Children's home run by Keys Active 8 Care Limited in Rossendale

Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 1 SC064428 Registered provider: Active 8 Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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

Date of last inspection: 13 February 2017

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection

None Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 2

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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

 There have been a high number of incidents of young people going missing. Their whereabouts are often not known. This has the potential of young people being involved in criminal activity.  Young people that have been missing from care have not consistently been offered an independent return home interview by their placing local authority.  The care provided to some young people has not been consistently good. The home has experienced a challenging time in recent months due to the deterioration in young people’s emotional well-being and behaviour.  There has been effective transition planning for some young people, supporting them for their move out of the home. However, for others this has not taken place.  Young people’s school attendance is variable and, for some, there is minimal engagement in education, training or work.  Some young people’s reluctance to attend appointments means that their

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Key findings from this inspection

specific health needs are not improving.  The manager and staff do not consistently receive agreed supervision notes in order to guide their practice and consider what works best for the young people.  While a lot of time and effort has been invested, for one young person, the situation has drifted due to a lack of decisive decision making.

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Key findings from this inspection

 In recent months, there have been significant arrangements put in place to ensure a robust approach to new admissions. This improves information gathered at the time of referral, leading to young people being compatible with each other.  Young people enjoy very positive relationships with the staff. They enjoy spending time with them and know that the staff genuinely care about them. Young people are provided with a homely atmosphere and likeness to a normal family home.  Young people report feeling safe in and outside of the home. They receive good support in line with their care plans, individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans.  Young people’s negative and risk-taking behaviours have reduced. For some, this means a decrease in the intensity of an incident rather than the frequency. Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 3  The staff work hard to ensure that young people receive the most appropriate

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Key findings from this inspection

education placement and encourage young people to access and enjoy activities in the local community.  The manager leads by example and staff are fully involved in all decisions. This has led to improved staff morale as they regularly reflect on and learn from incidents and shortfalls in practice.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/09/2016 Full Good 10/05/2016 Full Inadequate 14/01/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 4

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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

12: The protection of children standard (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure (a) that all 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. (iii) have the skills to identify and act on signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12) The above specifically relates to young people missing from the home. 30/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard (1) The care planning standard is that children (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14) 30/06/2017

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Recommendations

 Children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 5.14) Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 5  Ensure that, when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page

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Recommendations

45, paragraph 9.30)  Ensure that a record of supervision is kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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improvement to be good

Young people have very positive relationships with the staff. They are able to develop trust and self-disclose about past difficulties and current concerns. Strong efforts are made to support young people to engage in appointments which will address and support their individual specific health needs. While young people’s physical health is not concerning, a reluctance of one young person to engage in health appointments means that his specific health needs are not being addressed or improving. Young people do benefit from the structure, firm but fair boundaries, and the consistent care provided by the staff in the home. They benefit from a committed staff team which takes a strong interest in their progress and well-being. Young people are supported and encouraged to engage in a wide range of positive recreational activities in the local area. These include walking, cinema, and trampoline park, along with enjoyable day trips to

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improvement to be good

the seaside with the staff. This increases their confidence and social networks. The manager and staff are committed to listening to the wishes and feelings of the young people and demonstrate a high level of awareness of their needs and opinions. Staff involve the young people in daily decisions and support them during key meetings and statutory reviews. Young people have meaningful individual key working sessions. They are provided with advocates if required, and they have undertaken de-brief sessions following incidents. Young people are encouraged to make choices about food, the furnishings in the home and their bedrooms as well as the activities that they wish to do. Following the last inspection, two young people’s placements were ended by the home, following a succession of missing episodes and police intervention as a result of risky, violent and irrational behaviour. The young people were reluctant to engage in any

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improvement to be good

meaningful learning or settle into a helpful routine. At the point of admission, and in a short period of time, moving in procedures did not adequately identify the specialist needs of the young people and staff were not sufficiently equipped to meet the needs that emerged. Transition planning for these young people did not take place. One young Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 6 person has successfully transitioned on from the home in a planned way, back to his local area. The manager and staff have reflected on a period of instability over recent months. As a result of previous poor referral information, the manager has made significant changes in relation to obtaining better information by challenging placing authorities and working with the local police. This is now embedded into practice and has been positive for a young person recently admitted to the home and the young person currently living in the

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improvement to be good

home. Alongside this, staff use the advice provided by external professionals and therapy services to ensure that young people remain compatible with each other. Young people’s care and behavioural support plans are individualised, in line with the expectations of the placing authority and are effective in practice. Young people increase their engagement with education from their starting point in the home. For one young person, considering their lack of education previously, progress in this area has been extremely beneficial to him. The manager has worked thoroughly with education providers and local authorities, to ensure that tailor-made educational packages are secured for every young person. Another young person has been reluctant to engage in the support at home alongside an education tutor. Proactive measures have been taken to secure this young person a placement at a local education hub where he has shown interest and visited, although

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improvement to be good

this is in its early stages. The young person’s social worker says, ‘Considering all his previous disruptions, the fact that he is interested and willing to go is amazing.’ The staff understand the importance for all young people to engage in education and the benefits this will have for their futures. The manager and staff work in partnership with placing authorities, young people and their families to ensure that contact with family members is in place for young people. This is particularly important for those young people who live a considerable distance away from their family. For example, one young person has regular telephone contact with his mother and siblings. Another young person has visited his family and they have visited him in the home. As a result, young people remain in touch with those significant people in their lives. Individually, young people were positive about their home and the staff. One young

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improvement to be good

person told the inspector, ‘It’s great here, staff do have a laugh but also help me. I have asked to move bedrooms and I am able to say how it looks and put in [posters] and things I like.’ Another young person said, ‘I know the staff are here to help me, and they do, but sometimes I don’t help myself, but they [staff] understand this.’

