Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: SC489223 1 SC489223 Registered provider: Idem Living Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is operated by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Since the last inspection, only one young person has lived in the home.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC489223 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

 Leaders and managers have made improvements in relation to safeguarding and have raised staff’s awareness of the organisation’s child protection policy. However, staff’s awareness and their understanding of safeguarding processes needs to develop further and become embedded into their practice. In addition, records do not confirm that all staff have read and understood all of the organisation’s documents that are linked to the child protection policy.  Leaders and managers have taken action to help staff set clearer boundaries for the young person. A new system has been introduced for staff to record the outcomes of incentives they use to help the young person to develop positive behaviour. Further improvement is needed as not all staff are recording the outcomes regularly and in line with the placement plan.  Not all staff have undertaken training in relation to understanding attachments and supporting young people who self-harm. Both of these areas are relevant to

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young person is positive about his experience of living in this home. He says that he feels happy and safe and that he thoroughly enjoys the activities that are provided. Staff encourage him to try new opportunities and his hobbies and interests are promoted well.  The young person is now accessing more education and is enjoying his time at school.  Staff provide the young person with good opportunities to share any worries that he may have. The young person has a good understanding of how to make a complaint and is confident to share his worries and concerns with staff.  Staff are provided with a comprehensive placement plan and detailed risk assessments to help them care for the young person. These documents are regularly reviewed and updated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2017 Full Inadequate 09/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/09/2016 Full Good 08/02/2016 Interim Not judged Inspection report children’s home: SC489223 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

Regulation 11: The positive relationships standard The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; help each child to develop socially aware behaviour (in particular, ensure that staff consistently monitor and record the outcomes of the incentives that are used to promote positive behaviour); and 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. (Regulation 11 (1) (a) (b) (c) (2) (a) (iii) (iv) (v))

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Requirement Due date

Regulation 12: The protection of children standard 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— be familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. In addition, ensure that evidence is maintained to confirm staff’s awareness and understanding of all of the procedures linked to the child protection policy. Ensure that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection 30/09/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC489223 4 policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (2) (a) (vii) (e)) Regulation 33: Employment of staff The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. In particular, ensure that all staff receive training in understanding attachments and supporting young people who self-harm.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This applies to a wide range of records that are kept by the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have made improvements in relation to safeguarding and the management of the current young person’s behaviours. However, these improvements need to be closely monitored, evaluated and become embedded into staff’s practice.

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improvement to be good

The current young person continues to enjoy living at the home. He gave 8/10 for his overall experiences of living here. He says that he feels safe and listened to. He likes his bedroom and loves the activities. Staff continue to encourage and promote his independence. He acknowledges that at times he can get angry and frustrated, and is developing a good awareness of how to manage these feelings. He is aware of how to make a complaint if he wished to do so.

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improvement to be good

A significant improvement since the last inspection is that the current young person is now accessing more formal education. He is currently attending school four days a week, and staff are providing additional learning experiences. He says that he is enjoying going to school. Leaders and managers say that it is expected that he will return to school full-time in the autumn term.

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improvement to be good

The current young person has started to display photographs and record his own comments about the activities that he has enjoyed in a personalised scrapbook. This scrapbook also records his learning opportunities and his hobbies. The young person actively takes part in growing fruit and vegetables for use in the home. His interest in looking after chickens has been supported by the staff team. Inspection report children’s home: SC489223 5 The young person is in good health and has access to a variety of healthcare professionals to promote his health and personal well-being.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have taken action to ensure that staff at all levels across the organisation follow the safeguarding policy and refer child protection concerns to the designated officer promptly. A number of referrals have been made to the designated officer. Leaders and managers ensure that there is a robust audit trail to demonstrate the actions taken and outcomes of the referrals.

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improvement to be good

All staff have received safeguarding training and, following the last inspection, they have received ‘refresher’ training in relation to the organisation’s safeguarding policy. Following this training, staff completed a questionnaire to demonstrate their understanding of the policy. The responsible individual assessed the answers and has checked staff’s competency.

