Children's home run by Oasis Young People’s Care Services (UK) Ltd in Southend-on-Sea

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.

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because:

 The manager and responsible individual regularly work care shifts at the home due to staffing shortages.  Staff are not always provided with suitable training of sufficient depth.  There have been a significant number of placement breakdowns since the previous inspection. A lack of clear assessment of the impact of new placements on the existing group of children, and how the group dynamics will support placements or put them at risk, has potentially undermined placement stability.  The reports made by the independent visitor do not contain all of the required information.  A member of staff who has not been assessed as competent has on one occasion administered medication.  Behaviour management strategies, while effective for some children, do not consistently make a positive difference.  Some staff are not fully conversant with the home’s safeguarding procedures in relation to allegations against colleagues.

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The children’s home’s strengths

 Most children have made some progress in relation to their education, health, personal care and social skills.  Staff provide individualised, child-focused care, and children feel consulted on all aspects of their life.  The children feel safe and secure and some have made good progress in relation to their personal safety. Professionals highlight how staff do everything in their power to keep the children safe and to help them to understand the risks they place themselves at.  The children are positive about their experience of living in the home and feel well supported. They establish strong relationships with the staff, whom they value highly.  Good partnership working and communication with parents, teachers and placing social workers ensure that agencies are working collaboratively to meet children’s needs.  Professionals and children’s families have absolute confidence that the caring and nurturing staff meet their child’s individual needs.

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The children’s home’s strengths

 Children who stay in the home for a length of time take with them very personal and positive experiences of their time there.

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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

12: The protection of children standard:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a)(vii) that staff are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards . 14/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard:

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child (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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staffing arrangements are sufficient to prevent the need for the manager and responsible individual to work as care staff, except in an emergency. In order to minimise the risk of placement breakdown, undertake as part of the admission process, a documented assessment of how the home can meet the needs of a new child and the potential impact on the existing group. 19/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development and receive practice-related supervision. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff receive suitable training in safeguarding, the ‘Prevent’ duty, therapeutic approaches and the needs of the children accommodated, such as prevention and 16/01/2017 management of self-harm.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records specified in Schedule 4. In particular, a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. (Regulation 37 (2)(a) Schedule 4 (3)) 21/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b)) 21/11/2016

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Take care to ensure that prescribed medicines are only administered to the individual for whom they are prescribed. Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that staff only administer medication when assessed as competent to do so.  Ensure that staff understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) In particular, ensure that the strategies in place make a positive difference to children’s behaviour.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home’s workforce plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12) In particular, ensure that all managers and staff are familiar with their responsibilities under the ‘Prevent’ duty.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company and is registered to provide six places for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/11/2015 Full Good 24/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/06/2014 Full Good

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Requires improvement

Although aspects of the direct care provided are good, the level of placement instability is undermining the ability of the home to provide a stable and nurturing environment. The home is therefore not yet delivering the good quality of support that it aspires to. However, there are no failures in promoting children’s safety.

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Requires improvement

The manager ensures that the home can broadly meet the needs of the children admitted in an emergency before they are placed. However, on occasion, key information has not been known and managers have failed to explore fully the impact of the existing group on the placement or vice versa. A number of placement breakdowns have related to the impact of the behaviour of, or risks presented by, the children. This is particularly pertinent and has a potential impact on placement stability.

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Requires improvement

The children receive individualised, child-focused care and support. They feel consulted on all aspects of the home and are aware of their individual risk assessments and care plans. The children develop positive relationships with staff, whom they trust. This means that even in times of high anxiety and uncertainty they recognise the help and support that they receive. They identify favourite staff, and some are observed to ‘light up’ when their favourites come on duty. The children say, ‘all of the staff are lovely’ and ‘the staff are really funny’. There is laughter, ‘banter’ and hugs between staff and children, which gives the home a warm nurturing atmosphere.

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Requires improvement

A variety of activities based around the children’s individual interests are arranged, such as trampolining, bowling, cinema, roller-skating and horse-riding. However, like their peers, they enjoy meeting up and spending time with their friends in the locality.

