Children's home run by Esland North Limited in Amber Valley

Inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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The children’s home provision is inadequate because:

 The manager is registered with Ofsted to manage two children’s homes; she has failed to manage both homes effectively.  Leaders and managers have failed to obtain detailed information on young people from their placing authorities to help to inform their care, health and education needs. This impacts negatively on the quality of care that young people receive.  Behaviour management plans list known poor behaviours, yet fail to provide staff with clear preventative strategies on how to respond to and manage them. The staff team lacks direction on how to provide care and set boundaries for young people.  The high turnover of staff members hinders the delivery of consistent care and support. Nine members of staff have left the home since it was registered in September 2016. The instability of the staff team prevents young people from receiving consistent, high-quality care.  There is a lack of recognition of safeguarding concerns by the leaders,

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The children’s home provision is inadequate because:

managers and the staff team. Consequently, safeguarding incidents are not always reported to other agencies. Leaders and managers failed to notify Ofsted of three serious events and did not identify management failings.  Leaders and managers fail to adequately monitor and review care practices and records. This has led to inadequate reporting of concerns within the organisation and externally.  Three compliance notices have been issued as a result of this inspection in respect of the leadership and management standard, the positive relationships standard and the failure to notify Ofsted of serious incidents and events.

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The children’s home strengths

 Staff provide young people with opportunities to develop their hobbies and interests with activities in the local community.  Staff regularly seek young people’s views and act on them.

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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, 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard The quality and purpose of care standard requires the registered person to (b) ensure that staff (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. 04/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

8: The education standard (2) The education standard requires the registered person to ensure (a) that staff (i) help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. 04/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard *(1) The positive relationship 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. *(2) The positive relationship standard requires the registered person to ensure *(a) that staff *(i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; *(ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; 04/05/2017 *(iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; *(v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; *(vi) help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate

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Requirement Due date

according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; *(xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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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 protection of children standard 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. 04/05/2017

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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 *(a) helps children to aspire to fulfil their potential; and *(b) promotes their welfare. *(2) The leadership and management standard requires the registered person to *(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; *(e) ensure the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; *(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and 04/05/2017 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.

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Requirement Due date

33: Employment of staff (4) The registered person must ensure that all employees (b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. 04/05/2017

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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 *(a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; *(b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; *(e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 04/05/2017

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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. 04/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

45: Review of quality of care (1) The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. 04/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 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 of the home and create an area for dining, separate from the space allocated for education. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 three young people. Young people may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

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

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Inadequate

Since registration in September 2016, this home has provided care for one young person. At the time of this inspection, the young person had recently moved, as planned, to another home operated by this organisation and, consequently, no young people were present during the visit. Care planning for young people is poor. The registered manager has failed to ensure that care planning documents are received from the placing authority, prior to, or on the day of, admission to the home. The lack of key information impacts negatively on the quality of individualised care and the ability of staff to know the specific needs of the young person. The registered manager and senior leaders failed to effectively challenge the responsible placing authority to provide information to inform the quality of care and risk management for young people. Young people’s physical healthcare needs are met through regular visits to a

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Inadequate

dentist, optician and general practitioner. Young people also have access to psychological services. Details of such appointments are maintained for young people’s personal health records. However, in addition to the absence of care planning documents, the registered manager failed to obtain the record of any previous health assessments. This absence of information has the potential for staff to overlook any specific requirements needed to support the health and well-being of young people. Young people are denied access to learning. The young person waited two months for formal education, receiving some online courses while waiting. Starting in November 2016, a home tutor delivered two hours of education three days a week and, from January 2017, this increased to two hours for five days. Attendance and engagement in education have been difficult, the prolonged period that the young person has been out of school being a contributory factor. Leaders and managers

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Inadequate

have failed to collaborate effectively with the placing authority to ensure that the appropriate level of education provision is available to the young person. Once again, key documents are absent. Leaders and managers failed to secure a meeting with the placing authority to discuss key documents until February 2017, more than five months after the young person arrived at this home. Once the home tutor was established, the young person improved his level of engagement and visited a local school, although an application for a school placement was unsuccessful. Staff support young people with their learning through their interests. For example, an interest in animals led to a visit to an animal rescue centre where the young person volunteered for a while. Young people are supported with activities and outings of their choice. Attendance at a boxing club, a gymnasium and a youth club provides opportunities for a young

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Inadequate

person to take part in activities and to socialise with other teenagers. Despite staff efforts, the young person struggled to maintain his interest in these clubs. The views and wishes of young people are regularly sought. The young person expressed his desire to be nearer to an urban area, having lived for many years in a city. The rural location of this home, far away from family members, caused some difficulties and isolated the young person from his cultural needs. To address the isolation, staff arranged to purchase some pictures and skylines of the young person’s home city, along with a board game. Eventually, the young person moved to enable him to be nearer to his home area and to have improved transport links. The detached house in a residential area is decorated to provide a pleasant environment. When damage occurs, arrangements are made for prompt repair or replacement. One ground-floor room has been designed as a space for learning,

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Inadequate

where young people can meet with a tutor, or staff, as an alternative to the lounge. This room is conducive to learning with good access to resources; however, it was originally a dining room and, therefore, there is no alternative room in which to sit at a table for mealtimes. The learning space is not suitable to double up as a dining room. Alternative arrangements are required in order to provide a suitable space for meal times, akin to a family home. Leaflets and posters on the walls of the lounge and throughout the home are institutional in appearance and detract from the style of a family home.

