Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited in Westminster

inspection

Ofsted issued two compliance notices on 14 December 2016.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, the home was 'not judged' .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of this inspection, there were no children in placement. Therefore, this inspection focuses on whether the children’s home meets its statutory requirements in order to maintain its registration and is ready to accept placements. As a result, no judgement is made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service’s last inspection that was conducted on 22 November 2016, resulted in two compliance notices being issued. These highlighted weaknesses in staff’s management of children who are missing and in the quality of staff recording. A monitoring visit to the service, which was conducted on 9 January 2017, found the service had successfully adhered to both compliance notices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The last child accommodated at the home was in December 2016. The organisation has very recently appointed a manager. There has been no registered manager in place since December 2015. The new manager is in the process of applying to Ofsted to become the home’s registered manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is temporarily closed; no staff currently work on the premises. While the home remains closed, staff have undertaken a series of key training to help address some of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have recently received training in child protection with a particular focus on managing incidents when children go missing. Staff have received refresher training in the organisation’s child protection policies and procedures. The organisation has also provided training focused on improving the quality of staff’s recording of critical incidents. Further staff training is scheduled to help improve the quality of care provided by the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the absence of children in placement, the inspection is unable to assess the effectiveness of recent staff training or the quality of care provided. As a result, the recommendations and requirements raised at the last inspection are repeated and will be reviewed at the next inspection. The home’s premises is comfortable with some communal areas having been re- decorated. This helps to improve the home’s physical environment and appearance.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual ensures that an independent person visits the home on a monthly basis to conduct regulation 44 monitoring inspections as required. In addition, senior staff of the organisation now also conduct monitoring visits and complete audits to help identify strengths and weaknesses of the service and to promote improvement.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is one of a number owned by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for no more than three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/11/2016 Full Inadequate 23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/11/2015 Full Good 12/11/2014 Full Adequate

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered provider must;

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Requirement Due date

6(1)(b) ensure that children receive care from staff who deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular that care planning for potential placements at the home are appropriate and meet children's needs, including any therapeutic input 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, the registered provider must;

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Requirement Due date

8(1) ensure that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard, the registered provider must;

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Requirement Due date

10(1)(a) ensure that the health and well-being needs of children are met. 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

13; The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered provider must,

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Requirement Due date

13(2)(c ) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. In particular that staff receive training that enhances their understanding of separation, loss, attachment and trauma to assist them to understand and manage children's behaviour. 01/05/2017 13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered provider must,

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Requirement Due date

40(4) notify HMCI and each other relevant persons without delay if –

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Requirement Due date

(e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 01/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Take reasonable precautions when conducting room searches. In particular, that in every instance two members of staff are present. Staff to maintain appropriate records of room searches. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff understand and apply the behaviour management strategy at all times. These must be kept under review and revised where appropriate. Staff to consider the more consistent use of incentives to promote positive behaviour and restorative justice to address behaviour resulting in criminal damage. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 46, paragraph 9.34)

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff help each child prepare for any moves from the home. This is to include structured support and supervision to develop practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care skills. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 17, paragraph 3.27)

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff are familiar with the home's policies on recording and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This is particularly in relation to complaints, critical incidents, key work sessions and 1:1 sessions. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 Ensure the registered person promptly seeks to involve the local authority and other relevant persons whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 42, paragraph 9.4)

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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 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 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, workbased 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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