Children's home run by Action in Care Ltd

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left and a senior member of staff has recently been appointed interim manager. The provider failed to notify Ofsted, as required by regulation, of the loss of the registered manager and the interim management arrangements in place. Therefore Ofsted, as the regulator, has not been aware, or able to determine the suitability, of the management arrangements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, two requirements and three recommendations were set. While there has been improvement in some areas, the majority of these have not been met. In addition, a number of new requirements have been set. Although aspects of the direct care provided are good, issues in relation to safeguarding, leadership and management undermine the ability of the home as a whole to provide the good quality of support to which the organisation aspires. While the children say that they feel safe, there are some concerns which have the potential to place children at significant risk. As a result, although staff are individually committed to delivering good-quality individualised care, the home has not consistently been able to deliver the caring experience to children as set out in the statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Fire safety arrangements fail to protect children effectively against the risk of fire. For example, children’s bedrooms, the lounge and office do not have working fire door closures. Furthermore, the kitchen and education room fire doors are wedged open as part of the daily routine, indicating a lack of regard for safety. Fire extinguishers have been removed from the communal areas due to children setting these off. This arrangement has been subject to risk assessment, ensuring that staff are able to access these and are aware of where they are kept. However, it is unclear from this risk assessment whether further staff training guidance has been given in how to respond effectively to a fire, given the changes in arrangements. This is particularly important, as the home may provide care and support to children who have a recent history of fire setting. Fire management and prevention arrangements are therefore not sufficiently robust, and children and staff at are at

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

increased risk of harm. The home is a spacious, detached house with large, individually decorated bedrooms and generous living space. However, children’s bedroom windows are secured shut, preventing the children from accessing fresh air or ventilation. At the last inspection, the provider was asked to review the nightly locking of kitchen and lounge doors as a way of managing children’s behaviour. However, this practice continues, creating an institutionalised approach which undermines the homely living accommodation that is aimed for and is contrary to the ethos detailed in the home’s statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The currently placed children have made some progress in relation to their well- being. For example, they have reduced episodes of going missing and involvement with drugs, and they are also beginning to engage in some form of education. They receive individualised care and support, and develop positive relationships with staff. The staff and children speak warmly of each other. For example, one staff member referred to a child as ‘charming and funny’. One of the children said ‘the staff are nice’ and another said ‘I love the staff, they’re all really nice.’ They identified some favourite staff, saying ‘I can have a laugh with them.’ There is laughter and good-natured teasing, and affection is shown between staff and children which demonstrates the positive relationships that are developing. The children are supported to maintain friendships and family relationships which are important to them. They are in good health. However, there is little evidence of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

how staff address unhealthy behaviours or effectively utilise community resources to support children to cease smoking or using cannabis.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Poor placement planning and matching have potentially undermined the stability of some children’s placements. In the past three months, there have been five admissions and three children have moved on. One child stayed only two weeks and another only four. The level of change has potentially undermined the stability of the group as a whole and impacted on the ability of staff to build lasting relationships to effect positive change. As a result, behaviour management strategies are not always making a positive difference. This means that, while children may individually present as calmer than they did pre-placement, they continue to present regularly heightened situations which challenge staff skills and resilience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical intervention is used infrequently, and only when thresholds of potential harm are met and by staff who are suitably trained. However, the records of physical restraint do not consistently meet regulatory requirements. For example, children who have been restrained do not always receive a documented offer of medical attention following restraint. Nor is there always a clear record of how, or for how long, the child was restrained. Sanctions records are not always clear about the actual sanction which took place. For example, on one occasion the statement ‘all privileges removed’ was used, rather than a specific description of what the consequence of the negative behaviour was. There are poor arrangements for the review and monitoring of incidents, undermining the potential for reflection to contribute to meeting the ongoing and changing needs of children. For example, no suitable senior person has reviewed the physical interventions that