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Requires improvement

The children are encouraged to integrate fully into the usual activities of family life, such as shopping, cooking and learning to do their laundry with support. As a result, one child has developed a passion for baking. Those who are of an appropriate age undertake an independence plan, to manage their own money and prepare their own meals. Sunday lunch, however, remains a key time when there is the opportunity to gather and share a meal together.

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Requires improvement

There are clear arrangements for promoting children’s learning and development in partnership with other agencies. Most of the children have been highly resistant to engaging in education prior to placement. They have made varying progress from their starting points, with some attending education daily on a reduced timetable, and others refusing to attend. Staff continue to promote routines and try to engage highly disaffected children in learning and development that is on their level.

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Requires improvement

Despite the suitable level of support and guidance provided by staff and partner agencies, some children continue to engage in risky and unhealthy behaviour, such as drinking alcohol, smoking and taking drugs. Staff address these concerns through impromptu discussions and through recorded key worker sessions.

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Requires improvement

A member of staff who, has not been assessed as competent by the manager, has, on one occasion, administered medication. This means that the manager has not satisfied themselves as to the competence of this member of staff in this task. The manager was unaware of this and had not approved this practice. The level of risk and potential impact is reduced as the member of staff had undertaken basic training.

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Requires improvement

The children, placing authorities and families rate the home as good. One family commented, ‘There has been a complete change for her [their child]. She’s now cheerful and she seems very happy.’ One social worker said, ‘Staff are dealing very well with a very difficult situation. They have a definite commitment and are sticking with him.’ One child who has moved on from the home having lived there for some years said, ‘The staff are amazing. I love all of them, they’re my family and I miss it so much.’

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Requires improvement

Children feel safe and staff demonstrate a commitment to ensuring their well- being. One child said, ‘Yes, I feel safe’, and another said, ‘I really like it here, it’s giving me space.’ A child who has moved on reflected emotionally, ‘I love all of them. You may say I haven’t met such amazing people as those staff here.’ However, there are particular shortfalls which mean that the home is not currently providing consistently strong help and protection in all areas.

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Requires improvement

The building is suitable to meet the needs of the children. Health and safety arrangements are generally well managed, with regular servicing of equipment and suitable fire prevention measures in place. However, there are specific shortfalls. One fire door requires repair to ensure that it closes effectively and one room without effective window restrictors, on the higher floors, was accessible to children. The manager addressed these shortfalls during the inspection.

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Requires improvement

The manager ensures that potential safeguarding issues are well managed with partner agencies in an open and transparent manner. Staff have received training in safeguarding and know how to act in most circumstances to ensure the well- being of the children. However, some staff are not fully conversant with the home’s safeguarding procedures in relation to allegations against colleagues. This has the potential to mean that appropriate action is not immediately taken. It is imperative that all staff understand all of the home’s safeguarding policies in order to protect children effectively.

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Requires improvement

The senior management and staff are unaware of their responsibilities under the ‘Prevent’ duty. Although there is no information to suggest that this has a direct impact on the children currently living in the home, it does mean that staff are poorly equipped to identify and respond appropriately to any potential issues of concern.

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Requires improvement

Some of the children are at risk of self-harm. Although staff are individually sensitive to the children’s needs and react appropriately in times of crisis, most have not received suitable guidance and training in this area. This means that staff’s ability to effect change is potentially undermined.

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Requires improvement

Behaviour management strategies are not always making a positive difference. Although some children may individually present as calmer than they did pre- placement, some continue to present regularly with behaviour which challenges the staff’s skills and resilience. Staff receive regular training in the use of restraint, and thresholds for its use are clear. Given the number of situations that have escalated, the level of physical restraint used is very low. However, the manager has not consistently reviewed the individual incidents in a timely manner to identify any patterns and trends and to ensure that the use of restraint has been proportionate.

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Requires improvement

There have been several incidents of negative behaviour, which have necessitated calling the police to the home. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of criminal charges and potential criminal convictions being brought against individual children. This has, on occasion, contributed to disrupted placements and expedited endings.

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Requires improvement

Staff have taken appropriate action to support all children though a phase of bullying within the home. Individual discussion and reparation activities have emphasised the discussions in house meetings regarding bullying behaviours. Children say that the actions taken by staff have given them confidence in the commitment to their safety and well-being. The children’s views are listened to, and where they raise concerns these are responded to. There have been no complaints regarding the quality of care.

