Children's home run by My Choice Children’s Homes Limited in Mid Sussex

Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 1 SC359812 Registered provider: My Choice Children‟s Homes Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children‟s home that is registered to provide care for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural problems. Education can be provided at the organisation‟s school.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: 16 February 2017

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children‟s home is inadequate because:

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Staff have failed to recognise and report safeguarding concerns in line with the organisation‟s policies and procedures.  Medication has not been given as prescribed. Poor recording of medication Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 2 administration does not allow managers to identify how errors have occurred and who is responsible.  There are significant failures in safeguarding practice in spite of staff recently having received training. A lack of internal systems does not allow managers and leaders to assess and audit the effectiveness of staff training.  Managers and leaders have a poor understanding of which safeguarding agency incidents should be reported to.  The home‟s location risk assessment does not contain details of how the home can mitigate against known risks in the area.  The organisation‟s disciplinary policy does not cover the full range of disciplinary measures that can be taken.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Managers do not have a detailed knowledge or understanding of appropriate disciplinary procedures.  The system for gaining feedback from professionals in relation to the quality of care the home provides is not fully used to identify what could be improved.  The home‟s statement of purpose does not contain all required information.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Children are making good progress in many areas of their lives, including education, health and social interactions.  Staff are successful in decreasing the risk-taking behaviours of the children, such as going missing and self-harming.  Children respond positively to the support given by the staff and by the external therapy provider.  Staff develop excellent relationships with the children and respond suitably to their individual needs.  Children are happy at the home and are encouraged to be proud of their achievements.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/09/2016 Full Good 23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child may be at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‟s child protection policy; And that the effectiveness of the home‟s child protection policies is monitored. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vii)(e)) 28/07/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

*The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children‟s home. In particular, the registered manager 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; a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (2)(b)(c)) 28/07/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children‟s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. In particular, the age range, number and sex of the children for whom it is intended that accommodation is to be provided; information about how the effectiveness of any healthcare or therapy provided is measured, the evidence demonstrating its 28/07/2017 Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 4 effectiveness and details of how information or the evidence can be accessed; any criteria used for admission of children to the home, including any policies and procedures for emergency admission. (Regulation 16 Schedule 1 (3)(b) and 14(b)(22)) The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children‟s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirements in regulation 12 (2)(c) (the

p.3

Requirement Due date

protection of children standard). When conducting the review, the registered person must consult with, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2)) In particular, ensure that the location risk assessment considers the risks of drug use, criminality and child sexual exploitation in the surrounding areas. 28/07/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular— provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. (Regulation 33 (2)(b)) The disciplinary procedure should cover all measures and steps available to the organisation. 28/07/2017

p.4

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. The systems referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(5)) In particular, ensure that systems in place to gain feedback from professionals are used. 28/07/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that— uses monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(h)) This relates to having systems in place which ensure that issues 28/07/2017 Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 5 can be identified and addressed in a timely manner and that gaps in staff‟s knowledge can be recognised.

p.4

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Serious safeguarding failures mean that children are not protected and their welfare is not safeguarded. Leaders and managers have failed to address shortfalls identified in previous inspections. Poor practice in the administration of medication and the failure to report a safeguarding concern to managers have left children at risk of harm. Monitoring systems in place had not identified these errors. Children are making good progress in many areas. The staff team promotes education and provides positive role models to the children. Education attendance is very high; children only miss school due to health-related appointments. Children have a very positive view of learning and happily engage in extra homework after school with the support of the staff. Educational progress since admission has been significant for both children. Risk-taking behaviours such as self-harming and going missing from the home have

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

decreased significantly over the last four months. Staff support, and external therapy sessions, have proven successful in helping children to identify their feelings and to manage their behaviours. Children are supported to make good decisions and to express their emotions in ways other than disruptive behaviours. Children are proud of their achievements. One child said, „I am so proud of myself as I have not gone missing for over four months. Why would I, as the staff look after me well and keep me safe.‟ Poor practice in the administration and recording of medication has continued despite the implementation of a new system. Staff support children to attend all medical appointments. A range of healthcare professionals are suitably involved in the children‟s lives. Children develop good relationships with the staff and enjoy the time they spend with the adults. Staff have successfully encouraged the children to join local groups and

