Children's home run by Andover And District Mencap in Test Valley

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 1 SC011976 Andover and District Mencap

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short-break residential care for a maximum of four children and young people who have learning difficulties and associated physical disabilities. It is a four-bedded unit, owned and managed by a local branch of a charitable organisation.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection of the home was undertaken on 15 February 2017. The home was judged inadequate across all areas of practice. Two compliance notices were issued on 7 March 2017. The date set for meeting all the actions specified in the notices was 31 March 2017. This monitoring inspection focused on the work that has taken place in the home since 7 March 2017, and the organisation’s compliance with the steps identified in each notice.

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(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to the home’s leaders’ and managers’ oversight of the service, to improve the quality of care on offer to help children fulfil their potential and promote their welfare. Good progress has been made in this area of practice, and all the steps specified in the compliance notice have been met. Leaders and managers have reviewed the competencies and skills necessary to fulfil management and staff roles within the service. A skills audit was completed to ensure that the responsible individual, the registered manager and members of staff have the knowledge and training required to meet the needs of children and to provide good quality care. Staff have received refresher training in safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and working with children who have autistic spectrum disorders. Managers have improved their oversight of the staff team’s skills and

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(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

training and implemented action plans to rectify shortfalls. As a result, the registered manager, responsible individual and the staff team have a greater understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and now have the skills and knowledge to meet the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 2 needs of children and promote their safety. The service’s policy on the ‘Process for reporting incidents, accidents and near misses and safeguarding concerns at Stephens Ark’ has been reviewed to ensure that staff are now sufficiently informed as to when they need to advise external safeguarding agencies of significant events. Although, there have been no significant incidents since the full inspection, managers are using team meetings to discuss and reiterate the expectations of this policy, to embed it within staff’s practice. However, the procedure is accompanied by a flow-chart, which advises that if the designated

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(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

safeguarding lead or responsible individual is not available, in the manager’s absence, then concerns should be shared with the chief executive officer, deputy chief executive officer or head of charitable services, who will then act on them. It was not evidenced during this monitoring visit that these members of staff have received appropriate training to have the skills and knowledge to be able to manage and deal with concerns appropriately and effectively. Systems to monitor children’s progress and experience have been introduced. Systems include each child having an allocated key worker who will have the responsibility for tracking their allocated child’s progress and experience. The key worker will ensure that the child’s case records are up to date, and will consult their colleagues through team meetings and the registered manager through supervision for their views on the child’s progress and experience. These processes increase the

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(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

oversight of the children’s progress and experience, enabling managers and staff to identify any shortfalls and to act on them to improve the quality of care and experiences of children. Managers and leaders have a greater oversight of the service. They have implemented new monitoring systems, which cover all aspects of the service. The registered manager and responsible individual are in the process of reviewing and evaluating all areas of practice. They have redesigned the registered manager’s quality assurance reports to provide better evaluation, and they have introduced monthly audits to be completed by the responsible individual. The quality of independent visitor reports has been scrutinised. The service now has a development plan in place, which is comprehensive and demonstrates that leaders and managers have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service and what needs to improve. The development plan is scrutinised by all levels

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(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

of the organisation to ensure that all actions are reviewed and acted upon. Leaders’ and managers’ increased oversight of the service means that shortfalls are identified quickly. However, systems for monitoring are yet to be embedded in practice. They will be evaluated at the next inspection to ensure that shortfalls are acted on and that children receive a continuously improving service that promotes their welfare and keeps them safe.

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(Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(2)(a)(b)(3))

The steps laid out in this compliance notice relate to consulting the fire and rescue Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 3 authority to ensure that leaders and managers take adequate precautions against the risk of fire. Good progress has been made in this area of practice, and all the steps specified in the compliance notice have been met. The registered manager has worked with the local fire and rescue authority to increase fire safety in the home. Leaders and managers have acted on all recommendations made by the fire and rescue authority. The home now has fire doors installed in all necessary areas and emergency lighting and smoke alarms have been installed in the recommended places. The registered manager has reviewed the home’s fire risk assessment, and all required checks are taking place in the necessary timescales. The registered manager has completed a ‘fire safety for

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(Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(2)(a)(b)(3))

managers’ course with the local fire and rescue authority. Two fire marshals have been appointed and have completed the required training. All staff have received refresher training in fire safety. The registered manager has consulted the provider of oxygen cylinders to the home, as advised to by the local fire and rescue authority. Following the consultation, a risk assessment on the use of oxygen in the home has been completed. This identified that oxygen should not be stored within one and a half metres of electrical items. However, during the monitoring visit, oxygen was not stored in line with this advice. The registered manager advised that these concerns are in the process of being addressed. The fire safety of the home has significantly improved, reducing the possibility of harm to children if a fire occurred. Leaders and managers are taking a robust approach to ensuring that the shortfalls identified at the full inspection in February 2017 are being addressed. A detailed

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(Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(2)(a)(b)(3))

action plan enables them to monitor their progress in developing the service, and significant improvements have been made over a short period. Consequently, the potential for children to experience poor standards of care or come to harm has been reduced. Leaders and managers should undertake further work to evidence that systems to monitor and evaluate the quality of service provided are effective and to improve children’s experiences and the quality of care they receive. The requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection were not explored during this monitoring visit and will be carried forward to the next inspection. Two new requirements have been made. One requirement relates to ensuring that the chief executive officer, deputy chief executive officer and head of charitable services receive sufficient training in safeguarding children and in managing and notifying external agencies of concerns. The second requirement

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(Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(2)(a)(b)(3))

relates to the safe storage of oxygen within the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/02/2017 Full Inadequate 13/07/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 17/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. 16/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; 20/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(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 the child; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 16/04/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 6 (e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. *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 delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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 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. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

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)(b)) 16/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

*After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 27 (7)(b)) 16/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘the level 3 diploma’); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)) 16/04/2017

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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: (ii) details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; 16/04/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 7 (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(v)(vii)) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if: (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 16/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating: (a) the quality of care provided for children; (b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and (c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 16/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) In particular, recording whether the home safeguards and promotes children and young people’s welfare effectively within their report.

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Recommendations

 When considering new placements, the registered manager should fully consider the impact that the placement will have on children and young people. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) In particular, the registered manager should evidence their judgement of compatibility between the young people.

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that there is a workforce plan in place and that this contains the information required by guidance. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 8 paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that there are clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered persons must further develop and consolidate the assessment of the suitability of the location of the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Andover and District Mencap

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Wellington Centre, Winchester Road, Andover, Hampshire SP10 2EG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Andrea Knight-Down

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Children’s home details

Inspector: Melissa McMillan Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC011976 10 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Children’s home details

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Children’s home details

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Children’s home details

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