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Requires improvement

Clear risk assessments and management plans guide staff effectively in how to manage risk and the levels of supervision required to keep children safe. These are kept under constant joint review with partner agencies, such as social workers, police and local safeguarding professionals. Staff get to know the children well and reflect on what may trigger incidents within the home or missing from care occurrences.

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Requires improvement

Prior to residing in the home, all of the children had a history of going missing and potentially or actually placing themselves at risk. Missing from care incidents are relatively high, but this reflects the needs of the children placed. Staff responses to missing from care are well co-ordinated, robust and effective, demonstrating a strong commitment to safeguard and protect the children in their care. Despite the good support that the children receive from staff, some make limited progress in this area.

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Requires improvement

Partner professionals say that most children are safer as a result of living at the home, and for those where the home has made little positive impact this is not due to lack of commitment or knowledge on behalf of the staff. One professional said, ‘They are doing everything they can to keep her safe.’

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Requires improvement

This is the manager’s first management role, and he has been in post for 10 months. The manager has many years of residential childcare experience and suitable professional care and management qualifications.

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Requires improvement

The home is not currently delivering the quality of care that it aspires to within its statement of purpose. Staffing difficulties and many changes in the resident group have presented the manager with significant challenges during the past six months. Recruitment difficulties are currently undermining the effective operation of the home. Both the manager and the responsible individual have quite rightly prioritised the needs of the children, regularly undertaking care shifts to prevent staffing difficulties affecting the direct care and consistency of relationships for children. Although this has some positive aspects, in enhancing children’s relationships with the manager, it has had a significant impact on the manager’s ability to undertake the management role effectively. Furthermore, for the responsible individual it undermines his ability to monitor the service impartially and effectively.

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Requires improvement

The staff are well thought of by the children, families and professionals. One child said, ‘It’s a brilliant place, I love it.’ It is clear that everyone is individually committed to delivering good individualised care and to building positive relationships with the children. The children are making variable progress from their starting points, with all demonstrating some progress. The home works effectively with partner agencies to ensure that children’s needs are met. Partner agencies say that where the home has not had a significant impact this is not due to a lack of commitment from staff.

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Requires improvement

The manager provides good quality notifications of all significant events to the relevant authorities and takes appropriate action following any incident. Where he has concerns regarding the actions of other professionals that may have an impact on a child’s well-being, for example poor transition planning by a local authority, these are raised appropriately in order to advocate on behalf of the child.

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Requires improvement

Recording systems within the home are generally sound. However, staff rosters are confusing, with several copies held that do not correlate, and on occasion these are inaccurate, failing to reflect the staff on duty.

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Requires improvement

Staff individually feel well supported by each other and the management team. There are effective induction and supervision systems in place, supplemented with team meetings. All staff who have been working with children in a children’s home for over two years have completed their level 3 diploma and all remaining staff have been enrolled. Staff benefit from a variety of relevant core training, such as, medication, safeguarding, child sexual exploitation, alcohol and drugs awareness. However, a significant number of staff have not undertaken training in key areas that affect the children placed, such as their legal responsibilities under the ‘Prevent’ duty, managing self-harm, or in the therapeutic ethos of the home. This potentially undermines staff’s professional awareness and competence to meet the needs of the children effectively.

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Requires improvement

The report of the monthly visit conducted by the independent person does not state the visitor’s opinion as to whether children are safeguarded effectively and their well-being is promoted. This does not have a direct impact on the care provided, but it does have an impact on the rigour of the review and independent constructive feedback on driving improvement.

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Requires improvement

One child who lived at the home for a number of years until recently, reflected on their very positive experiences. They said, ‘I miss the place so much. I feel like I’ve been taken away from my family again. I will almost always say it’s the most amazing place I’ve ever been.’ The home has experienced a number of changes and challenges within the past six months, which have resulted in the overall experiences and progress of children not being as positive as those of this child. However, there is capacity to improve. The manager has a good insight to the strengths of the home and areas for improvement. He has addressed the recommendations from the previous inspection and has plans on how to regain the previous good quality of service. The children and those family members and professionals supporting them remain overwhelmingly positive about their experiences at the home.

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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’.

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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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 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, 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

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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