Children's home in Medway

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, a serious safeguarding incident occurred. Poor management practice in respect of a child’s initial risk assessment and care plan failed to ensure sufficient protection. Despite clear referral information, the registered manager did not fully assess or evaluate the impact that the known risks and behaviours of a new child might have upon the other children. She did not ensure that strategies were devised to effectively safeguard everyone. This serious omission led to two children engaging in harmful behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following this serious incident, the appropriate external safeguarding agencies were not immediately informed. This omission prevented such agencies from instigating swift action to safeguard the children involved. One child’s care plan and risk assessment was not sufficiently updated following this incident and Ofsted was not notified. Consequently, the regulator’s ability to monitor the home’s practice was compromised. On this occasion, leaders and managers failed to implement sufficient safeguarding procedures, partly due to gaps in the home’s own procedural guidance.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s case records are usually well ordered and clear. However, one example demonstrates some gaps and omissions. A recommendation is made to audit case records to ensure all remain accurate and up-to-date.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One requirement and one recommendation were made at the last inspection. The registered manager has addressed the requirement about staff recruitment checks effectively. As a result of an improved recording and monitoring system, recruitment processes have been strengthened.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation, to use monitoring systems to sustain and develop administrative oversight and practices, is not fully met. The registered manager’s internal monitoring mechanisms did not identify the serious shortfalls in relation to the management of a safeguarding incident. External monitoring systems are regular but the process lacks rigour and does not sufficiently assist the registered manager to identify shortfalls in practice. This recommendation is repeated. In many areas, the children make progress and their successes are celebrated. Small achievements are acknowledged and outcomes are measured in terms of their significance to each child. Staff undertake work with the children to support their understanding of their own life story and to make sense of it. Staff listen to the children’s views and promote their individuality. They place a strong emphasis on the children’s education and learning, providing a range of activities which are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

age- and development-appropriate, and which maximise the use of fun and learning.

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 10 children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home aims to support children to move on to live with long-term foster families or adoptive parents.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/06/2016 Full Outstanding 09/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/09/2015 Full Outstanding 03/03/2015 Interim Improved 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

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular regard to the clarity of children’s risk assessments and care planning, the registered person must ensure that staff– (2)(b) (ii) promote and protect each child’s welfare; and (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking into account the child’s background. 30/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard, with particular regard to one child’s plan, the registered person must ensure (1) that staff- (i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plan (ix) understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. 30/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

12. The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure (2)(a) that 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 the child; 30/06/2017 (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe (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 (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; (2)(b) that the home’s day to day care is arranged and delivered

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Requirement Due date

so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm (e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement policy which– (a) is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect. (2) The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular– (a) provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home. (e) describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34(1)(a)(2)(a)(e)) 30/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if- (4)(e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 30/06/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the registered person makes the best use of information from independent and internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice, particularly in respect of administration required by regulation ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24).

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Recommendations

 All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up-to-date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home (‘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 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, 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

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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