Children's home in Chorley

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

p.2

This children’s home provision is inadequate because:

 Poor day-to-day care arrangements fail to ensure a young person’s safety and well-being, as a crisis care management plan is not followed.  Safeguarding procedures were not followed when an allegation was made. This failed to ensure the safety, health and well-being of a young person.  Review and monitoring systems are not effective in reducing the high number of restraints of young people in the period between inspections.  Procedures for the safe administration of medication are not always followed to ensure the safety and well-being of young people.  Staff recruitment is not sufficiently robust. Current practice does not ensure that only the safest and most suitable people are employed to work with young people.  Following challenge by inspectors, two records were altered to give a false representation of actions taken by staff.  Ineffective monitoring arrangements by the management team fail to identify

p.3

This children’s home provision is inadequate because:

weaknesses and gaps in staff practice. This lack of oversight undermines young people’s safety and well-being.  Poor continuity of staffing makes it difficult for young people to develop positive relationships with all staff. However, some positive interactions were observed during the inspection.  Regular and good-quality supervision, as required by the home’s policy, has not been provided for all staff. T he children’s home’s strengths

p.3

This children’s home provision is inadequate because:

 Young people attend school regularly and make good progress.  A speech and language therapist is on site to guide staff and inform care practice.  Daily living skills are captured to show the progress that young people are making.  Young people take part in activities, and their views are listened to and encouraged. They are learning skills such as using public transport, managing money and self-care.  Young people use independent advocacy services effectively to voice their opinions, likes and dislikes.

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that 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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

12: In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that: 2(a)(vi) staff take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. 2(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. In particular, crisis management plans must be followed. 30/11/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

13: In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that: (1)(b) promotes children’s welfare. In particular, records must not be altered. (2) The registered person must (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; and (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 30/11/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children: (1) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which: (1)(b) sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse and neglect. In particular, this refers to the decision of whether to suspend staff. 30/11/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers: (3)(d) The registered person must ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual 30/11/2016 in respect of matters in Schedule 2.

p.5

Requirement Due date

23: Medicines: 2(c) The registered person must ensure that a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. 30/11/2016

p.6

Recommendations

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

p.6

Recommendations

 Ensure that chemical restraint for use as needed, or pro re nata (PRN), is delivered in accordance with acknowledged, evidence-based best practice, by staff who have the relevant qualifications, skills and experience to administer this. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.47)  Ensure that supervision allows staff to reflect on their practice and the needs of children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  Ensure that, where restriction of contact is necessary in the interests of a child, the decision is agreed with the placing authority and records are kept of this. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including quality standards’, page 58, paragraphs 11.15 and 11.16)

p.6

Information about this children's home

 The home is registered for up to six children under short-break arrangements and a further 30 children to live at the home.  The home is run by a private company.  A company school is on site.  The home offers care and accommodation for children who have disabilities.

p.7

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.7

Recent inspection history

31/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.7

Recent inspection history

23/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.7

Inadequate

The key judgement area of ‘how well young people are helped and protected’ is inadequate, due to the shortfalls found at this inspection. In line with Ofsted frameworks, once this area is judged to be inadequate, the ‘overall experience and progress of children and young people’ is also judged as inadequate. This inspection identified serious safeguarding concerns:  During a chemical (medication) restraint, staff did not follow a young person’s crisis management plan. For example, following the administration of medication, they failed to monitor blood pressure and pulse or to carry out observations of the young person. This poor care practice does not ensure the safety, health and well-being of this young person or that risk is minimised in these circumstances.  A young person’s allegation of abuse against staff was not reported appropriately by staff or shared with the designated officer promptly, nor

p.8

Inadequate

was the home’s procedure followed. This was picked up by the registered manager and disciplinary proceedings have taken place.  There are a high number of restraints involving young people. The review of these is ineffective as overall numbers of restraint do not reduce.

p.8

Inadequate

 Staff recruitment is not sufficiently robust. Current practice does not ensure that only the safest and most suitable people are employed to work with young people. This, combined with the failures to provide robust management oversight of the home, undermines the safety and well-being of young people. These failures are compounded by inspectors’ findings that two records were altered by staff to give a false representation of actions taken by staff. This raises further concerns. This lack of transparent poor practice does not enable Ofsted or other agencies to conduct their duties in safeguarding young people. To the credit of senior managers, once they were informed of this poor practice, it was promptly acted on and an investigation was initiated. Arrangements are in place for the administration of medications, and there are good examples of this working in practice. However, on one occasion this