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

are conducted and recorded by the interim manager to ensure their suitability, nor is there a review of the effectiveness of each sanction. Furthermore, children’s views on any restraint or sanction are not consistently sought. There is no information to suggest that either physical restraint or sanctions have been used inappropriately, but the lack of clarity and accuracy inhibits the ease of establishing the events, the level of care offered and the impact of these events on the children. Further, it undermines the ability of managers to review incidents effectively to identify patterns and trends or areas where practice can improve.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no concerns regarding bullying. The children say that, while there have been issues of conflict, these have been defused by staff. One child said: ‘We all get on well. We are like brother and sister.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, the manager was asked to improve the children’s individual missing from care protocols. These remain an area in which improvement is required in order to ensure that staff have effective guidance on how to respond to such situations. Individual missing from care risk assessments and the ‘at a glance safety plan’ detailing the children’s needs are not up to date and to fail to give staff adequate guidance on how to respond. For example, one child’s plan had not been updated since admission in October 2016, despite significant changes such as mobile phone ownership and improved freedom in the community. The impact on individual children is minor, because missing from home incidents are infrequent and, when such incidents occur, effective staff responses demonstrate their commitment to safeguard and protect the children in their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has not ensured that all significant events are notified to Ofsted or partner agencies as required. For example, a concern was raised in respect of a member of staff’s practice. The provider notified this to the child’s placing authority, but not to Ofsted or the local designated safeguarding officer. This had no direct impact on children’s safety on this occasion, because the placing social worker referred the situation to the designated safeguarding officer. The provider subsequently took appropriate action, including suspending the member of staff to allow investigation. However, it is essential that the provider inform partner agencies of significant incidents in a timely manner to enable them to undertake their safeguarding role effectively. Furthermore Ofsted, as the regulator, is unable to form an accurate picture of any challenges which the home is facing if it is not notified of such concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recording systems within the home are of poor quality, failing to demonstrate the support that staff provide on a day-to-day basis or in relation to significant events. For example, staff training records were unavailable, and the case records for children who have moved on and some documents for those in placement could not be located. Records such as the admission register, restraints, sanctions and risk assessments are not maintained to a suitable standard, failing to contain sufficient detail or accurate and current information.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, the manager was asked to improve staff supervision arrangements. The timeframe for completing this is yet to expire, but the interim manager has implemented improved monitoring of the frequency of individual staff supervision meetings. Staff report that arrangements have improved and that they feel well supported. The manager was also asked to ensure that all staff undertake training in respect of e-safety. Since then, some, but not all, staff have undertaken this training and others are due to complete it.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are, as outlined above, a number of concerns regarding the service. However, some areas of practice are good. Social workers say that the home has worked well in partnership, and they are positive about the support that staff can provide, referring to staff who are ‘insightful’. Another said, ‘They have given her [young person] stability and opportunity to prepare for independence in a safe environment’. One of the children rated the service as 8.5/10, saying, ‘It’s pretty okay really, I like it here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Quality assurance arrangements have not been of sufficient depth and breadth to alert the provider to the decline in the service or give clear insight into areas of concern. Opportunities to identify areas for development and celebrate success are not fully utilised, as the views of the children, parents and partner professionals are not considered as part of the quality of care review.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned and is registered to accommodate up to five children and young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/12/2016 Full Good 31/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 13/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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

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, with particular reference to providing children with a comfortable, good- quality, homely living environment, the registered provider must: (2)(c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to– (i) meet the child’s needs; and (ii) enable each child to participate in daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children have access to fresh air and suitable ventilation in their bedroom. Furthermore, review the practice of locking the kitchen and lounge each night and ensure decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home are only made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to children who go missing from care and staff’s awareness of their safeguarding duties, the registered person must ensure that: (2)(a)(i) Staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. In particular, ensure that individual missing from care risk assessments and the ‘at a glance safety plan’ documents are accurate, current and provide clear guidance to staff. (v) Staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. In particular, ensure and concerns regarding staff practice or a child’s safety and wellbeing are referred onto the appropriate partner agencies. Furthermore, ensure that incidents of physical

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Requirement Due date

17/04/2017 restraint are reviewed by a suitably senior member of staff who is independent of the restraint. 13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: 2(a) Lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and deliver the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. In particular, ensure records are maintained in accordance with regulatory requirements, specifically that the admission register contains the details required by regulation. (c) Ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. In particular, ensure all staff complete suitable training in e-safety. (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. In particular, ensure that children’s case files are accessible, contain accurate, and current information

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Requirement Due date

regarding children’s needs and demonstrate the care provided. (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

In particular, ensure that quality assurance systems are sufficiently robust and effective to give an accurate picture of the areas for development. Ensure that the system is evaluative, and ascertains and considers the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. 08/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to good quality admission processes, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a)(b) Children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (2) Ensure that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure good-quality admission and assessment processes which promote placement stability. Only admit children where the registered person is clear that they can effectively meet 17/04/2017 their needs while continuing to meet the needs of other children placed in the home. The registered person must ensure that the requirements of the Fire Safety Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and any regulations made under it are complied with in respect of the home. In particular, ensure all fire doors are closed in the absence of a suitable automatic closure, ensure no fire door is propped open, ensure staff understand their personal responsibilities in relation to fire safety and how to help children safely evacuate the building in an emergency. (Regulation 25(2)(b)) 17/04/2017

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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 a description of the measure and its duration; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. 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)(iv)(vii)(c)) 17/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify Ofsted and each other relevant person without delay of a significant event in the home. (Regulation 40(4)) 17/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to Ofsted, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if a person ceases to carry on or manage the home. (Regulation 49(b)) 17/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide details of the arrangements which have been made for running the home during the absence of the registered manager and the arrangements that have been, or are proposed to be, made for appointing another person to manage the home during the absence, including the proposed date by which the appointment is to be made. (Regulation 48(2)(b)(v)) 17/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Staff should have sufficient understanding of relevant health services, including the functions of the designated nurse for looked after children in their area. They should support children to navigate these services, advocating on their behalf where necessary and appropriate. This is with particular reference to organising access to smoking cessation services. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.8)

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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 0300 23 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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