Children's home run by Quantum Care UK Limited in North Northamptonshire

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:

 A significant failure by the leaders and managers of the provision resulted in the safety and welfare of young people placed being compromised.  Poor management practice led to safeguarding procedures in relation to the conduct of staff and management of staff being ineffectively applied.  Managers did not obtain all the necessary information before accepting a referral. This resulted in a poor placement decision. A failure to provide information to another service in relation to a young person moving on resulted in a negative experience for the young person.  Staff were not provided with sufficient training on sexualised behaviours to fully meet the needs of the young people.  Covering management arrangements are short term, pending the outcome of investigations.

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The children’s home strengths

 The senior leaders in the company responded immediately to address the issues of poor staff practice.  The company responded by taking action as advised by the safeguarding agencies and immediately drew up and implemented a detailed action safety plan.  Strong covering management arrangements have ensured that the current young people are safe and protected from harm.  Staff understand and are comfortable to use whistleblowing procedures.  Action taken to date shows that there is capacity for senior managers to investigate what happened, take decisive action and make the required changes in the home.  The staff work hard to ensure that young people receive the most appropriate education placement and encourage young people to access activities in the local community.

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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

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers matters listed in schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1) Schedule 1(19)(22)) This relates specifically to ensuring that the statement of purpose reflects the current staffing structure and any criteria used for the admission of children to the home. 02/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping and safe administration of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)) This relates specifically to having a written procedure for managing medication errors. 02/05/2107

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purpose of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year, taking into account the requirements in Regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard) (Regulation 46(1)). This relates specifically to including the risk of extremism and radicalisation. 02/05/2017.

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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 all staff (i) 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 02/05/2107 the child. (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policy is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

14 The care planning standard requires that children (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 02/05/2107.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development and receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b)) 02/05/2107

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases, children may need longer to work though their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than five days after the incident of restraint. Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49 and 50, paragraph 9.60). This relates to staff consistently recording children’s views and feelings following a restraint or incident.  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. Notification must

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Recommendations

include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13). This relates specifically to the quality and detail of the notification in ensuring that it is a true reflection of the incident.  The registered person must ensure that there are sufficient suitably trained staff (including someone in a management role) on duty to meet the assessed needs of all children in the home, and that those staff are able to respond to emergency placements, where accepted. The registered person must demonstrate every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children’s attachments are not overly disrupted, including ensuring that the employment of temporary staff will not prevent children from receiving the continuity of care they need. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the

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Recommendations

quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to two young people aged between 11 and 17 years old. A small children’s home, it provides for young people who have generally not responded well in larger settings. It is one of a number of children’s homes owned by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

17/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/11/2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Requires improvement

Although there have been serious concerns about the staff’s ability to help and protect the young people due to a poor placement decision and practice, recent actions taken have resulted in improved care, enhanced protection and a more positive experience for the young people. The impact of senior managers and leaders and covering management arrangements is proving effective, and the delivery of care is being strengthened as a result. Young people now receive improved care and are starting to make progress across many areas, including education, behaviour and self-esteem. The weaknesses identified are being addressed and continually assessed to ensure that young people make progress in the medium and long term. Care planning allows for the identification of individual needs. However, recent poor placement matching left one young person at great risk, due to managers not identifying an issue that had a serious impact on the young people. In general,

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Requires improvement

care plans are of a good standard, and risks are identified and taken into account. Over time, young people, including those who have now moved on, do well and make excellent progress. Historically, challenging and risky behaviours have decreased because of consistently applied boundaries and strategies. For example, the number of missing incidents has decreased significantly, and the numbers of restraints are now extremely low. Young people responded very well to the staff focus on positive intervention and de-escalation techniques. This was the case until the recent incident when staff’s poor practice in behaviour management resulted in a serious allegation against a member of staff. This is part of the current investigations. Staff members invest time in the young people and protect and promote their welfare, for example, by supporting young people through difficult contact arrangements with family. Staff celebrate and take pride in young people’s

