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

Inspection report children's home: SC037543 1 SC037543 Registered provider: Sherico Care Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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 three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children‟s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not judged

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Key findings from this inspection

This children‟s home requires improvement to be good because

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Key findings from this inspection

 The home has had no registered manager in place for more than 26 weeks. Inspection report children's home: SC037543 2  Staff do not demonstrate a good understanding of the home‟s policies and procedures when dealing with allegations.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff do not comply fully with the home‟s missing persons protocols.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff vetting and recruitment procedures are not sufficiently robust.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Managers have failed to resolve all shortfalls highlighted at previous inspections.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Regulation 44 monitoring reports are insufficiently detailed and are not consistently forwarded to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Managers do not consistently conduct staff supervision and staff appraisals.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The home has a newly appointed manager.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children speak positively of their experiences of living in the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The home has recently recruited a psychologist to provide staff with training and support.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff training opportunities have improved.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Partnership working with other professionals is consistent and effective; feedback from social workers about the home is positive.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff recording on children‟s case files has shown significant improvement since the home‟s last inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2017 Interim Not judged 22/11/2016 Full Inadequate 23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC037543 3

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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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the paragraph in (1) requires the registered person to ensure-

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Requirement Due date

that staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that staff understand the actions to be taken when an allegation is made. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(v)) 01/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the paragraph in (1) requires the registered person to ensure- that staff-

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare. In particular, that staff strictly adhere to the home‟s policies and procedures when children are missing. This includes completing missing persons risk assessments. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(vi)) 01/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‟s safety.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the provider obtains two written references. (Regulation 32(1)(3)(d)) 01/09/2017 Inspection report children's home: SC037543 4 Employment of staff

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees –

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that staff receive training in physical intervention;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience;

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b)(c)) 01/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. (Regulation 37(2)(a)) 01/09/2017

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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-

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)&(b)) 01/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person‟s report to- HMCI. (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 01/09/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that bedrooms are only searched in line with the home‟s own policies and Inspection report children's home: SC037543 5 procedures. In particular, that in every instance two members of staff are required to be present and that appropriate records of room searches are maintained. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 17, paragraph 3.20)

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Recommendations

 Ensure the behaviour management policy sets out how staff are trained and supported to meet the child‟s needs. This is in particular reference to staff needing to be trained in the use of physical intervention. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 46, paragraph 9.37)

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improvement to be good

The overall inspection judgement has been influenced by the inadequate judgement of the leadership and management outcome area.

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improvement to be good

Children receive personalised care tailored to help meet their identified needs. Their experiences at the home are positive; they say they feel safe and know who to approach if they have concerns or worries. Young people are complimentary about the care they receive; they feel listened to and believe staff are interested in their well-being. One child commented, „S is my keyworker. She‟s good. She tries very hard to make me happy and she speaks with me calmly‟. Staff encourage children to participate in day-to-day decisions about their care. For example, children have a choice of bedrooms; room furnishings; room decor and what meals staff prepare.

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improvement to be good

Children new to the home are made to feel welcome and care planning ensures placement objectives are understood and individual needs can be met by the home. The home‟s new matching form provides clarity about decision-making with regard to whether referrals are accepted. Senior staff give careful consideration to the impact of any new admissions on existing children in placement. This ensures that all children‟s needs are met and that any potential risks are appropriately considered. When children leave, staff manage the process sensitively, ensuring that children experience their departures as positive. For example, staff from the new placement are able to visit the home as a feature of the transition process. Children have a leaving party and receive gifts when their placements end.

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improvement to be good

Children are treated with dignity and respect and their identity needs are generally well met. For example, children can choose to attend places of worship and eat meals that are culturally appropriate. Staff work sensitively and effectively with children who have learning difficulties. For example, staff modify their communication methods to ensure children understand information and any messages given to them. One child described how staff had read the home‟s children‟s guide to him as he was unable to do so himself. He shared that he found the experience helpful and not in any way patronising. Despite their speech impediment, the child felt that staff invested ample time with him, Inspection report children's home: SC037543 6 ensuring they understood the information he was sharing.

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improvement to be good

Children are helped to understand how to complain. Good information is available to them in the homes children guide that includes details should children wish to raise a concern. In addition, children have easy access to independent advocates to help support them with any concerns they may have. Since the last inspection, no complaints have been made.

