Children's home run by ARC Adventure (Sussex) Ltd in Sutton

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 1 SC362972

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

was conducted to assess the progress made against the requirements raised at the full inspection of 23 May 2017.

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(a)(b)(c)) – met

The responsible individual and home manager have implemented a response protocol to information not being made available by the placing authority, regarding young people‟s plans, minutes and agreements. They escalate their concerns to the social work team managers and then to the commissioning manager within three weeks if information is not forthcoming. The home is now challenging poor quality records, for example where the date has been changed, but not the information contained within the plan. Staff within the home are now expected to take minutes of any meeting they have attended with partner agencies, to ensure that there are fewer delays in implementing new plans or agreements. The home manager said that he is ensuring that all documentation is available prior to placement. The home also no longer accepts emergency placements, which have sometimes been problematic in the past, and the statement of purpose has been

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(a)(b)(c)) – met

amended accordingly. Some documents and information are still being sought, but there is now a clear evidence trail of staff within the home trying to gain the relevant information for young people‟s files to ensure that in-house plans are up to date. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 2

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met

The home manager is in the process of arranging for a consultant psychologist to support staff in understanding young people‟s behaviour and the reasons behind it. These sessions have yet to commence. The home manager says that senior staff, in particular, are skilled in the nuances of behaviour and linking what may be causing this. However, some staff still require training and support in this area. Online training with regard to self-injurious behaviours has been identified and staff will be enrolling on this soon. The responsible individual, along with the key worker for a young person, have been trying to arrange for a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) assessment for him. There have been challenges in this, because the responsibility for the referral sits with the social worker. This has now been addressed and the child-looked-after nurse is liaising with the home and CAMHS. It was noted that the

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met

young person was no longer receiving therapy at school due to funding issues. However, the home had not been directly informed of this development. Young people‟s plans do not contain details of previous behaviours that young people have exhibited when distressed. The young person who was displaying concerning behaviours at the last inspection is no longer doing so at this time.

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11: The positive relationships standard (2)(a)(i)(vi)(vii)(ix) – met

Key work sessions with young people have significantly improved. Staff spend time exploring young people‟s thoughts and feelings and have targeted discussions. For example, having noted that a young person was coming home late from independent time, it was explored with him why this is and the risks of being out late. Friendships and relationships are also discussed, including risky relationships with peers who may encourage young people to participate in unacceptable or dangerous activities. Staff provide young people with „escape plans‟ such as key words they can use with staff, who will come and collect them if they feel unsafe.

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12: The protection of children standard (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(vii)(b)(e) – met

Staff are all registered onto safeguarding and child protection training in the coming month to refresh their skills and knowledge regarding allegations, disclosures and suspicions of harm. A keyring of laminated prompts held centrally in the office direct staff in what to do should a young person make a disclosure. These are simple to understand and appear to be an effective tool to ensure that responses are in line with guidance. The home manager holds an advanced safeguarding certificate and is seeking to attend a level 3 course. A safeguarding awareness quiz is being used with staff in team meetings to ascertain their knowledge and ensure that gaps are remedied with immediate effect. A full investigation has been conducted into how young people were able to leave Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 3 their bedrooms unnoticed and has concluded that miscommunication was a factor.

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12: The protection of children standard (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(v)(vii)(b)(e) – met

New daily records include a section on who has set bedroom door alarms and when they were turned off. In addition, it is anticipated that young people and staff locations will be documented when there is a change throughout the day. The home manager is instilling new methods of practice for staff, including active supervision of young people from a distance. The child protection policy has been recently updated and refers to current practice expectations and national guidance.

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Regulation 16: Statement of purpose (1)(3)(a)(5) – met

The statement of purpose has been updated to reflect the service provided. It has been forwarded to Ofsted.

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Regulation 31: Staffing of children’s homes (2)(a) – met

Most staff were finishing a three-day first aid course during the visit. The remaining staff will confirm their training dates before the end of July 2017. All shifts will now have at least one member of staff on duty who holds a relevant first aid qualification.