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Requires improvement

achievements, no matter how small. The covering management arrangements have established a nurturing and friendly environment, enabling young people to develop positive relationships. Good structured daily routines guide young people to keep safe and change their perceptions of their life chances. In general, the staff are committed to listening to the wishes and feelings of the young people and demonstrate a high level of awareness of their needs and opinions through continuous observation and dialogue. Young people have individual key working sessions, they are provided with advocates if required, and, until recent months, they have undertaken de-brief sessions following incidents. Young people are encouraged to make choices about food, furnishings in the home and the activities that they wish to do. Young people have access to appropriate health professionals. Trained staff administer medication and first aid. Such is the robust monitoring and training, that

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Requires improvement

there have been no medication errors. However, the company medication policy refers to each home having a written medication policy that covers medication error procedures. The policy located at the home does not have this included. Transition arrangements are usually well planned, and work is undertaken in line with the home’s own stated procedures. However, recent admission and moving on arrangements were not in accordance with company policy and resulted in very poor and unsafe experiences for young people. This is being investigated.

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Requires improvement

The management and staff team failed, on one occasion, to protect young people from harm and abuse. Serious shortfalls that left young people at risk of actual harm or at risk of further harm have been addressed. Senior leaders have taken immediate and strong action and introduced temporary management arrangements. Therefore, young people, once in an unsafe environment, are now increasingly safe. There has been a strong, robust and proactive response from all those working with the young people that has reduced the risk of harm. Due to the recent nature of these changes, they could not be fully assessed during this inspection. A decision to admit a young person without due consideration of known risks and poor staff responses to manging challenging and risky behaviours resulted in young people being harmed. The senior management team has responded well to safeguarding agencies’ advice and demands by undertaking urgent reviews and

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Requires improvement

investigations. There is good liaison between the senior managers and all agencies involved. As a result of reviewed and improved behaviour management plans, staff now promote positive behaviours, use effective de-escalation techniques and create alternative strategies that are specific to the needs of the young people. The management of conflict has improved as a result of staff being better informed of the approaches they can use. The young people are responding well to the new strategies put in place. In addition, and as a result of further training, staff working at the setting are clearer about individual risks and how to keep young people safe. This includes training in addressing sexualised behaviours, a refresher in child protection and sessions on how to manage specific health issues. The staff are aware of and use the whistleblowing procedures. Allegations made by young people have resulted in robust investigations being undertaken in

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Requires improvement

accordance with safeguarding agencies’ advice. Support is offered to the person making the allegation and the person who is subject to the allegation. Risk assessments and behaviour management plans have been reviewed and are now of a good standard, reflecting all known risks and ways to manage behaviours. Young people live in an environment where all health and safety checks are carried out. Young people know what to do in the event of a fire as they have regular fire evacuation drills. Recruitment arrangements are robust. Only those adults assessed as suitable to work with young people are appointed. No new staff have started since the last inspection. The home’s location risk assessment is due to be updated and needs to include the risk of extremism and radicalisation.

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Requires improvement

The concerns noted above regarding decision-making and poor practice are subject to internal investigation. This has led to significant changes being made and interim management arrangements being put in place at the home. Senior leaders and managers had identified the weaknesses highlighted throughout this report and have taken immediate action. This strong and decisive action has led to the staff team being unsettled for a few weeks. However, this does not appear to have had too much impact on the progress made by young people throughout this time. Covering management arrangements put in place are effective. An action plan created as a result of recent serious shortfalls in the management and safeguarding of the home is being closely scrutinised. This ensures that the home is meeting time scales for change. The impact of the changes put in place is monitored through supervisions and staff feedback on the quality of training. The

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Requires improvement

management oversight of the recording of logs and reports has seen an improvement. Training has been an area of focus, and additional training is to be provided and arranged over the next few weeks. This ensures that all the needs of young people can be met, including health, behaviour management and sexualised behaviours. The home’s statement of purpose is out of date and confusing in relation to its referral and admission procedures. The current one does not correctly reflect the home’s staffing structure and refers to a placement manager in regards to the referral process. There is no clarity as to whether this relates to the local authority or to the company. The company does not have a ‘placement manager’. However, it does have a referral officer. This needs to be corrected to avoid confusion. Some written notifications to the regulator, Ofsted, are poor in detail and not truly reflective of the notifiable incident.

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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

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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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