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improvement to be good

Staff encourage children to meet their learning goals and help organise appropriate educational provision for them. None of the current residents attends mainstream school or college; instead they are receiving home tuition and exploring apprenticeship options. Children participate in home-based learning activities and experiential learning through educational trips, such as excursions to museums. This supports their educational progress. There is evidence of children developing independent living skills. This includes children learning to independently manage their personal care tasks, meal planning and shopping budgets.

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improvement to be good

Children have access to a range of leisure activities which they themselves chose. For one child, this includes enrolment on a music production programme. This supports his strong interest in the music business. Staff are keen to encourage positive recreational activities that children identify for themselves. For example, they attend go-karting activities and play computer games of their choosing.

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improvement to be good

Children‟s health outcomes are variable, as some do not take responsibility for living healthy lifestyles. Some children have a history of alcohol and substance misuse, which continues. Staff are working diligently with children to improve their health outcomes. Staff promote registration with primary health care services and support children to attend appointments. Success here is also variable, as some children do not consider this a priority. Children‟s mental health and emotional well-being have improved due to the organisation‟s recruitment of a psychologist. The psychologist offers staff advice and strategies that help them to promote the emotional resilience of children. This helps support children to explore emotional, behavioural and general mental health issues.

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improvement to be good

Children have good opportunities to maintain contact with family members and friends. Staff and social workers negotiate contact arrangements that facilitate safe meetings between children and their significant others. This is done in order to maintain established family relationships and to support and promote a positive sense of heritage. If children choose not to have contact with their parents, staff respect this and explore issues sensitively in key-work sessions. This provides young people with opportunities to explore family relationships and dynamics in a safe environment.

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improvement to be good

Children feel safe and protected from neglect, harm and abuse. Staff have access to the Inspection report children's home: SC037543 7 home‟s comprehensive child protection policies and procedures, and they receive regular safeguarding training. However, despite this, staff do not demonstrate a good awareness of procedures that must be followed in the event of an allegation being made. This is not in the best interest of children.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the risks presented by children and the response of staff is appropriate. This is particularly the case when children are missing from the home, exhibit challenging behaviour or are involved in criminal activities. Children‟s risk assessments are comprehensive and up to date. These identify known and anticipated risks, and strategies that staff must use in order to address and minimise risks. There is some evidence that the frequency of children‟s challenging behaviour is reducing. However, this is not the case for the frequency with which children go missing from the home, as this remains high.

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improvement to be good

When children are missing from the home, staff ensure there is consistent communication with key professionals, such as allocated social workers, local police, school personnel and key family members. This ensures that those involved with the young person‟s care are fully aware of issues and risks. Staff are proactive in sharing pertinent information and generally adhere to missing persons protocols. Staff are now more consistent in searching the local area when children are missing from the home. However, staff do not consistently complete missing persons risk assessments to identify the particular vulnerabilities of children. This is despite staff being required to do so by the home‟s revised missing persons policies.

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improvement to be good

Managers do not hesitate to initiate multi-agency strategy meetings to address persistent episodes of children leaving the home without permission and going missing. Staff speak with children upon their return to the home to try to establish where they have been, who they have been with and whether any new risks are emerging. No child is suspected of being involved in child sexual exploitation. Children do not experience bullying or discrimination while at the home.

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improvement to be good

The home‟s staff vetting practices do not comply with safe staff recruitment policies. Managers do not always obtain two written references as required. In addition, the organisation does not consistently verify written references to confirm that staff are suitable to work with vulnerable children.

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improvement to be good

Children receive help and support from staff to manage their behaviour and feelings safely. This aspect of the quality of care provided by staff has improved since the last inspection. Staff benefit from regular input from the organisation‟s psychologist, who offers them support and guidance in managing children‟s feelings and behaviour. Staff set clear boundaries for children and as a result are able to work more consistently with children to promote positive behaviour. For example, staff make appropriate use of incentives and sanctions to discourage poor behaviour. Staff now also make better use of restorative practices. Key-work sessions and one-to-one meetings focus on exploring children‟s feelings and encouraging them to take responsibility for their actions. Staff have not used physical intervention with any child since the last inspection. Staff have not received up to date training in restraint techniques. Managers accept that this needs

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improvement to be good

Inspection report children's home: SC037543 8 to occur to ensure that in the event of an emergency situation, staff can, if required, intervene safely.

