Children's home run by Lioncare Limited in Epping Forest

This monitoring visit

A full inspection of the home was undertaken on 11 January 2017. The home was judged to be inadequate across all areas of practice. Seven compliance notices were issued on 25 January 2017. The date set for meeting all the actions specified in the notices was 1 March 2017. This monitoring inspection focused on the work that has taken place in the home since 25 January 2017, and the organisation’s compliance with the steps identified in each notice.

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standard (Regulation 7(2)(b)(iii))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to the provision of advocacy services. Good progress has been made in this area of practice, and all the steps specified in the compliance notice have been met. Representatives from a local advocacy service attended a children’s meeting at the home, to provide information about the role of an advocate and about how the service can be accessed. There is now child-focused information available in the home, promoting advocacy services. Two particularly vulnerable children now have an allocated advocate. Managers have worked in partnership with the children’s placing authorities to achieve this. Documentation relating to the physical restraint of children has been amended. The documentation now prompts staff to inform children that they may have an advocate present during de-briefing after a physical intervention has taken place. Records pertaining to children’s meetings and individual care coordinator sessions

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standard (Regulation 7(2)(b)(iii))

with children indicate that children are regularly reminded of their right to request the support of an independent advocate. Managers have explored a number of ways in which children might contact an advocacy service without the need to ask staff. No final decision has yet been made on how this will be achieved in the longer term. Managers are committed to achieving this, and ongoing work is being undertaken to ensure that children can safely contact an advocate in confidence.

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(Regulation 12(2)(a)(i))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to the assessment and management of risk. Good progress has been made in this area of practice, and all the steps specified in the compliance notice have been met. An external training provider delivered high-quality training in relation to the assessment and management of risk. Senior managers and staff attended this training. A second training date has been set for 21 March 2017 for those staff who were not able to attend the first session. Managers have reviewed the format for children’s individual risk assessments. Amendments have been made to ensure that risks and strategies for managing these are clearly defined. A monitoring system has been introduced to ensure that staff familiarise themselves with each child’s risk assessment every time an amendment is made. The agenda for staff team meetings has been revised, to include a review of each child’s risk profile at each meeting. Records of team meetings, reviewed at this

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(Regulation 12(2)(a)(i))

inspection, confirmed that these discussions are taking place. This ensures that consideration is given to new information and changes in circumstances, and clarifies whether risk assessments need to be updated. There is a system in place for reviewing each child’s individual risk assessment every month. Steps are being taken to ensure that the effectiveness of risk assessments is being evaluated. A multi-agency meeting was convened to assess the level of risk for a child whose behaviour is causing concern. This meeting considered whether the current strategies in place to reduce identified risks are effective.

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(Regulation 12(2)(a)(vi)(vii))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to staff being familiar with, and acting in accordance with, the home’s child protection policy. The notice also requires steps to be taken in relation to the management of allegations made against staff. Sufficient progress has been made towards meeting all the steps specified in the compliance notice. An external trainer has been booked to deliver refresher training on implementing the home’s child protection policy and procedures. This training will take place on 11 April 2017. A record of when staff last read the home’s child protection policy, and other related policies, is now kept. This record indicates that 12 of the 16 staff members have read the policy. The organisation’s service manager explained that those staff who have not yet signed the record have not worked in recent weeks. A spreadsheet for recording allegations made by children against staff has been

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(Regulation 12(2)(a)(vi)(vii))

introduced. This indicates when other agencies and professionals were informed of the allegation and when the child was offered an advocate and the opportunity to make a formal complaint. In addition to the spreadsheet, an ‘action report’ is kept whenever an allegation is made. The organisation’s service manager stated an intention to amend the ‘action report’ format, to include a section for evaluating the effectiveness of actions taken and so further develop practice in this area. Records are now being kept of discussions held with children after they have made an allegation against a member of staff. One record reviewed by inspectors did not contain detailed information regarding the discussion with a child. The service manager acknowledged that practice in this area should be further developed and gave a commitment to ensuring that this is achieved.

