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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . The previous inspection highlighted a number of shortfalls, some of which have since been resolved successfully, while other issues remain unresolved. Three children are currently in placement at the home. Children share good relationships with the majority of the staff team and feel the service meets their needs well. One child comments, ‘I like the staff, especially my key worker and the manager. They listen to me and are respectful. I feel safe here because the house is secure and staff care.’ Children are aware of how to make complaints, but do not feel the need to do so. Since the last inspection, the service has received no complaints. At the last inspection, the home’s statement of purpose required revision. This inspection finds that further review is required. This is to ensure that the document correctly

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

identifies the agency’s complaints officer. The children’s handbook also fails to identify this individual. This prevents children from having easy access to independent personnel available to assist with any complaints they may have. The previous inspection highlighted shortfalls in the accuracy of staff’s recording of the administration of medication. Currently, no child is taking medication and so compliance with the requirement cannot be tested. The action is, therefore, repeated. The previous inspection noted that staff did not consistently notify Ofsted as required when children make allegations against staff members. Since the last inspection, there have been no allegations made, and staff have appropriately informed Ofsted of other relevant key events. The appearance of some areas of the home was a cause for concern at the last inspection The home’s premises have since undergone a programme of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

redecoration and repair, which has improved the appearance of the home. Children are happy with their surroundings and some have taken the opportunity to make decisions about the redecoration of their own bedrooms. The kitchen area has undergone redecoration and the lounge area now has on display posters, flags and children’s artwork. Managers comment that there are plans to improve further the appearance of the home, making it more comfortable and homely. Some staff records seen at the last inspection were poor. Staff have since received training to improve the quality of their recording. Managers comment that staff documentation features regularly in team meetings and individual staff supervision. Managers also periodically audit case files. This inspection notes some improvement in case file records, in particular details recorded in placement plans, key work and one-to-one sessions. Staff records of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

missing persons’ episodes and imposed sanctions require further improvement. Not all missing episodes recorded on children’s files are evident in the missing persons’ log. This means that the log does not accurately reflect the total number of children going missing and does not assist managers to monitor trends. Similarly, staff still do not consistently record in the sanctions’ log any sanctions they impose. This is despite, in some instances, staff informing children of the consequences and action taken in response to their unacceptable behaviour. This does not help managers to monitor the effect of action taken to curb poor or challenging behaviour. The previous inspection noted weaknesses in the quality of regulation 44 monitoring reports. In particular, that reports did not contain comprehensive information about the frequency of children going missing. This has since improved and reports now contain clear information about the number of times individual

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

children are missing. The monitoring reports, however, continue to fail to offer any assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and the promotion of children’s welfare. This reduces the manager’s insight into the effectiveness of the service in protecting children and promoting positive outcomes. The inspection finds that, while the service has been successful in addressing some of the issues highlighted previously, not all identified shortfalls have been resolved. The home is, therefore, assessed as having sustained effectiveness.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

07/01/2015 Interim Sustained 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

The registered person must— (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16(3)(a)) 15/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

7. The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard In order to meet the views, wishes and feelings standard, the registered provider must— 7(2) (c) Keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review. 15/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicine received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)) 15/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) 15/05/2017

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping. In particular, that records of missing persons and imposed sanctions are recorded consistently in logs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 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 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 123 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 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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