Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . The previous inspection highlighted a number of shortfalls, some of which have since been resolved successfully, while other issues remain unresolved. One young person is currently accessing the service for a short-break weekend service. The young person shares a good relationship with staff and enjoys his choice of recreational activities. These include trips to Hamley’s and the Olympic Park, shopping to choose the home’s Christmas tree and attending a local church. Staff are supporting the young person to develop practical skills to increase his level of independence. Since the last inspection, the home has appointed a manager to run the service. The manager is in the process of applying to Ofsted to become the home’s registered manager. Staff now ensure that they complete suitable checks on visitors to the home prior

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to their visit. This is to help keep young people safe. Staff are yet to obtain parental written consent that authorises them to administer first aid and non-prescriptive medication. This is important to ensure that staff have permission to provide emergency first aid or homely remedies should children need these while at the home. The recommendation is therefore repeated at this inspection. The previous inspection highlighted staff’s poor recording of medication information. In particular, that files did not evidence written confirmation that two members of staff were present when they offered children their medication. Since the last inspection, managers have developed a revised recording tool that prompts staff to provide the signatures of two witnesses. Staff have made consistent use of the tool and, more recently, two staff signatures are evident on medication records. This practice helps to prevent medication errors.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service is yet to decorate the premises to make the home’s environment more pleasant, homely and modern in appearance. Open communal areas require redecoration and cleaning. Senior staff indicate that the home is preparing for significant refurbishment in the forthcoming months. The recommendation relating to the home’s environment is repeated at this inspection. Similarly, staff are yet to improve the decor and equipment of the home’s sensory room. This sensory play area is not well equipped with imaginative play material to support the creative play of children who have sensory impairments. The previous inspection highlighted staff training opportunities as a cause for concern. The provider now ensures that all staff, particularly those that are new in their post, receive safeguarding training soon after they start working at the home. All staff also now attend scheduled team meetings, which provide the team with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

additional learning opportunities. Regulation 44 monthly monitoring visits now more regularly take place when the young person is having a weekend short-break stay at the home. This was not the case at the last inspection. In doing so, the independent visitor is able to consult directly with the young person in order to explore his wishes and feelings about the service. However, the independent visitor does not routinely forward monitoring reports to Ofsted as required. This is a breach of the regulations and does not provide Ofsted with an opportunity to review an independent view of the home’s operation on a regular basis.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have physical disabilities. The home is wheelchair accessible and offers a short-break service.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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, the 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

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to –

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Requirement Due date

(a) HMCI. (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 01/03/2017

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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

 Ensure that each child has permission for staff to administer first aid and non- prescriptive medication from a person with parental responsibility for them recorded in their relevant plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.14)  Ensure that children who have disabilities have appropriate opportunities to have fun. In particular, that the home improves the equipment available in the sensory room. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 32, paragraph 6.10)  Ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing, homely, domestic environment. The registered person should review the home’s decor and redecorate areas that appear worn. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 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 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, 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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