p.8

Inadequate

procedure was not adhered to by staff, and medication records were not accurately completed. Signed records show that the medication was administered by a trained staff member when it was given to a young person by another staff member. This does not ensure the health, safety and well-being of this young person or give confidence that medication is being safely administered. Young people living at the home have disabilities and complex needs. They require consistency to give them a firm foundation from which to navigate their environment. Staff stability is not always achieved, as agency staff regularly supplement the team. Staff working at the home raise this as a concern for young people. The staff team has grown since the last inspection: 25 new staff members have been recruited, and 12 staff members have also left the home. These changes to the staff team impede consistency for young people. Despite staff

p.8

Inadequate

changes, during the inspection staff were observed demonstrating caring and affectionate relationships with young people. In the main, staff support young people to stay in touch with their families and they have a good understanding of their backgrounds, histories and relationships. The staff work with placing authorities to manage contact. Any reductions in young people seeing their families are subject to review with the staff and social worker. However, for one young person a record of the decision and agreement to restrict contact is not in place. There are examples of good progress for young people living here. They regularly attend the on-site company school and achieve their education targets. Furthermore, they are involved in activities and hobbies of their choice, having new experiences and enjoying themselves. A speech and language therapist is on site to guide staff and inform care practice. Records relating to young people’s progress in

p.9

Inadequate

daily living skills show that they are using public transport, improving their self-care skills and managing money. All these are useful skills to prepare them for adulthood. There are various ways by which young people can voice their opinions and ideas about the running of the home. For example, an independent advocate meets with young people to help them to share their views. There is a complaints process that the advocate shares with them.

p.9

Inadequate

There are serious shortfalls in safeguarding practices, which can impact on the welfare of young people. The day-to-day care arrangements for a young person do not ensure that this person’s welfare is protected. A crisis management care plan is not adhered to. In particular, during an incident of chemical restraint, strict instructions were not followed, including that pertaining to monitoring a young person’s blood pressure and pulse. This does not ensure the safety, health and well-being of the young person. Inspectors found alterations to two records, one of which was previously reviewed by inspectors during the inspection. This compromises the integrity of the records at the home and, importantly, means that senior managers and Ofsted cannot have confidence in the quality of the records, which could ultimately have negative consequences for young people. These shortfalls are being investigated by the

p.9

Inadequate

senior management of the home. Safeguarding concerns are routinely referred to the designated officer and placing authority social workers. On one occasion, a young person’s allegation of abuse against staff was not promptly referred or acted on in accordance with the home’s procedure. This lack of robust action does not protect young people. The management team is aware of this poor practice, and disciplinary proceedings have taken place. There have been 233 restraints since the last full inspection in February 2016. These restraints are reviewed by the registered manager and within multi-agency meetings. Despite this, restraints are not reducing, which questions the effectiveness of this process and behaviour management techniques. The staff are trained in a certified technique to hold young people safely. Recruitment and vetting records are not sufficiently robust to safeguard young people. For example, references from previous employers are not routinely taken

p.10

Inadequate

up, and agency workers do not all have a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) on file. Inconsistencies on application forms are not followed through with the applicant to seek explanation, and when staff have criminal convictions they are not robustly risk assessed. This poor practice does not ensure that only the safest and most suitable people are employed to work with young people.

p.10

Inadequate

Internal and independent quality audit systems are in place, with the aim of providing an overview of care practice and driving improvements. These systems have failed to pick up weaknesses in various areas of practice, including care plans and safeguarding procedures not being followed and poor recruitment practice and supervisions not taking place. Furthermore, these shortfalls are not identified in the monitoring processes or development plan. The premises are worn and tired in areas and require further maintenance work to ensure high standards of accommodation for young people. This is highlighted in the independent person’s report and staff also raise this as an issue. Staff receive regular training, which includes safeguarding, to enhance their competence and skills. Despite this training, safeguarding shortfalls were identified at this inspection. Staff confirm that they receive regular supervision, but quality

p.10

Inadequate

time in which to reflect and to assure and monitor standards in care practice for vulnerable young people is not provided. In addition, a staff member on probation is not supervised fortnightly in line with the home’s policy. The allegations procedure does not reflect current practice in relation to the suspension of staff in the event of an allegation made against them. For example, staff have not been suspended when allegations have been made against them and investigation is pending. This is in contravention of the home’s own disciplinary procedure. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence of the decision-making process regarding whether to suspend staff in these circumstances. This is accepted by the managers who are taking action to improve this. The registered manager is well qualified and has a wealth of experience in working with young people. The staff feel supported and speak highly of their manager,

p.11

Inadequate

commenting that they feel ‘listened to’. Staff spoken to highlight team working as a strength of the home.

p.11

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’.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

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 children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements 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

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.12

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 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.13

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

p.13

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.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14

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.14

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.14