Children's home run by RNIB Charity in Camden

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

Five requirements were made at the last full inspection. At the time of this inspection, four requirements are met and one is not met. Continuing shortfalls with regard to the recording of physical restraint has meant that children and young people are not spoken to after incidents. This means that children and young people’s views are not gathered after physical restraint.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection finds further shortfalls. Staff have made several errors with the administration of medication. This has resulted in some children and young people with complex health needs being given their food and medication via the incorrect means. Some children and young people have also been given medication that is not prescribed for them, and at incorrect times. In addition, staff have not followed process in seeking the advice of the on-call manager. Nor did they seek immediate medical advice. This means that children and young people’s medical needs are not being met in line with their care plans, and this places them at risk of potential harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite management oversight, and new systems being put in place to minimise these shortfalls, they have reoccurred. Although staff have been provided with training, they have continued to administer incorrect medication without checking basic details before doing so. This indicates poor and careless practice, which places children and young people at risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal and external monitoring is not good enough. Monthly reports by the independent visitor do not give a clear opinion about whether the home effectively safeguards and promotes children and young people’s well-being. The independent visitor does not analyse or evaluate the care that children and young people receive. For example, the independent visitor made no comment about four safeguarding notifications regarding young people, or a complaint made by a young person about his care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children and young people demonstrate challenging behaviour. They can become anxious quickly, and as a result will hit out at staff. Some children and young people are left in their bedrooms or bathrooms by staff who hold the door for short periods to manage this behaviour. This means that children and young people are not able to move freely. They can become more agitated, which perpetuates their challenging behaviour. There is no basis for this approach, and it is not in line with the behaviour techniques and strategies that staff are supposed to use. However, its use means that such practice, which restricts children and young people’s movement, could become customary.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite these shortfalls, some children and young people have made good progress and enjoy living at the home. Children and young people enjoy a bright, colourful and warm environment that is personalised to their needs. Children and young people have access to specialist equipment, and a hydrotherapy pool has recently been built. Children and young people with very complex health needs are able to experience lots of positive and fun activities, as other children and young people do. This means that they take positive risks, and are able to access community activities that they enjoy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has ensured that there is an accessible complaints process, which meets the communication needs of children and young people. Children and young people are also able to make their wishes known through young people’s meetings, email or individual communication of their choice. The registered manager has received positive feedback from parents and professionals about the care that children and young people receive. The manager is currently working on how the views and wishes of children and young people are gathered, to improve the quality of care provided.

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Information about this children's home

This is a large children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to 30 children and young people in five purpose-built bungalows. The children and young people have a visual impairment, learning and physical disabilities and/or sensory impairment. One of the bungalows is also registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and provides a specialist service to children and young people with high health and medical needs who require long-term ventilation, or who have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions. This establishment is owned by a large national charity. The majority of the children and young people attend a registered school on the same site. Young people may remain at the home until the age of 19 to complete their education.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/11/2016 Full Good 18/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/08/2015 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21(c)(i)(ii)(iii)) 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. In particular the registered person must ensure that medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23(1)(2)(b)) 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(c)) 30/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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 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 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

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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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