Children's home in Gloucester

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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, there has been a period of significant instability. The provider initially made the decision to close all of its children’s homes in the north- west region. However, there have been delays in the closure of this home, due to the placing authority being unable to identify a suitable placement for a young person living at the home. In addition, the registered manager resigned from his post in October 2016 and all staff have received a redundancy notice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new interim manager started in the home at the end of November 2016. She reported that the provider advised her that she did not need to register for a few months with Ofsted. This has affected the timescales for the registration of a suitable manager. Since becoming aware of the regulations, the interim manager has submitted an application to HMCI.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are a number of staff vacancies at the home. The interim manager reported that staff and managers from other homes in the organisation cover the shortfalls in the rotas. However, on occasions, staff duty rotas do not always identify who is covering the shift. This means that there is not a clear audit trail of who is working within the setting, and when and where they are working. During discussions with the interim manager, she accepted that the rotas did not include all relevant details and, on occasions, did not demonstrate that sufficient staff were on shift. Furthermore, the frequent changes in staff have affected the stability and consistency that are provided for the young person who remains living in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose does not provide an accurate reflection of the service because it does not provide full information about the staff who are currently working in the home or their qualifications. It was last updated in September 2016. It states that staff are able to care for young people with complex needs and disabilities. However, some staff have not received the required training and development to meet the current needs of this young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parts of the physical environment are poor. This included damaged walls throughout the home and stained carpets on both the stairs and landing area. Despite the interim manager raising several concerns about the environment with the provider, no action has been taken to rectify this. This detracts from a welcoming, nurturing environment where young people feel valued and well cared for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recording and administration of medication is not sufficiently robust. On one occasion, staff failed to provide the young person with a controlled drug, as recorded within her prescription. They also failed to seek medical advice before administering the next dose. This potentially places the young person at risk. Although the interim manager had later identified this error and had spoken to staff, she had failed to complete or document a thorough internal investigation. Furthermore, there were errors in the daily audits that are completed. For example, the amount of medication left in storage was recorded incorrectly and audits failed to identify this immediately. This does not demonstrate that safe systems are in place to administer and monitor the medication given to the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since returning to work for the company, the interim manager has only been provided with one supervision. In addition, no other staff within the team have received supervision or attended a team meeting since the beginning of the year. There have also been no training opportunities, including refresher training in medication, health and safety, safeguarding and first aid. This fails to ensure that all staff have the right experience and training to meet the individual needs of the young person. In addition, the home has not provided all staff with opportunities to reflect on their practices, consider the progress and experiences of the young person and identify areas for improvement or development. While the interim manager recognised that supervision, training and appraisals were yet to be addressed she identified that ‘the lack of consistent staffing’ and ‘low staff moral’ had impacted on this. One member of staff said, ‘It’s been really disappointing how

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

we have been treated; we have not really been updated about what is happening’; another said, ‘I am more worried about the impact on [name of the young person].’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to update and monitor the young person’s daily records. This includes her person-centred plan and risk assessments. These now include photographs, which demonstrate the progress she is making. However, on occasions staff have still not signed and dated the documents. Although this has not impacted on the welfare of the young person, it is an area that requires more improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite, the uncertainty within the organisation, the young person living at the home has made progress in both her speech and language development and in increasing and developing her social skills. She is now going out on a regular basis to join in activities, including trampolining, bowling, trips to the cinema, meals out and sensory play. Although staff reported that there were reservations around her ability to cope in larger environments, with planning and adequate support the trips have gone extremely well and the young person was reported to have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities provided. This was also evident in the photographs taken by staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff also continue to promote a positive relationship with the young person’s family members. The young person’s parents continue to attend health appointments with her, and staff encourage them to visit the home on a regular basis. They also attend key events, including birthday celebrations and Christmas events. They often stay at the home for their evening meal and have the opportunity to take part in their child’s bedtime routines. Both parents reported positive relationships with staff and commented, ‘[We are] still very much involved and included in our daughter’s life.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work well with professionals involved in the young person’s life. A health professional and an education professional reported that the home provides regular updates. In addition, both the interim manager and the staff have continued to effectively challenge the placing authority about its role as a corporate parent. This has included direct challenges to both the young person’s social worker and team manager when information is not provided or tasks from the looked after child review have not been completed. For example, they initiated challenges regarding statutory visits not being completed and the delays in transition planning and moving the young person on to a permanent placement. Staff have requested an independent advocate for the young person to ensure that her views and wishes are represented within this process.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home for two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/05/2016 Full Outstanding 15/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 19/12/2014 Full Good

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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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality care standard, the registered persons must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered persons must ensure that the premises are decorated and furnished to a good standard and provide children with a comfortable and pleasant home environment. 28/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

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 ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(1) that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that: (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to: (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care 28/05/2017 to each child; (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

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Requirement Due date

of care provided in the home; (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

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 28/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that arrangements are made for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)(2)(c)(3)(b)) 28/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27(1)(a)) 28/05/2017

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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)) 28/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must: (a) maintain in the home the records in schedule 4; (b) ensure that the records are kept up to date. In particular, this relates to staff rosters. (Regulation 37(2)(a)(b)) 28/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure all children’s case records are kept up to date and stored securely. Case records must be signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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 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

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

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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