Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 1 SC465940 Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered for the accommodation and care of seven children and young people who have learning disabilities. Children and young people can also attend the organisation’s school, which is located near to the home.

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 widespread 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: 1 February 2017

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: Declined in effectiveness

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is inadequate because:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Leaders and managers fail to escalate child protection concerns to safeguarding agencies as required. Staff do not always recognise risks to children. Records about child protection concerns are not always well maintained. This shortfall was identified at the previous inspection.  Leaders and managers fail to ensure that new staff receive the child protection training that they need to keep children safe. Leaders and managers do not know which staff have completed child protection training.  Staff do not receive suitable guidance for the administration of pro re nata (PRN) medication. Leaders and managers fail to monitor the use of PRN medication, its effectiveness and its impact on the welfare of the child.  The quality of the accommodation is poor and some areas require urgent attention. The rear garden is hazardous.  Children and young people are unable to move freely in the home. They cannot

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

gain access to the front garden without asking a member of staff. Other restrictions include window restrictors, enclosed television cabinets, use of stair gates and high locks on a bathroom door that children cannot reach. Leaders and managers have failed to review whether these restrictions are proportionate.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Children and young people are making good progress in developing their independence skills. Staff set clear targets that children and young people achieve. Children and young people attend school regularly and have good access to their local community.  Children’s individual communication needs are met well. Staff use a range of methods of communication effectively to support children and young people to express their views about their care.  Staff give children and young people good support to maintain and build on their relationships with their families. Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 22/09/2016 Full Good 25/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.4

Requirement Due date

(c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

(ii) enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, improve the quality of the environment to ensure that it meets the needs of children and young people. Review the restrictions imposed on children and young people, including their access to the garden. 07/09/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

*12: The protection of children standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

12.—(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

Requirement Due date

(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

(v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 23/08/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 5 (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

(vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.5

Requirement Due date

(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the child protection policy is followed when there is an unknown cause for bruises and injuries sustained by children. Ensure that child protection concerns are reported and communicated clearly to the relevant designated officers, social workers and parents when appropriate. Ensure that staff receive child protection training.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have appropriate guidance and training when children and young people are prescribed pro re nata (PRN) medication. Ensure that the manager has systems to monitor the use of this medication, to ensure the welfare of children and young people.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that the garden is a safe area for children and young people to spend time in. 13: The leadership and management standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

13.—(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential, and promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 07/09/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 6 (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that leaders and managers implement effective monitoring systems to review the quality of care and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Ensure that staff receive training that is essential to meet the needs of children and young people.

p.6

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are serious failures in ensuring that children’s and young people’s welfare is protected.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The property is not a pleasant or homely environment where children and young people can live comfortably. Children’s and young people’s daily living needs are not met due to a lack of care and attention to providing basic amenities and meeting hygiene standards. One young person’s bed is stained with faeces and the mattress sits on a makeshift plank of wood. Some bathrooms and toilets have no toilet paper, soap or hand towels. The home is not maintained to an acceptable standard. A number of radiator covers are damaged, one wall has a hole in it and general maintenance tasks, such as refreshing the decor, are neglected.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The rear garden is not suitable for children and young people; the manager pointed out a number of hazards, such as loose rocks and uneven paving. The front garden has an automatic gate that protects children and young people from the dangers of the busy road. While children and young people have a new trampoline to play on, there is no seating area or table outside where they can socialise in good weather.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

External doors that lead out to the front garden restrict children and young people, and only staff can operate the fob system. These doors bleep on opening. Staff carry keys, some around their necks with identification badges. This practice is not conducive to a homely environment.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not reviewed the use of other restrictive practices, such as the use of a stair gate, window restrictors, locked television cabinets and the use of a high lock on the outside of a bathroom door that children and young people cannot reach. Leaders and managers fail to assess the impact of restrictive measures against risk, and children’s and young people’s freedom of movement.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The staff team has strong relationships with children and young people. Staff Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 7 communicate effectively with them, using the child’s preferred method of communication. This increases the opportunity for children and young people to make decisions and choices in their day-to-day lives.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home is in a small town with local amenities, including health services, nearby. The local high street is a short walk away. Staff support children and young people to become part of their community. Children and young people have good access to a range of activities that can be enjoyed as a group or on an individual basis. Staff successfully encourage children and young people to try new activities that enrich their experiences.

