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inspection

One compliance notice was issued under Regulation 13 following the last full inspection. A monitoring visit was undertaken on 2 September that identified that sufficient action had been taken by the provider to comply with the notice.

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Inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and their care and experiences are poor and they are not making progress.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 The home is neither effectively led nor well managed. This is the second full inspection this year that has resulted in a judgement of inadequate. Insufficient action has been taken to ensure that the ‘Children’s Home Regulations and quality standards (2015)’ are met.  Leaders and managers do not effectively monitor the quality of care or consult young people well. As a result, leaders and managers are unable to understand the impact that the care provided by the staff team is having on young people.  Care plans do not align with the placing authority’s aims and objectives for the placement. These plans and young people’s individual targets fail to reflect their current care needs and behaviour. As a result, the achievement of positive outcomes for young people is limited.  Young people’s basic care needs are not met. They do not receive sufficient nurturing care from the staff team.  The home is not clean and it is poorly maintained. Staff have failed to

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

support young people to look after their personal space and belongings. Young people are not encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. Repairs to the property are not dealt with quickly enough.  The registered manager and staff team have a poor understanding of, and approach towards, meeting the mental and physical healthcare needs of the young people. As a result, health needs are not prioritised.  Risk-taking behaviour by young people is not fully understood by the staff team. As a result, risk assessments are not used effectively to help staff to manage or reduce the risks.

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The children's home strengths

 The frequency of young people going missing from the home has greatly reduced since the previous full inspection.  Young people are able to identify staff with whom they have a positive relationship.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard*

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality of care standard, the registered person must ensure that children receive care from staff who: (1)(a) understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (b) ensure that staff— (i) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; (ii) protect and promote each child’s welfare; (vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; (c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— (i) meet the needs of each child (ii) enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home is kept clean and well maintained, and that staff help young people to look after their personal areas and belongings. 25/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

7: The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet this standard, the registered person must ensure that children receive care from staff who: (1)(b) engage with them; and (c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) ensure that staff— (i) ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s 25/11/2016 best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare; (ii) help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; (iii) help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; (iv) regularly consult children and seek their feedback about the quality of the home’s care.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard, the registered person must ensure that: (1)(a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff help each child to— (ii) understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well- being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; (c) that each child has access to such medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. 25/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a) that staff— (i) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; (v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. 25/11/2016

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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— (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 25/11/2016 the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (b) 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; (d) the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 13: The leadership and management standard*

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet this standard, the registered person must enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that: (1)(a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and (h) uses monitoring and review systems to make continuous

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Requirement Due date

improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 25/11/2016

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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. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (b) that arrangements are in place to— (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and; (c) that each child’s relevant plans are followed. 25/11/2016 21: Privacy and access In order to meet this regulation, the registered person must ensure that: (b) children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and (c) any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— (i) is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; (ii) is necessary and proportionate; (iii) is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and (iv) allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced

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Requirement Due date

against the need to protect them and keep them safe. 25/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

39: Complaints and representations standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet this standard: (3) The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of any investigation. 25/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet this standard, the registered person must ensure that: (4) The independent person must produce a report about a visit which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— (a) children are effectively safeguard; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the independent visitor consults the young people regularly in relation to the quality of care that they receive. 25/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate five young people who may have emotional/and or behavioural difficulties. The service is operated by a charitable organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/09/2016 Monitoring Requires improvement 20/07/2016 Full Inadequate 18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/10/2015 Full Good

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Inadequate

The care provided to young people is poor. Their bedrooms are not personalised or well maintained. Staff have failed to support young people to keep their personal areas and belongings clean and tidy. In particular, during the inspection the bathrooms were dirty, toilets were left unclean and young people’s soiled clothes were not laundered or stored appropriately. Damaged areas of the home are not repaired swiftly enough. One bedroom was covered in graffiti and numerous holes were seen in the walls. These weaknesses result in young people living in poor conditions and, as a consequence, prevent them from taking a pride in their home.

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Inadequate

The communal bathroom is routinely locked. As a result, young people have to ask staff before they can have a bath. During this inspection, the bathroom was dirty and used by staff as a storage area. This creates a potential health and safety hazard in the home. Young people do not have access to clean and hygienic bathing facilities. The computer/games room is also routinely locked in the evenings. This was a weakness also evident at the last full inspection. Leaders and managers have not taken action to review this arrangement to ensure that young people are not unnecessarily restricted from using all areas of their home.

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Inadequate

Instruction signs, not typically seen in a family-style home, remain visible at this home. This was a shortfall identified at the last full inspection and, although some action has been taken to reduce the signage in the home, what remains detracts from the creation of a warm and homely environment.

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Inadequate

The views, wishes and feelings of young people are not prioritised. Young people do not take part in house meetings and staff have failed to explore alternative ways to engage and consult them. When young people have made suggestions to improve the quality of provision and/or their personal experiences, insufficient action is taken by senior leaders and managers. In addition, on two occasions the registered manager has failed to respond effectively to complaints made by a young person.