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Inadequate

Behaviour management is ineffective. Eighteen incidents of anti-social behaviour occurred during October 2016 and again in November 2016. There were 11 more in December 2016. These incidents involved threatening and aggressive behaviours, resulting in some physical assaults on staff. The promotion of positive behaviour is inadequate and fails to support young people in making progress with their social and emotional development. There is a failure to provide staff with the information and direction that they need to put in place consistent boundaries for young people, or to provide clear expectations of good behaviour. The staff team frequently called the young person’s social worker until staff were told to refer to the management support within their own organisation. Training has now begun to improve the team’s understanding of behaviour management. However, significant shortfalls remain. The number of incidents of disruptive behaviour reduced to three

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Inadequate

during January 2017 and six in February 2017. Risk management is poor. The document referred to as ‘Presenting behaviour risk management plan’ clearly details the known behaviours and risks relating to young people and the likely triggers to such behaviour, yet it fails to provide any strategies or ‘control measures’ for each behaviour. Without clear direction and leadership, the staff team is unable to respond appropriately to the young person. Staff initially lacked training and guidance to manage the risks presented by young people and, consequently, are unable to support and care for them safely. Young people are not provided with sufficient opportunities to address poor behaviour with sanctions that are restorative in nature. For example, while some records evidence that young people are expected to tidy up any mess made or assist in the repair of damaged items in the home, these consequences are rarely

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Inadequate

applied. As a result, young people are not supported to develop acceptable behaviour and to recognise the impact that their poor behaviour has on themselves and others. Leaders and managers of this home have failed to notify Ofsted, and other agencies, of serious events. Lack of action and reporting by the manager and staff team highlights a weakness in relation to their roles and responsibilities towards the protection of children. There is a failure to report to, and work collaboratively with, statutory bodies for the safety and welfare of children. There has been one incident of a young person going missing. This occurred in the local area and he was found after two hours, during which staff actively searched for him. On this occasion, the staff team worked with the local police to ensure the safe return of the young person. There are sound recruitment practices demonstrating that all the necessary checks

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Inadequate

have been made before a member of staff starts work. Routine checks ensure that this environment is safe, and adhere to health and safety policies and fire safety.

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Inadequate

The leadership and management of this home are inadequate. The registered manager has experience of managing children’s homes, although she has yet to complete a formal management qualification. The manager is registered with Ofsted to manage two children’s homes; she has failed to manage both homes effectively. Ofsted inspections have judged both homes as inadequate for the impact and effectiveness of the leadership and management. Failings in the direct management of the home have included insufficient staff training, lack of formal supervision, a high turnover of staff and a failure to record and report appropriately. When senior leaders in 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 of how they had addressed

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Inadequate

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 an Ofsted inspection over two months later. Leaders and managers have failed to provide stability for young people by not establishing a consistent staff team. During the full inspection, it was reported that nine staff members have left since the home became operational on 19 September 2016. It was reported that there is currently a team of five staff in addition to the registered manager. A senior member of staff from another children’s home in the organisation recently supported the management of the home as a secondment for approximately 12 weeks. This means that the young person has been supported by at least 16 members of staff during the five and a half months he has lived in the home. These staffing arrangements negatively impact on the continuity of care for

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Inadequate

young people and fail to promote meaningful and sustained relationships. Leaders and managers fail to ensure that the monthly reporting by an independent person is robust and accurate. The independent person repeatedly fails to examine and scrutinise critically the way in which the home is managed, and the quality of care provided to young people. Reports provided under regulation 44 do not include reference to the serious incidents and management failings. When shortfalls are identified and reported as an action required, there is a failure to review progress at the next visit and, consequently, actions drift and this level of monitoring is ineffective. The independent person has not scrutinised records sufficiently to be able to form an opinion as to whether young people are effectively cared for and safeguarded. The registered manager submitted to Ofsted a quality monitoring report covering the period from September 2016 to December 2016. This report referred to a

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Inadequate

notification to Ofsted of a serious event that occurred in November 2016. Ofsted had not received this notification, and senior managers conducted an internal audit of incident reports. Two further serious events were identified that the registered manager had failed to report to Ofsted, to external agencies, or within the organisation. Further scrutiny of the quality monitoring report found that it contains other factual inaccuracies. This false and misleading reporting highlights significant failings by the registered manager. 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 practise the policies and procedures. This has led to inadequate reporting of concerns within the organisation and externally. At the point of this inspection, additional management support has ensured effectively that all staff receive regular supervision of their care practices and

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Inadequate

professional development. In particular, new staff have now received probationary reviews. Staff report positively on the support and training that they now receive. A regional manager visits the home weekly to provide management support, and this is welcomed by the manager and staff team. An interim manager has been appointed to replace the registered manager on a planned transition as the registered manager prepares to leave her post. Staff members are committed to delivering good-quality care to young people and are keen to address any shortfalls.

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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’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that 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 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 whom 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 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 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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