Children's home run by Royal Mencap Society

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness . Progress to meet six previous recommendations has been slow. Two are not met. Organisational issues mean that the safeguarding policy has not been revised. Continuing shortfalls in monitoring and review systems have meant that safeguarding issues have not been concluded well. These issues are now raised as regulatory requirements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection finds further shortfalls. The responsibilities for placement planning and review for children who are not looked after by a local authority are not well understood at the service. Not all children, who are placed by the local authority but who are not looked after, have a good enough plan or review of their care at the service. The in-house support plan for a very young child had not been updated since January 2016, had not been completed with the placing authority, and there had been no review of his well-being during subsequent overnight stays.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person does not keep track of children’s legal status or their destinations because there is no children’s register with such information.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal and external monitoring is not good enough. The monitoring of the service has improved in some respects, in relation to consultation with stakeholders and children, but has omitted a review of safeguarding issues. Monthly reports by the independent visitor do not give a clear opinion about whether the home safeguards or promotes children’s well-being effectively. For example, the visitor made no comment about a safeguarding allegation and did not follow up on a statistical error that indicated a dramatic increase in bullying. The visitor does not always meet, or speak with, children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records of rare safeguarding issues are not good. The manager has not notified a significant incident of an allegation made against staff to Ofsted. There is no recorded chronology of events and no evidence of referral to the host authority, or of managerial directions to staff to undertake initial investigations. Key documents are not signed by the author. People against whom allegations were made were left, by the organisation’s ‘on-call’ manager, to record, refer and manage immediate actions to protect children. The local authority was satisfied that there had been no harm. The organisation’s safeguarding policy does not give good enough guidance about what to do if the allegation relates to a senior member of staff and still does not reference or signpost staff to current statutory guidance. This was a previous recommendation. There was no managerial review after this significant issue in the life of the home, and the manager drew no learning about the incident in her six-

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

monthly review of the quality of care. Despite training, staff are not clear about safeguarding roles and responsibilities beyond their immediate line managers and do not have the benefit of a robust procedure and organisational support to manage safeguarding incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite these shortfalls, children have made good progress and have enjoyed their short breaks at the service. Children become healthier; some have successfully lost weight and become toilet trained. A range of activities and social opportunities help some children become happier about their stays; others gain in confidence. The service has helped parents who have needed support and developed their skills at home. Admission and departures are well planned. Even when the service cannot meet children’s needs, it works with the placing authority and is clear about its limits.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The newly registered manager has made improvements in response to previous recommendations. Individual development plans are in the early stages, but provide the basis to show children’s progress. Scrapbooks also show activities and enjoyment during stays; however, these are not always updated. The manager has done her best to ensure that she seeks confirmation of applicants’ suitability to work with children. Gaps in employment are covered during the recruitment process. Plans are afoot for improvements to the decor. Some minor improvement is evident in personalisation in some children’s bedrooms. Staff are now supervised regularly. These changes mean that the service is better able to provide a safe and welcoming service to children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Constructive networking by the manager to make improvements has resulted in training for staff in meeting children’s complex health needs. More input around extending communication skills and aids for staff is planned. She has consulted with a wide range of partners and has endeavoured to take a more decisive role in plans for young people’s transitions. She has made good efforts to consult with a wider range of partners and to get more involved in transitions. The manager respects parents’ central and enduring role in their children’s lives and they are positive about the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff say that they love working here. Relationships between them and children are warm. Children have fun. This charitable service is doing what it can on a tight budget.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short breaks/respite care for up to seven children and young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and complex needs. Occupancy is normally limited to five. The service is provided by a national charity that has a contract with the local authority. Twenty-six children currently use the service. Two were staying during this inspection and a third child visited for tea.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/08/2016 Full Good 08/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 22/12/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

The leadership and management standard 13. In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with respect to reviewing incidents and proactive implementation of lessons learned, the registered person must: (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare a placement plan for the child (who is not looked after by a local authority) before the child is admitted to the home or, if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible after the child is admitted to the home. The registered person must keep under review and revise the placement plan as necessary. (Regulation 18 (1) (4)(7)) 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. Specifically, a register of children. (Regulation 37(a)(Schedule 4(1)) 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent person produces 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 safeguarded effectively; and whether the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b)) 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect; and provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1) (a) (b) (2)(d)) 30/04/2017

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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 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 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.

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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 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 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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