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Regulation 32: Fitness of workers (3)(d) – not met

The responsible individual stated that they are currently obtaining information from staff in relation to gaps in employment. She has gone through all staff files to identify where these gaps are and to gain full employment histories. However, this is yet to be completed. The recently appointed home manager only has one reference on file. There have been difficulties in sourcing two others due to changes in ownership of his former employers‟ companies. The responsible individual has been trying to gain these references, but has failed to undertake a risk assessment in relation to the manager being on site without the required number of references. He currently is not lone- working with young people. The deputy manager has successfully undertaken safer recruitment training.

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Regulation 33: Employment of staff (4)(a) – met

Monitoring of training needs is being reviewed and a new training provider has been sourced. Staff are registered for an online package of training, which includes varied mandatory and further development courses, such as radicalisation and the „Prevent‟ duty, child sexual exploitation, safeguarding and self-injurious behaviour. Some training has already been undertaken, including medication administration and first aid. Others are due in the coming month. Post-training, staff complete a reflection form and share their knowledge with their Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 4 line manager, and, when relevant, the rest of the team.

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not met

The policy has been recently updated and includes the local authority‟s guidance on responding to young people who are missing. It was noted at the full inspection that it did not refer to national guidance, and this remains the case. Additionally, it was noted that the policy did not detail what staff responses should be if a young person is missing. This information is now included in individual plans for young people.

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met

The home manager has recently updated the behaviour management policy. It is now clear on situations where the police may be called to the home in response to a young person‟s behaviour. Its focus is to not unduly criminalise young people. Staff must discuss their reasons for contacting the police with the home manager or responsible individual, to ensure necessity and consistency in approach.

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Regulation 36: Children’s case records (1)(a)(2)(b)(d) – met

The responsible individual stated that the file she had thought had been forwarded to a young person‟s new placement at the time of the full inspection was in fact stored in the home. Plans are in place to renovate the garage and repurpose it into a safe storage facility for archived files and records.

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Regulation 40: Notification of a serious event (4)(e) – met

There have been no incidents which have required notification to Ofsted since the last inspection. A new chart for staff has been formulated to identify what is a notifiable event.

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Regulation 46: Review of premises (1)(2) – met

The responsible individual has produced a review of the premises and assessed any likely risks posed by the environment and location, such as proximity to the sea and the neighbouring farm. She has contacted partner agencies to gather intelligence on local risks, although she has yet to receive any response.

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Regulation 46: Review of premises (1)(2) – met

The review would benefit from an evaluation of the suitability of the home‟s location.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/05/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 5 02/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/07/2016 Full Good 19/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 6 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 7

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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 health and well-being standard is that the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well- being.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff understand the child‟s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child‟s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child‟s age and understanding; understand and develop skills to promote the child‟s well- being; that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(ii)(iv)(b)c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must promote young people‟s emotional well-being through positive discussion and understanding how they may be feeling and the reasons for this, in addition to seeking professional psychiatric and psychological support as stated in their plans, or as young people present new and/or concerning behaviours. 31/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

Use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(h))

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Requirement Due date

With particular reference to ensuring that incident reports and records are accurate and fully completed. 31/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‟s safety. They must ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular that the applicant provides a full employment 31/08/2017 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 8 history, including satisfactory explanation for any gaps in employment.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the missing child policy”) setting out the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. Before implementing, or making an amendment which the registered person considers to be substantive to the missing child policy, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person; and have regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children. The registered person must keep under review and, as necessary, revise the home‟s child protection policies. (Regulation 34(4)(b)(5)(a)(b)(6))

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Requirement Due date

In particular that the missing from care policy is reflective of the practice undertaken in the home. 31/08/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure children who are not in education or are on part-time timetables are engaged in suitable structured activities to support their engagement in and return to full-time education. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  Searches of children‟s bedrooms should follow the home‟s policies and procedures. A full written record of the items removed should be made, with reasons for removing the items, while recognising a child‟s right to privacy. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  Develop in-house care plans to reflect children and young people‟s views and ideas and their culture and identity beyond their nationality or faith. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 58, paragraph 11.19)  Staff involved in recruitment must have a sound understanding of safer

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Recommendations

recruitment practice. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 9

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children‟s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ARC Adventure (Sussex) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o Cox Costello, Langwood House, 63-81 High Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 1EQ

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Inspectors

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Emeline Evans, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC362972 11 to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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