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improvement to be good

highlighted that the staff‟s approach to conducting room searches gives cause for concern‟. The review of records relating to room searches still does not consistently confirm that two members of staff are present when room searches are conducted. This is not in line with the home‟s procedures.

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improvement to be good

There have been no allegations made against any member of staff. The staff team carefully monitors children‟s use of the internet and social media to ensure access is appropriate and safe.

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improvement to be good

The home‟s building is physically safe and secure enough to meet the needs of young people. There are no health and safety issues. Staff ensure there are good fire precaution systems in place and they conduct regular building checks. The building has undergone a programme of redecoration to help meet the needs of children. There are some minor issues, including staff‟s failure to notice very offensive graffiti in one child‟s bedroom. This was removed immediately. Generally, the home is comfortable and children are happy with their surroundings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are a number of weaknesses in the leadership and management of the home. The service has been without a registered manager since December 2015. Since the last inspection, the service has appointed a manager, who has been in post since March 2017. The manager has applied to become the home‟s registered manager. In line with Ofsted guidance, the absence of a registered manager for in excess of 26 weeks results in a judgement of inadequate for the leadership and management outcome area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home‟s monitoring systems have improved and provide some insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Internal quality-assurance mechanisms are developing, but are yet to be embedded into practice at the home. Regulation 44 independent monitoring visits occur on a monthly basis. However, these do not consistently comment on or evaluate the home‟s effectiveness in safeguarding children and promoting children‟s welfare as required. The subsequent monitoring reports are not forwarded to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home‟s staffing levels are appropriate to meet the needs of children. However, the staff rota does not provide an accurate reflection of shifts worked by individual staff members, as required. In addition, there are gaps in the records of some formal staff supervision and appraisals. Regular, formal monitoring of staff‟s work performances is important to ensure the care provided is of a high standard. Staff nonetheless say they feel well supported by their managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training opportunities are good. Newly employed staff undergo an appropriate induction programme. Training thereafter is relevant and wide-ranging. This includes Inspection report children's home: SC037543 9 newly introduced training that focuses on attachment, loss and separation, and is facilitated by the home‟s psychologist. Managers ensure that staff are aware of new legislation and guidance. This supports safe care practices within the staff team. Staff are yet to receive training in physical intervention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home‟s development plan highlights the organisation‟s vision for the improvement of the service. Future targets are realistic and relatively ambitious. For example, they include the use of external trainers to enhance staff training opportunities and to implement effective internal quality-assurance systems. The service is financially viable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers monitor the progress made by each child. This is through the review of weekly plans and monthly placement summary reports. Staff then share these reports with local authority social workers. Feedback from social workers on children‟s progress and care planning is largely positive. One social worker commented, „I think it‟s going well. X had to move due to an altercation at another home‟. “Staff offered an alternative, which was helpful, as he already knew some of the staff working there. The staff team are willing to build a relationship with X and have done so”.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff‟s partnership working with external professionals is consistent and effective. This successful collaboration was evident for the child who was preparing to move to another placement at the time of the inspection. The local authority social worker allocated to this child commented, „The bridging placement has been positive and the home has done well in coping with M‟s complex needs.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children‟s case records are comprehensive and clear. This was not the case at the previous inspection, which highlighted weaknesses in the quality of case recording. Since the last inspection, managers have provided staff with training to improve the quality of record keeping.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Stakeholders have access to clear information about the service through the home‟s statement of purpose, which outlines the home‟s aims and objectives. The children‟s guide is a child-friendly summary of services provided by the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager ensures Ofsted and other agencies are notified of key events. Since the last inspection there have been few serious incidents; managers have resolved all issues appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers and staff have improved the home‟s quality of care and its protection of children since the previous full inspection. The lack of stable, consistent leadership of the home has had a negative impact on the development of the service and the degree to which the home is making a difference to children‟s lives.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of Inspection report children's home: SC037543 10 children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the „Social care common inspection framework‟, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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‟. Inspection report children's home: SC037543 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sherico Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd floor, 167–169 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PF

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Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls: social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC037543 12 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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