Children's home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC436551 1 SC436551

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is registered for three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is one of several homes operated by an independent provider.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection of the home took place on 22 and 23 June 2017. Ofsted judged the home requires improvement to be good. Since the full inspection, concerns have been raised with Ofsted about staffing arrangements and the safety of young people. A monitoring inspection was carried out to investigate these concerns. This inspection found that staff do not sufficiently protect young people from harm. Staff take limited action to stop young people smoking and to prevent young people from smoking in their bedrooms. Managers do not ensure that damage is repaired quickly. For example, a broken light fitting, which left wires exposed, did not receive urgent attention from a qualified electrician. Trailing cables in young people’s bedrooms present a trip hazard. Poor lighting poses a risk to children and staff in the event that they need to leave the home in an emergency. Furthermore, staff do not carry out all necessary health and safety checks in a timely manner. For example,

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This monitoring visit

they do not check the home’s vehicle to ensure that it remains safe to use. Health and safety shortfalls put young people at risk. New flooring is required in the laundry room. A requirement was raised about this at the interim inspection in August 2016 and was repeated at the full inspection in June 2017. Inspectors found that managers have still not taken sufficient action to address this shortfall. Inspectors found young people’s bedrooms to be in a poor state. Staff do not help young people to maintain their rooms and look after their belongings. This shows a lack of care and does not help young people to feel valued. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC436551 2 Managers and staff do not regularly review and update young people’s individual risk assessments. As a result, not all staff are aware of known risks and the strategies to manage these risks. This does not promote young people’s safety and welfare.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not always consider what is going on for young people at times of stress and anxiety. Consequently, they do not understand the triggers for young people’s challenging behaviour. Managers and staff do not follow behaviour management plans. As a result, they do not use de-escalation strategies effectively to prevent situations from escalating. Insufficient staffing levels mean that young people do not receive consistent care. Agency and bank staff cover staffing shortfalls. However, some staff work excessively. In addition, the manager regularly works shifts. As a result, the manager cannot provide sufficient support to staff. For example, staff on probation do not receive supervision at the frequency set out in the home’s policies and procedures. Because of the amount of time the manager is on shift, she is not able to fulfil her monitoring responsibilities effectively. This limits the capacity of the

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This monitoring visit

home to improve. The staff rosters do not show who is working in the home or reflect the actual hours that staff work. Staff do not always record when they administer medication to young people. This has not directly affected young people’s welfare, but it has the potential to do so. Seven requirements and one recommendation are raised; two of the requirements are subject to enforcement action.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 31/08/2016 Full Good 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC436551 3 registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 11(1)(b)(2)(a)(i)) 13/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff 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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 13/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure 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. (Regulation 12(2)(d))* 13/09/2017

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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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure that the staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(b)(2)(c)) 13/09/2017

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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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(b)(2)(d))* 13/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 13/09/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4 and ensure that the records are kept 13/09/2017 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC436551 4 up to date. (Regulation 37(2)(a)(b) Schedule 4(3))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that records are kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.5)

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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: SC436551 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Mulberry House Care Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tollgate Business Centre, Tollgate Drive, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 3HS

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Inspectors

Michelle Spruce, social care inspector Jackie Line, regulatory inspection manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC436551 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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