff team remains contracted to the home on a ‘zero-hours’ basis. No further staff recruitment has occurred. Ofsted did not receive independent monitoring reports in August or September 2016. The independent visitor has resigned her position, and a search for a replacement is in process. Monitoring reports and a revised statement of purpose remain outstanding. This is despite managers agreeing to undertake an internal monitoring report by April 2016 and a requirement issued at the last full inspection. This has limited the preparation for this inspection and the regulator’s ability to evaluate progress and compliance with registration. The home’s director and interim manager indicate that lessons have been learnt from the last inspection. However, a workforce development plan and updated policies and procedures were unavailable at this inspection, thus preventing full analysis of progress. In addition, there is no evidence of input from the therapist or

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

any therapeutic training having been provided for staff. A lack of effective behavioural management and safeguarding remains evident throughout the records. Documents indicate the young person engaging infrequently. Recordings indicate a number of the young person’s friends entering the home without there being any information about their identity. Verbal abuse of staff remained commonplace. Case file recordings remain of concern. Neither monthly progress reports, updated risk assessment nor a discharge summary were completed in July or August 2016. This seriously limits any assessment of the young person’s needs before she moved to her next placement. More positively, the young person transitioned to her new placement successfully, and two key-work sessions and limited engagement with her tutor and drug treatment services are recorded. Of particular concern is an incident recorded on 1 August 2016. The young person

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

assaulted a staff member who then required emergency medical assistance. The case note records that the young person left the home in a heightened state of anxiety, yet no indication of her whereabouts was known for four hours. No records of any attempt to locate the young person, report her missing or to debrief her of the incident are recorded. Ofsted was notified of this serious incident. Case recordings indicate limited engagement with education provision. On a number of occasions, the young person is said to have left the home ‘to go for [a] walk’ with friends while her allocated tutor awaited her. The home’s director indicates that cannabis use reduced during this period. However, this cannot be verified, given the young person’s extended time away from the home without staff supervision. Recordings indicate that the young person was ‘smoking’. However, no further information is added. This presents limited

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

evidence of progress. Limited progress has been made to improve the service. Staff have undertaken training to level 3 in the handling of medicines and first aid. Fuller recordings of compliance in relation to medicines are also in evidence. The recording of one incident of physical restraint shows improved detail.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children's home is registered to provide residential placements for up to three children and young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

08/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure (2)(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. 19/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must ensure that (2)(c) staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 19/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

31: Staffing of children's homes The registered provider must ensure that (2)(a) at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. 19/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers The registered person may only (2)(a) employ an individual to work at the children's home: if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3)(d) One of those requirements is that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. In particular, this applies to exploring any gaps in employment history and ensuring that two written references are obtained. 19/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

45: Review of quality of care 19/08/2016 (1) The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. (3) After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’). (4) The registered person must (a) supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

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Requirement Due date

16: Statement of purpose (1) The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers matters listed in schedule 1. In particular, this relates to quoting appropriate regulations and standards, information about the qualifications and experience of staff. 19/08/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The registered person should ensure that children are provided with nutritious meals suitable for each child's needs. In particular, this should include a balanced diet. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.8)  The registered person should have a workforce plan, which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection, we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 that 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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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,

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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

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

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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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