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(Regulation 12(2)(b))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to the home’s day-to-day care of children being delivered in a way that keeps each child safe and protects them from harm. Two of the steps specified in the compliance notice have been met, and two have not been met. The steps not met are:  The details of a serious incident at the organisation’s school, involving a child from the home, had not been transferred to the child’s case file in the home. Although all staff were aware of the incident, the written information was contained in the service manager’s email account. This meant that the information was not easily accessible to the staff caring for the young person, immediately after the incident. The service manager rectified this shortfall during the monitoring inspection.  Risk assessments pertaining to children being transported in the home’s vehicles have not been effectively updated. They lack strategies for keeping

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(Regulation 12(2)(b))

children safe when being transported, despite serious incidents occurring in motor vehicles in recent months. The risk assessments do not contain seating plans or specify the number of staff needed in a vehicle to safely transport children. The risk assessments rely too heavily on staff being aware of a child’s state of mind prior to commencing a journey. The steps that are met in this compliance notice are:  There is now an effective system in place to ensure that all staff are familiar with the children’s most up-to-date risk assessments.  Peer relationships are now a standard agenda item at staff team meetings. This ensures that staff have the opportunity to share any concerns about group dynamics and to identify strategies for minimising the risk of children harming one another. Overall, progress has been made towards complying with this notice. However, as two of the steps have not yet been met, the timescale for implementing all steps

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(Regulation 12(2)(b))

within this notice will be extended to 18 April 2017.

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(Regulation 12(2)(d))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to the maintenance of the premises and protecting children from avoidable hazards. Excellent progress has been made in this area, and all the steps specified in the compliance notice have been met. All of the specific maintenance concerns identified in the compliance notice have been addressed. A new fridge has been purchased, and a record is kept of the temperature at which food is stored. All electrical fittings that were previously in a poor state of repair have been replaced. New bedroom furniture has been installed where needed, and this is securely attached to the walls. Carpets have been replaced, where necessary. Replacement windows have been installed throughout the building. The home now provides a safe, comfortable environment for the children. A new system for documenting health and safety hazards has been introduced. The registered manager now undertakes a weekly health and safety ‘walk around’

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(Regulation 12(2)(d))

the house and documents and prioritises any maintenance issues. Records specify what action is needed to address any deficits, who is responsible for addressing the issue and a time frame for completing the task. There is a three-year development schedule, which identifies when routine maintenance work and refurbishments will be undertaken. Managers provided confirmation that the organisation’s health and safety officer is suitably qualified to undertake the role. The health and safety officer completes a monthly audit to ensure that the home is compliant with health and safety requirements.

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(Regulation 13(2)(c))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to staff having the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. Good progress has been made in this area of practice, and all the steps specified in the compliance notice have been met. Senior managers have undertaken a review of the training programme provided by the organisation. The process cross-referenced the identified needs of the children at the home with the training being provided. Through this process, some new training has been added to the programme. This includes online training on addressing bullying and record-keeping. The organisation’s service manager stated that the training programme will now be reviewed each time a new child is admitted to the home, to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the new admission. Managers have commenced an audit of the qualifications, knowledge and skills of

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(Regulation 13(2)(c))

each member of staff working at the home. This is an ongoing piece of work. It is assisting managers to identify the collective strengths and weaknesses of the workforce. An external trainer has been booked to provide staff training on the legislation underpinning accommodation provided to children looked after. This training will be delivered on 11 April 2017. This trainer will also be providing an updated training course to staff on child protection over the next year. Since the full inspection in January 2017, all but one member of staff have completed the organisation’s online training courses regarding honour-based violence and forced marriage. The service manager has sought feedback from staff on the course content. This has enabled her to assess the learning that staff have gained from completing the course. Managers have reviewed the content of the home’s child protection policy, in relation to the reporting of allegations made against staff. Further training on this

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(Regulation 13(2)(c))

issue will be delivered by an external trainer on 11 April 2017.

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(Regulation 40(4)(c))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to informing HMCI when an allegation of abuse is made against the home or a person working there. Good progress has been made in this area of practice, and all the steps specified in the compliance notice have been met. The organisation’s service manager has taken on responsibility for reporting serious events to HMCI. Specific training on this issue has not yet been provided, but an external provider will deliver this training to registered managers, deputy managers and service managers on 11 April 2017. The system for recording allegations made against staff prompts managers to ensure that HMCI are notified of serious events within the required timescale. Leaders and managers have taken a robust approach to ensuring that the shortfalls identified at the full inspection in January 2017 have been addressed. A detailed action plan was produced following the inadequate judgement being

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(Regulation 40(4)(c))

made. This has enabled leaders and managers to keep on track and make significant improvements to the service over a short period. Consequently, the potential for children to experience poor standards of care or come to harm has been reduced. The organisation has complied with all the notices issued on 25 January 2017 except one. The timescale for meeting the steps specified in the notice pertaining to regulation 12(2)(b) is therefore extended to 18 April 2017. Leaders and managers should undertake further work to ensure that children can contact an advocacy service in confidence. In addition, they should ensure that more detailed records of conversations with children are kept, following an allegation being made against a member of staff.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to provide residential care for up to seven children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. out in 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

to 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

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

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