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Inadequate

The registered manager has not helped the independent visitor to develop good relationships with the young people and obtain their feedback on the quality of care provided by the staff team. At times, the independent visitor comes to the home while the young people are at school. The registered manager has not challenged this approach to ensure that the visits take place when the young people are at the home and available to contribute to the visit. The current young people are fully engaged in education. However, support provided by leaders, managers and the staff team to help them to progress educationally is limited. Typically, young people manage their own out-of-school learning. This is not actively overseen by staff and therefore young people do not receive sufficient encouragement to learn. The registered manager confirmed that she is not aware of one young person’s educational achievements, progress or

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Inadequate

targets. As a result, she is unable to inspire staff to help young people to reach their full potential.

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Inadequate

Supporting young people to become more independent is not addressed on an individual and age-appropriate basis. This has resulted in one particular young person not being given sufficient care and attention.

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Inadequate

Care planning and risk management arrangements are poor. Plans produced by the staff conflict with the aims set out by the placing authority. Risk assessments do not always include detailed strategies to manage or reduce risks. As a result, staff are not always effective in helping young people to stay safe. Care planning targets are not focused on promoting young people’s personal development. Out-of-date plans remain on file, causing confusion over which plan the staff team should follow. As a result, the progress that young people make is restricted.

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Inadequate

Young people’s health needs are not well met. Medical intervention is not sought quickly enough when it is needed. On one particular occasion, staff did not obtain medical help for an hour after a serious incident had occurred in which a young person was injured. As a result of the delay, the young person became increasingly unwell and was placed at risk of significant harm by this lack of action.

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Inadequate

Staff are unable to monitor effectively a young person’s specific health and dietary needs, as they do not keep good-quality records confirming what the young person eats and drinks. As a result, staff are not able to determine if the young person is receiving the right diet and support to maintain her health.

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Inadequate

Young people’s mental healthcare needs are not routinely included in healthcare plans. As a result, these needs are not well monitored or managed effectively by the staff. Staff know that young people engage in substance misuse. However, they have failed to explore how they obtain these substances. Staff allow one young person to stay away from the home for prolonged periods of time. These arrangements have not been reviewed. As a result, high-risk behaviours continue, leaving young people at risk of harm.

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Inadequate

Positive behaviour by the young people is not consistently promoted by the staff team. Some young people frequently swear, and this behaviour often goes unchallenged by the staff. As a result, young people are not learning to speak to each other or adults with respect. As a consequence, young people are developing poor social skills.

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Inadequate

Some of the strategies that staff use to help young people to develop positive behaviour are flawed. Sanctions do not lead to improvements in the young people’s behaviour or help them to learn from an incident.

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Inadequate

The registered manager’s monitoring of sanctions is unreliable. This results in limited independent oversight of the sanctions that the staff impose.

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Inadequate

This is the second full inspection in 2016 that has resulted in an overall judgement of inadequate. At the last full inspection in July 2016, 11 regulatory breaches and a compliance notice were issued under the leadership and management quality standard. A monitoring visit took place on 2 September 2016, when it was assessed that sufficient action had been taken by the registered persons to comply with the notice. However, improvements have not been sustained, and leaders and managers have failed to ensure that the home is effectively led and managed. The Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards (2015), are not met, and at this inspection a further 10 regulatory breaches were identified. As a result, two compliance notices have been issued to the provider.

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Inadequate

The registered manager’s oversight and monitoring of the quality of care are poor. The recording systems used in the home are cumbersome, disordered and poorly managed. The registered manager failed to demonstrate that she has a good knowledge and understanding of the young people’s needs. She is not fully aware of their daily routines, daily activities, overall health needs or educational needs. This lack of insight results in the staff team also being unclear about the needs of the young people and, as a result, a poor standard of care being provided.

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Inadequate

Record keeping is inadequate. Risk assessments, care plans, behaviour interventions and complaint records are not well maintained, and therefore are not used effectively. This places young people at risk and limits their potential progress.

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Inadequate

The registered manager is not working collaboratively with other agencies and professionals to improve the quality of care provided at the home. Following the last full inspection, the registered manager was asked to keep Ofsted regularly updated about significant incidents and how the staff were safeguarding a specific young person. The registered manager failed to establish an effective system to ensure that this information was reliably provided, as required.

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Inadequate

Leaders and managers have not recognised that the independent visitor is failing to consult the young people effectively. As a result, no action has been taken to improve the situation. In addition, feedback from external agencies is not actively sought. Therefore, the communication of young people’s needs is not effective and the consistency of the care provided to them is poor.

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Inadequate

Systems are in place to provide staff with the training required for their role. Since the last full inspection, staff have received additional safeguarding training, including supporting young people at risk of sexual exploitation. Eleven staff have obtained a professional childcare qualification. Four staff are undertaking the qualification and one will start on completion of their probation period.

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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

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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.

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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 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

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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 .

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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, work- based 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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