Children's home in Amber Valley

Requires improvement

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 This is a newly registered children’s home. It has experienced two distinct three-month periods. The leadership and management of this home had significant failings in the first three months. Intervention by senior managers, providing additional management support and training, has resulted in an improved service for the past three months.  Outcomes for young people are variable. The management failings and lack of care planning contributed to a placement breaking down, resulting in a young person leaving in an emergency.  Leaders and managers have failed to report appropriately to safeguarding officers and Ofsted. The registered manager and staff team have failed to understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children.  Monitoring and review of care practices are poor, and they fail to consider the impact on young people.

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The children’s home strengths

 The current young person is making significant progress. Securing an apprenticeship has contributed hugely to their improved life chances. The young person is benefiting from living at this home, and is making great strides in all aspects of their development. Social workers are very satisfied with this home and the progress that the young person is making.  Young people are safer and at significantly less risk of sexual exploitation and abuse since coming to live in this home. Good partnership working with the police has reduced risks and improved the safety of young people.  Young people are consulted well and involved in decision making. Young people are encouraged to participate in local events and to consider the needs of others through charity events and fundraising. Relationships with neighbours have strengthened through offering invitations to the home. The exchange of cards and gifts has improved connections with the local

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The children’s home strengths

community.  Having had additional management support and training, the staff are very enthusiastic about their work. They are keen to succeed in their professional development, both as individuals and as a team.  Senior managers are committed to making improvements and learning from complaints, investigations and inspection findings.

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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

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: (a) that staff: (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. 31/03/2017

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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: (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to: (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; (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

14: The care planning standard (1) The care planning standard is that children: (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (c) that each child’s relevant plans are followed. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

16: Statement of purpose (3) The registered person must: (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the 31/03/2017 revised statement within 28 days of the revision. 21: Privacy and access The registered person must ensure that: (a) the privacy of children is appropriately protected. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which: (b) sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

39: Complaints and representations (3) The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of any investigation. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event (4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if: (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 01/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

43: Appointment of independent person (4) An employee of the registered provider is not, by reason only of that employment, disqualified under paragraph (3)(a), (b) or (g) from appointment as an independent person if the employee is employed solely to examine and scrutinise critically: (a) the way the home is carried on or managed; and (b) the quality of care provided for children. 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food, hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. In particular, avoid notices on the wall in the lounge and dining area of the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make

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Recommendations

reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to provide care and accommodation for two young people. Young people may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

This is the first inspection since the home was registered in August 2016.

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Requires improvement

Since registration in August 2016, this home has provided care for two young people on separate occasions. Progress by young people is variable. This inspection identified significant shortfalls in the first three months of this home being open, followed by improvements and strengths in the three months since December 2016.

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Requires improvement

It was not possible to meet the behavioural needs of one young person, and they subsequently moved away. Staff lacked guidance on how to respond to behaviours, and the young person struggled to remain in control of her emotions without clear boundaries. A factor contributing to the lack of progress or development for the young person was the absence of care plans and other key documents from the local authority. Leaders and managers failed to obtain these documents, despite a lengthy transition plan for the young person to move into the home. Lack of an agreed care plan led to different approaches from the staff team and the placing authority social worker. These inconsistent responses caused confusion for the young person and failed to provide the stability to build trusted and secure relationships with the adults responsible for providing good-quality care.

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Requires improvement

There has been a significant improvement in care planning for young people. Young people benefit from a joined-up approach from the staff team with the placing authority. Agreed care plans and joint decision making provide clarity and consistent messages to young people. As a result, young people are making good progress in all aspects of their development. Young people are consulted daily about their care, and are encouraged to look to their future as they become young adults. A programme of independence provides new opportunities for young people to take responsibility, for example making appointments with health professionals and applying for a provisional driving licence.

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Requires improvement

Young people say that they like living at this home and feel cared for by the staff. They enjoy being involved in choosing the menu, what activities to do and how to decorate their bedroom. There are gestures from the staff to value the young people and demonstrate that they care. For example, a daily journal is maintained by staff to provide positive messages and praise for young people, with some photographs. A ‘happy jar’ holds little notes that make you smile and feel more positive when feeling in a low mood.

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Requires improvement

Educational attendance improved for a while for one young person, and attempts were made to find alternative ways for learning, such as college and home tuition, before they moved from this home. Staff actively support young people in securing education and employment. This has been very successful for one young person, who has now secured an apprenticeship in business and administration. Young people are encouraged to complete online training courses to enhance their employability. For example, training certificates in food safety and fire safety contribute to finding employment in hospitality and catering. Young people experience mock interviews with the support of staff and have guidance on producing a curriculum vitae.

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Requires improvement

Young people are supported to maintain healthy lifestyles and attend medical appointments. Regular exercise is promoted, plus a balanced diet. Young people are encouraged to stop smoking by incentives and the offer of attending a cessation clinic. Key-work discussions cover the dangers of substance misuse and provide access to sexual health resources.

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Requires improvement

Incidents of anti-social behaviour have led to a complaint from neighbours. Leaders and managers have made a concerted effort to improve relationships with neighbours, and this issue has successfully turned around. Young people have delivered Christmas gifts and cards to neighbours, also bird feeders that they have made. Invitations to neighbours to visit the home to celebrate events such as Christmas and Chinese New Year have strengthened relationships within the small community.