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

participate in community activities such as swimming. The children say the staff teach them about keeping safe when out in the community. Children are able to talk freely and are aware that they can contact external advocacy services if they need to. Both children said they are happy at the home and want to stay here until they are 18 years old.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 6 Poor staff practice in the administration and recording of the administration of medication puts children at risk. Managers and staff failed to notice that a child was given double the prescribed dose of medication over a six-day period. Poor recording and discrepancies between different documents prevented managers from identifying quickly how the error had arisen and which staff had been responsible. While no adverse effects were experienced by the child, this does not mitigate against the seriousness of the failure. This failure is compounded by the poor recording which did not allow managers to identify who caused the initial error and how it was then repeated for six days. The home‟s safeguarding policy and procedures, and the medication policy, do not identify serious medication errors as meeting a threshold for referral to safeguarding agencies. This leaves children at risk of harm. A referral was not made until after the

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

inspection, when the shortfall was identified. A recommendation regarding medication recording was made at the last inspection in February 2017. The measures put in place as a result have not given the required clarity. Staff failed to report bruising on a child, in line with policies and procedures. The bruising was accidental, but the delay in reporting hindered further work and investigation by external agencies. Managers have failed to follow safeguarding and child protection procedures to enable early intervention by the most appropriate safeguarding agency. There is a lack of understanding by the managers as to the different responsibilities that the multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) and the designated officer have in relation to referrals, investigations and advice. The lack of oversight by managers and leaders as to the effectiveness of the safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures places children at risk. Referrals

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

to relevant external agencies are not always made when required, delaying appropriate actions being taken. The home‟s location risk assessment does not show how the provider can mitigate against known issues. The document does not cover a number of areas that would be expected. Without considering areas such as drugs misuse, criminality and the risk of child sexual exploitation, it is unclear as to how the provider has used this information to guide staff in how to support children to be safe. Managers do not have an awareness of how unsafe staff practice relates to disciplinary proceedings. The organisation‟s disciplinary policy does not specifically cover for the failure of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, as required by the regulations. The policy contains no details of the range of poor practice which may result in disciplinary proceedings. In particular, it does not

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

outline all levels before the gross misconduct stage. Children respond to staff positively and staff maintain clear professional boundaries. When children have compatibility issues with staff, the manager and senior managers address these quickly and in a child-centred manner. Health and safety matters are addressed and regularly checked to ensure that the home is a safe environment for children to live and staff to work in. Children are well informed of the fire evacuation procedures. Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 7

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has a registered manager who has suitable experience and is currently completing the level 5 diploma in leadership and management. She already holds the level 4 award in children‟s social care. The staff are positive about the impact she has in the home and with the children. They say they are well supported by her. Monitoring and review systems are not effective and have failed to identify gaps in staff knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This has resulted in unsafe practice. Some staff supervision sessions do not reflect on training received or test the staff‟s knowledge and understanding of their safeguarding duties. Leaders and managers fail to demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the content of the training provided to staff and the ways in which they can ensure that the training has had a positive impact on practice in the home. Therefore, they are unable to address

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

any gaps in knowledge, identify the need for further training or areas of expertise. Staff have access to a wide range of training via a well-organised training programme. The home‟s statement of purpose does not contain all the required information. Prior to the inspection, the statement of purpose containing sensitive information about children was made available to the general public. This was withdrawn immediately by the provider once it was brought to their attention and a reviewed statement of purpose was submitted. The document no longer contains sensitive information; however, it is not fully inclusive of all the requirements of the regulation. Formal systems for gaining the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff are not fully embedded. As a result, the views of all stakeholders are not used to develop services. The manager‟s development plan did not identify the serious

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

shortfalls in practice identified during this inspection. The staff team is now a more stable one, with no agency staff having been used for some time. This provides continuity for the children, which has helped them make good progress. The manager and the staff team have a clear understanding of the needs and targets for the children. Individual case records are complete and reflect the everyday lives of the children, the risks and areas they have made progress in. The home works with the local community to ensure that young people can integrate. Positive comments have been made to the manager about the home and the children.

p.7

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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 8 children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.7

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: SC359812 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: My Choice Children‟s Homes Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: My Choice Children‟s Homes Ltd, Unit 3a, Mill Green Business Estate, Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XQ

p.9

Inspector

Liz Driver, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC359812 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10