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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness . Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left the organisation. A new manager was appointed who has since withdrawn his application for registration with Ofsted. The interim management arrangements of the new manager have lacked rigour and efficiency, particularly in relation to the effective oversight of safeguarding young people. Young people’s relationships with each other are poor. Incidents of bullying and weak staff supervision have resulted in the abuse and harassment of one young person. Furthermore, staff do not update risk assessments to reflect the risks identified. For example, when young people have a history of child sexual exploitation and require high levels of supervision around male house peers, it is not reflected in their risk assessments or in staff practice. This means that young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people are at potential risk of harm, as they are not being adequately supervised. Placing authorities have moved one young person to an alternative provision due to the crisis in the home. Young people’s school attendance and attainment have declined since the last inspection. Some young people have chosen not to engage in their education. As a result, other young people are also refusing to attend school and reducing their attendance to 77%. There is no encouragement for independent study or informal study in the home. Consequently, this has a detrimental impact on young people’s life opportunities. Young people do not benefit from a consistent staff team. Staff move between some of the provider’s other homes in order to provide them with staff cover. On occasions, there have been insufficient numbers of staff, contrary to young people’s risk management plans. During the inspection, a young person was unable

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to go to a pre-planned hospital appointment due to staff shortage. Furthermore, staff rotas do not detail the actual names of staff who have been on duty. For example, first names are recorded or ‘agency’. The inconsistency of staff has had a negative impact on the consistency of boundaries and relationships for young people. Staff do not receive regular supervisions. Staff who are new to residential care do not receive regular supervision. One new member of staff has received only two supervisions in 14 weeks. As a result, staff are not supported and their practice is not carefully monitored. Physical intervention records are not rigorous and some are incomplete. For example, the interim manager undertook a physical intervention on a young person and he reviewed the record himself. This does not ensure that young people are safe, through independent overview. The responsible individual has made assurance that there will be no new

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

admissions until many of the shortfalls in the home are addressed.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

8: The education standard (1) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure – (a) that staff – (x) help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. 07/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard (1) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on – (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults. The registered person must – (xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. 07/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure – 07/04/2017 (a) that staff – (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that – (d) ensures that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (e) ensures that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 07/04/2017

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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)) 07/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the date, time and location of the use of the measure; which confirms that within 48 hours of the use of the measure the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’), has spoken to the user about the measure; and which the has signed to confirm that it is accurate. Within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person must add to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 07/04/2017

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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 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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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