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Requires improvement

To further young people’s experience of thinking of others, there are fundraising events and participation in charity fun runs. Young people have raised money for charities and followed the journey of a member of staff from the company who is travelling to an African nation. A calendar of cultural events and theme days is displayed on the wall in the dining room, and events are highlighted in young people’s weekly schedule. This comprehensive calendar promotes cultural diversity and celebrates worldwide events. However, the calendar, printed on four sheets of paper, similarly leaflets of local attractions stuck to the wall, are not in keeping with the homely environment, and should be less obtrusive in the home. Records on display on the office wall fail to protect the privacy of young people. This breach of confidentiality was rectified immediately during this inspection.

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Requires improvement

The safety and well-being of young people have improved since December 2016. Lack of agreed care planning and poor partnership working with one local authority had led to a young person presenting with very unsettled behaviour, such as damage to property, assaults on staff and self-harm. Without clear boundaries, the young person was unable to establish trust with all the adults, and this contributed to them not feeling safe at this home. Staff lacked guidance on what to do if they had suspicions or concerns about the misuse of substances by young people. Without training or guidance on this matter, staff lacked the confidence to challenge young people when they suspected that such risk-taking behaviour had occurred. Consequently, young people did not receive appropriate guidance and support to reduce or prevent any substance misuse.

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Requires improvement

Now, as a result of staff training and regular supervision, the staff team is equipped to provide consistent boundaries, to promote positive behaviour, and to provide informed guidance and support to young people. Young people do feel safe at this home and are fully involved in discussing the risks and how to manage them. Due to the significant improvement in young people’s behaviour, with no incidents of going missing, staff supervision is being reduced to recognise such progress and support young people with their independence. Risks are identified with young people to discuss what support they need to reduce and eliminate them. These documents are reviewed with young people to ensure that they are fully consulted. However, the plan to reduce supervision does not include a review of the use of door alarms at the home. This oversight fails to recognise the utility of such restrictive practices when the level of risk has been significantly reduced.

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Requires improvement

There has been a delay in sharing allegations and suspicions of harm with an external safeguarding agency and Ofsted. The poor quality of written referrals has led to further delays. Leaders and managers are keen to learn from these incidents, and have implemented further training and support for staff.

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Requires improvement

A good example of effective partnership working is the liaison with two police forces, sharing risk management plans for when young people visit another area. This action prepared the relevant authorities to respond quickly, should there be any reports of young people going missing while away from the home. Young people are currently settled at this home, and have returned as agreed without incident.

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Requires improvement

Staff are trained in physical intervention. The emphasis is on de-escalating young people in crisis to regulate their behaviour. There is one record of physical intervention and one consequence as a result of negative behaviour. Given the incidents of damage to property and assaults on staff, there is an absence of evidence of restorative practice. Without consequences, young people lack opportunities to have a sense of personal responsibility and to improve their relationships at the home.

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Requires improvement

There are sound recruitment practices, demonstrating that all the necessary checks have been made before a member of staff starts work. Routine checks ensure that this environment is safe and adheres to health and safety policies, and fire safety. Judgement grade

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Inadequate

The leadership and management of this home are inadequate. Failings in the direct management of the home have included insufficient staff training, lack of formal supervision, and a failure to record and report appropriately. When senior leaders within the organisation became aware of these failings they responded swiftly by consulting with staff, and providing additional management support and training. Senior leaders failed to inform Ofsted or the local authority safeguarding officer of the management failings and how they had addressed them. The responsible individual had tasked a senior member of staff to make these notifications and was unaware that this had not occurred until it became apparent during this inspection.

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Inadequate

The registered manager has failed to review and evaluate records. This has led to the staff team being without clear leadership and direction for the first three months of being operational. Without a robust approach to the monitoring and review of the quality of care, the registered manager has failed to ensure that staff understand or practice the policies and procedures. This has led to inadequate reporting of concerns within the organisation and externally.

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Inadequate

There are further failures in monitoring by the independent person who is appointed to review the quality of care. The independent visitors have routinely failed to examine records critically and scrutinise practice. Reports produced under regulation 44 fail to identify or report on management failings. The independent person has made several recommendations following their monthly visits. However, there has been a failure to check on progress in meeting recommendations from previous visits, therefore they are repeated for several months. For example, the visit in October 2016 recommended that the statement of purpose was updated to reflect staffing changes and then submitted to Ofsted. This recommendation was repeated each month to January 2017, yet the revised statement of purpose has still not been received by Ofsted.

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Inadequate

One complaint has been managed effectively to resolve the matters raised. Records require improvement to specify the outcome of the complaint and the level of satisfaction from the complainant.

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Inadequate

At the point of this inspection, additional management support has ensured effectively that all staff receive regular supervision of their care practices and professional development. In particular, new staff have now received probationary reviews. Staff report positively on the support and training that they now receive.

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Inadequate

A regional manager visits weekly to provide management support, and this is welcomed by the manager and staff team. Staff members are committed to delivering good-quality care to young people and are keen to address any shortfalls. Leaders and managers within this organisation are committed to reviewing the failings and considering the lessons learned.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’. An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

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What the inspection judgements mean

are in place, however, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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 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

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Information about this inspection

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 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,

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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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