Children's Home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Kent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four of the six recommendations made at the last full inspection have not been suitably addressed. Two have been partially addressed.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Insufficient staffing levels have required the registered manager to work regular shifts in a care role. This means that his monitoring and leadership role has been compromised and has resulted in a decline in the standard of record keeping, deficiencies in support to staff and care plans for children not being kept current.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Current staffing levels mean that the home is not able to respond sufficiently to unexpected events and to ensure adequate continuity of care. This threatens the home’s ability to provide the children with stability and undermines their sense of security.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is not sufficiently available to exercise his leadership and oversight of the home. Staff supervision and team meetings are sporadic. Staff, who have been exposed to repeated incidents of offensive behaviour have not been given proper opportunity to reflect on how this may have affected them. The regulation 45 review and planning process has not been carried out in the required timeframe. The children’s guide was under review at the last inspection but a necessary revision of the document has still not been completed.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Available staffing capacity is focused on the day-to-day care of the children and ensuring their safety. Individual risk assessments are relevant and current; rigour has been maintained for health and safety checks and medication administration. Care plans are however, out of date and lacking in focus. Restraint records are incomplete with little visible managerial oversight. Key documents are not signed by all staff and e-safety contracts not signed by some children.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The need for staff training and awareness around a specific health issue for a child has become unnecessary as the problem has now resolved. There has been some progress in the children participating in mealtimes together but a culture of regular shared meals has still not been established. The home is also lacking in a social hub to which the children are drawn and where a family atmosphere can be created. Currently, relationships between the children are fractious and they are showing signs of being unsettled. The fragile staffing situation makes it difficult to address these issues effectively.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has moved into foster care from the home during this inspection period. This was a planned move and was positively managed by the home. One child has recently moved in and the placing authority social worker expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the referral was managed by the home. She described the home as being proactive and readily sharing significant information, further, that the home is working in a co-ordinated way to achieve the outcomes of the placement plan.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been some progress with recruitment but staffing capacity is still insufficient to provide stable and consistent care under the active and clear leadership of a registered manager. The staff team lacks depth in relevant experience and there is no structure of seniority below the registered manager.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the deficiencies in staffing, the small team is cohesive and dedicated to providing the best possible care of the children and is firmly focused on their needs and progress. Some staff perform significantly above the level expected for their time in post.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children benefit from the education structure provided by the wider organisation as well as the provision of specialist counselling services. The staff team is also skilled and experienced in accessing facilities in the local area and children are able to choose and engage in positive leisure activities.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although children are currently being kept safe and are receiving an adequate level of care and support, the lack of active management and the fragile staffing situation make this provision vulnerable to rapid breakdown. This situation threatens the sense of permanence and well-being of the children as well as their continued progress.

p.3

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/07/2016 Full Good 04/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/08/2015 Full Good 17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

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 with the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person is required to:

p.5

Requirement Due date

13 (2)(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. 13 (2)(c) Ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 13 (2)(d) Ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. 13 (2)(e) Ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 13 (2)(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. 31/01/17

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience (Regulation 33(4)(b)). 31/01/17

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered manager must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children at least once every three months (Regulation 45(1)). 31/01/17

p.5

Recommendations

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

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered manager should review the children's guide to ensure that it is accessible and age appropriate. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 24, para 4.21)  The registered manager should promote children choosing and helping to prepare meals and sharing these together. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, para 3.8)

p.5

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.

p.7

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

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.8

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.8