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improvement to be good

Staff’s understanding of general safeguarding procedures and protocols has improved. However, this understanding needs further development to embed confidently into their everyday practice. Staff agree and say that they would benefit from reviewing specific child protection scenarios as part of their continuous safeguarding training. Staff have been provided with copies of ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children, March 2015’ and ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused, 2015’. Staff say that they are aware of these documents, but it is not evident that leaders and managers have tested their awareness and understanding of them as no records are kept to confirm this. Leaders and managers said that staff are expected to sign the documents. Not all staff have done this.

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improvement to be good

Some of the behaviours that the young person exhibits continue to place him and staff at risk of harm. Leaders and managers ensure that the placing authority is informed of these incidents. A recent multi-disciplinary strategy meeting took place to discuss these issues and agree the way forward. Leaders and managers continue to gather data on incidents, consequences and rewards. The data is then evaluated to look for triggers and trends. Leaders and managers ensure that risk assessments are regularly reviewed, updated and align with the placing authority’s requirements to keep the young person safe.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have provided staff with a variety of guidelines on how to implement boundaries and support the young person to manage his behaviours. As a result, boundaries are now clearer than before and staff are providing the young person with continuity and consistency of care. This practice is in the early days of development and needs to embed further into staff’s practice. Staff speak positively about the developments. A member of staff said, ‘There has been a lot more consistency for him, there wasn’t tight boundaries before, there are now and his behaviour has changed dramatically.’ Another member of staff said, ‘We have provided consistency, and boundaries are now in place.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC489223 6 Leaders and managers have introduced systems to promote communication between the staff team in relation to the monitoring of the young person’s incentives. However, the

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improvement to be good

newly introduced recording system to support this development is not yet effective, as on occasions records are not completed in full.

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improvement to be good

All staff have received training in de-escalation and restraint and physical restraint is only used as a last resort. Leaders and managers closely monitor the records pertaining to the use of restraint. The views of the young person following the use of restraint are sought, but at times the young person chooses not to make any comment.

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improvement to be good

The young person has not been reported as missing. However, on occasions when he leaves the home, staff follow the agreed protocols in order to keep him safe. A missing from home protocol has been devised and shared with the local police.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers ensure that the environment is safe and there are regular checks on the home’s utilities. All staff have received fire drill training.

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

At the last inspection, the home was judged inadequate because of staff’s poor management of child protection concerns and allegations. Since then, leaders and managers have taken action to improve the safeguarding culture in the home. However, this needs to be closely monitored, evaluated further and be embedded into staff’s practice. Leaders and managers inform all appropriate agencies, including Ofsted, without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or persons working there.

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

Leadership and management requires improvement as there continues to be a lack of continuity and consistency in the leadership of the home. At this inspection, Ofsted was advised of a further change of manager. A registered manager from another one of the organisation’s homes has now been appointed to this home, and has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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

Overall, the monitoring, scrutiny and evaluation of records has improved. Leaders and managers have undertaken a robust assessment of the quality of care being provided. As a result, they have identified where improvements can be made, and an action plan has been set.

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

Leaders and managers take robust action to address poor staff performance. Staff say that they feel well supported by leaders and managers. Supervision is regular and includes reflective practice discussions. Staff value the opportunities that they have for meeting regularly with the clinical psychologist. These meetings provide staff with clinical support in relation to the management of the young person’s behaviours. Staff receive mandatory training. However, not all staff have received specific training in understanding attachments and supporting young people who self-harm. Inspection report children’s home: SC489223 7 Leaders and managers have introduced a new system for recording and monitoring the young person’s educational achievements and attendance at school. However, these records are not always completed in full.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive a detailed placement plan and risk assessment that provides them with comprehensive information about how to meet the young person’s needs. These plans are regularly reviewed and updated. The placement plan includes information about the young person’s progress in meeting the aims and objectives of the plan.

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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 differences 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 whom 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: SC489223 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Idem Living Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Newlands, 1a Huyton Hey Road, Liverpool L36 5SE

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Inspector(s)

David Kidner: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC489223 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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