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support children and young people to maintain and build on their relationships with their families. Children’s and young people’s families are welcomed into the home. Staff support children and young people to visit their families at home and, for some, this is a huge achievement. Families feel part of their child’s experiences in the home, and one parent said, ‘Staff work with us as a family and we have a partnership.’

p.7

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

Staff do not always follow the child protection policy. As a result, children and young people are not always fully protected. Leaders and managers have not established effective systems for staff to report and escalate child protection concerns. Records detail injuries and bruises to children and young people, the cause of which is unknown. These concerns are not reported to the designated safeguarding lead or designated persons in local authorities and are not investigated. This was a weakness at the previous inspection.

p.7

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

Not all staff have received training in child protection. At the time of this inspection, new staff had not been booked onto a child protection training course. The induction process does not offer child protection training to an adequate level and does not ensure that new staff have sufficient safeguarding knowledge to protect children and young people. Leaders and managers have no system to identify when existing staff last received child protection training. Therefore, they are unable to identify when staff training is out of date.

p.7

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

Leaders and managers do not monitor child protection concerns effectively. The child protection log does not provide sufficient detail about child protection concerns relating to who has been informed or the actions taken. The outcome of responses to concerns is not clear or well documented.

p.7

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

Leaders and managers fail to provide staff with suitable guidance and training on the use of as and when needed (PRN) medication. Directions given to staff in one case describe three different dosages that staff may administer at their discretion. This guidance lacks clarity and the risk of error is high. Leaders and managers do not currently monitor the use of this medication and therefore do not know whether it is used correctly. Leaders and managers are currently reviewing the medication procedure to make the necessary improvements to ensure that children always receive the correct medication. On some Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 8 occasions, staff have made errors in the administration of medication and in the medication records. Staff seek the appropriate advice from a qualified health professional if children’s and young people’s medication has been missed.

p.7

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

When there is a risk of children and young people harming each other, leaders and managers take timely action to review their placements. As a result, some children and young people have moved to homes that are more suitable to their needs. These decisions have had a positive impact on children and young people living in this home. Staff report that the children and young people have become more settled and less anxious in each other’s company.

p.8

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

Staff use effective strategies to support children and young people when they become anxious. The use of restraint is reducing. Children and young people are beginning to self-harm less. The positive relationships that staff develop with children and young people support children and young people to make progress in managing their own behaviour.

p.8

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

Each child and young person has their own behaviour support plan and a risk assessment that details their individual needs. Staff follow plans well. They use effective strategies focused on rewards and praise for positive behaviour in children’s and young people’s daily routines. Staff use de-escalation and distraction techniques well to calm children when they are unsettled.

p.8

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

Following any incident of challenging behaviour, staff give children and young people the opportunity to communicate their views and feelings. Leaders and managers facilitate an opportunity for staff to reflect on their involvement in incidents and restraints. The manager’s monitoring of these incidents is insightful and reflective.

p.8

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

Leaders and managers use satisfactory processes for recruiting new staff. These ensure that staff are recruited using safer recruitment guidance.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers are not yet effective. The senior leadership team recognises some weaknesses in the leadership and management of the home, but leaders fail to recognise weaknesses in their child protection practices. The management of children’s and young people’s records that detail injuries and bruising with no known cause is poor. There is no system of audit or oversight for these records to ensure that children and young people are protected.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not know whether members of the existing staff team, including senior staff and shift leaders, have completed up-to-date training in child protection. This is due to poor record-keeping. The induction process does not provide new staff with the necessary skills to protect children. As a result, children are not always fully protected from risks.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff stated that they feel supported much more than they have done previously. Staff Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 9 spoke highly of the new manager and said that the home is improving. Staff receive regular supervision. These meetings set out clear actions to support children and young people and contribute to the staff team’s learning and development.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have recruited more staff, providing children and young people with stability. The use of casual agency staff has decreased since the last inspection. Leaders and managers use the same regular bank and agency staff. These agency staff have developed good relationships with the children. Agency staff also receive practice- related supervision.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The development plans for the home fail to identify significant weaknesses in care and safeguarding practice, the use of restrictive measures and health and safety. The manager has focused on changing the culture of the home and improving experiences for children and young people. Developments in these other essential areas have not been implemented or identified quickly enough.

p.9

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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.9

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: SC465940 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Priory Group, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

p.10

Inspector

Nicola Lownds, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC465940 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.

p.10

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.11

Inspector

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

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11