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improvement to be good

There have been no reported concerns regarding child sexual exploitation or radicalisation, and no child protection referrals. There has been one referral to the designated safeguarding officer following an allegation against a staff member. This was fully investigated, procedures were followed and resulted in no further action being Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 7 taken. Detailed records show all of the necessary steps taken in this case; the young person was satisfied and the staff member returned to work after the investigation concluded. The positive relationships that young people have with the staff mean that they feel able to talk to staff should they feel worried or upset. Young people told the inspector that they felt safe inside and outside of the home and are comfortable and settled in the home. When young people are absent or go missing from the home, staff follow them in line

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improvement to be good

with the home’s procedures. They inform all relevant people and work in partnership with the police, to locate young people and, as far as is possible, ensure that they return back to the home safe and well. The young people who currently live in the home have a history of absconding. There have been a high number of reports of young people being absent or going missing; in total, there have been 25 since the last inspection on 13 February 2017. In recent weeks, this appears to have decreased, although there remains a significant risk when young people absent themselves or go missing from the home. One young person’s social worker says, ‘His incidents have decreased and are much shorter in duration, he is now bringing friends to the placement rather than running to friends. I feel this is a huge improvement.’ In relation to the high number of missing from home incidents that have taken place, the home is working suitably with the local statutory agencies, including the police, to

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improvement to be good

monitor young people’s whereabouts and activity during the absences. It remains a concern that, while young people are away from the home without permission, this may lead to them being criminalised. This is because staff are not always able to keep up with them and, at times, have been unable to locate them without police support. When young people have been missing and then returned to the home, a return home interview has not always taken place. The manager has strongly challenged a young person’s placing authority where this has been the case. During a telephone conversation the day following the inspection, a social worker’s manager informed the inspector that arrangements are now agreed and in place. These arrangements agreed at a local level have yet to be tried and tested. This will be followed up at the next inspection. There are suitable written risk assessments in each of the young people’s files. Staff

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improvement to be good

demonstrate their understanding of the agreed strategies to use. These are regularly reviewed and when updated are included on the daily handover sheet for staff to read and sign. The manager has implemented ‘grab cards’ which inform staff of the young people’s day-to-day needs, including appointments, and are a useful tool for gaining information about individual young people quickly. Staff use de-escalation strategies regularly and records show no physical interventions involving the two young people placed. During the period of disruption, there have been serious incidents of assaults on staff. Team meetings are now every two weeks rather than every month to support staff, reflect on incidents and learn lessons to improve practice. As a result of regular reviewed and improved behaviour management plans, staff now Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 8 promote positive behaviours. They use effective de-escalation techniques and create

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improvement to be good

alternative strategies that are specific to the individual needs of the young people. The management of conflict has improved as a result of staff being better informed of the approaches they can use. The young people are responding well and confirm they agree with the new strategies put in place. There is more of a focus on rewarding positive behaviours. This is now embedded into practice and the home is becoming more settled.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has extensive experience of the looked after children system. Following her registration with Ofsted in September 2016 as registered manager, she has in a short space of time made significant changes and has had a positive impact on the home. She remains on target to complete the level 5 diploma in leadership and management. There have been periods of disruption and unsettled behaviours by young people. However, the registered manager has energy, passion and ambition and has supported her staff team through this difficult period. Staffing levels are consistently maintained to provide continuity of care and sufficient levels of supervision for the young people. Recruitment practice is sound and follows the guidelines for safer recruitment, with all necessary checks being carried out. The registered manager is committed and displays a determination to only appoint staff who display sound motivation for the role. Agency staff are not used. This robust approach

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

ensures that only staff who have a genuine interest in the care and safety of vulnerable young people work in the home. The majority of staff are qualified to level 3. The manager recognises that there is the need to continue to review practices in the home. Improvements are needed to ensure that staff and herself receive regular supervision. Staff receive supervision, but the timing between supervisions varies from staff member to staff member. Of particular importance is that all staff receive supervision notes agreed at the time of any supervision in order for practices to be improved. There are some inconsistencies in the way staff approach young people. This has been recognised by the registered manager. However, more work is needed to ensure that all messages given and recorded about young people are consistent. There are training plans in operation for the staff team and there has been a range of

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

training opportunities available to staff. The home offers placements for young people, as outlined in its statement of purpose. However, there is more work needed in order for staff to fully understand the model of work carried out by a professional visiting therapist. This would further support young people’s psychological needs and associated behaviours. There are good examples where the registered manager has challenged placing authorities and her own organisation. This was demonstrated during the inspection in relation to a current young person’s placement. She encourages decisions in which she believes are in the best interest of the young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 9 However, senior leaders have not been consistent in making clear decisions and escalating effectively their concerns about the sustainability of a young person’s placement at the home. While there is no doubt that a great deal of time and effort has

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

been invested in this matter, the initial delay in giving formal notice to a placing authority, then retracting this, has meant that the situation has drifted.

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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 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: SC064428 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hurstwood Court, New Hall Hey Road, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 6HL

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Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC064428 11 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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