Children's home run by Lioncare Ltd Operating as The Lioncare Group in Epping Forest

This monitoring visit

A full inspection of the home was undertaken on 26 and 27 January 2017. The home was judged to be inadequate across all areas of practice. Four compliance notices were issued on 10 February 2017. The date set for meeting all the actions specified in the notices was 31 March 2017. This monitoring inspection focused on the work that has taken place in the home since 10 February 2017, and the organisation’s compliance with the steps identified in each notice.

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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 required steps to be taken in relation to documenting and reporting concerns raised by young people and any action taken in response to their concerns. It required young people’s comments in respect of restraints to be recorded and reported, and that restraints are reviewed to ensure that they meet young people’s needs. There has been satisfactory progress made towards complying with this notice; the compliance notice is met. Staff have attended refresher training in the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures. When staff have been unable to attend formal training provision, individual training sessions have been arranged. This ensures that all staff are familiar with, and able to act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policy.

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

A new system logs young people’s concerns and the action taken in response. There is evidence that, where young people raise concerns, staff effectively record and report these. Managers and staff have undertaken additional training in the use and recording of physical intervention. When young people raise concerns in respect of restraint, improved practice ensures that their concerns are recorded and reported and that they are offered medical support and independent advocacy.

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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 young people being delivered in a way that keeps each young person safe and protects them from harm. Some work has been undertaken to meet this compliance notice. However, evidence obtained by inspectors did not demonstrate that all steps were fully met. The timescale for implementing all steps within this notice will be extended to 28 April 2017. New systems improve the monitoring of staff when reading young people’s care plans. At the monitoring visit, six staff had not signed to acknowledge that they had read and understood the young people’s plans. There was evidence of management follow-up of this issue; however, the step remains incomplete. Managers view current staffing arrangements to be sufficient. However, from the information provided to inspectors regarding levels of supervision and potential intervention required, it appears that the number of staff on duty may not meet

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(Regulation 12(2)(b))

young people’s needs. In addition, the gender balance of staff does not consistently meet young people’s needs. For example, female staff are now available for the majority of nightshifts, but up to two nightshifts per week remain a solely male staff team. This fails to meet the needs of a vulnerable female in placement. Further work is required to meet this step. There has been one minor breach of the supervision of a young person. The registered manager monitored and actively addressed this issue.

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(Regulation 12(2)(d))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to managers and staff having the knowledge and understanding to identify and address risks and hazards to provide a safe environment and safe care to the young people. There has been good progress made towards some steps outlined in the compliance notice. However, evidence obtained by inspectors did not demonstrate that all steps were fully met. The timescale for implementing all steps within this notice will be extended to 28 April 2017. Managers and some staff have undertaken risk assessment training. Individual training is being provided to staff members who were unable to attend, while they await a future training date. This provides the staff with the knowledge and understanding that they need to identify risks and to provide a safe environment for the young people. Risk assessments of young people require further development. Staff do not always effectively update risk assessments in response to incidents and known

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(Regulation 12(2)(d))

changes in young people’s level of risk. Young people’s risk assessments do not provide specific and clear guidance to the staff. Managers acknowledge a need for further development in the quality of the risk assessments and gave a commitment to ensuring that this is achieved. Records indicate that not all staff have read the young people’s risk assessments; it is, therefore, unclear whether they have an effective understanding to provide young people with safe care. There was evidence of management follow-up of this issue. However, the step remains incomplete. The registered manager has worked hard to address risks and hazards in the home. He has instigated a weekly health and safety check, sometimes accompanied by the young people, to develop their understanding of safe environments. In addition, an independent person completes a comprehensive monthly health and safety check of the home. This provides a high level of

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(Regulation 12(2)(d))

scrutiny. New health and safety log sheets ensure that any identified health, safety and maintenance issues are addressed without delay.

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(Regulation 45(4)(a))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to management monitoring of the quality of care provided for the young people. Good progress has been made in this area of practice; the compliance notice has been met. Previous quality of care reviews, not submitted to HMCI, are now submitted. The organisation has undertaken a review of its quality of care monitoring; managers expect this will improve the quality of monitoring in the home. The registered manager will now undertake quality of care monitoring more frequently, and systems are in place to ensure that reports are submitted to HMCI within the regulatory timescale.

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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 five 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

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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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