Clayfields House Secure Unit

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036740 1 SC036740

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children’s home is managed by a local authority. It is approved by the Department for Education to restrict young people’s liberty. The children’s home can accommodate up to 18 young people, who are aged between 10 and 17 years. It provides for up to 14 young people placed by the Youth Justice Board and up to four places for young people accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who are placed by local authorities. Admission of any young person under section 25 of the Children Act 1989, who is under 13 years of age, requires the approval of the Secretary of State. Education is provided on-site in dedicated facilities.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of the visit was to assess the actions taken by the home in response to a safeguarding matter notified to Ofsted on 31 July 2017 under regulation 40 of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

The home failed to follow child protection procedures and take appropriate action in response to an allegation made by a young person.

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This monitoring visit

A young person made an allegation of being subject of sexual assault by another young person living at the home. Managers at the home undertook a fact-finding exercise to gather further information. On assessing the information collated, they decided that no further action was needed. They failed to notify the local authority’s multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) in line with safeguarding procedures and statutory guidance.

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This monitoring visit

The young person repeated the allegation almost eight weeks later. Managers once again failed to refer the matter to the local authority’s MASH in line with safeguarding procedures and statutory guidance. Five days after the repeated allegation, the managers sent a routine progress report about the young person to the placing local authority that included this concern. Seven days after this report Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036740 2 was sent, the placing local authority held a strategy meeting to decide on and to determine any required actions. Managers from the home stated that they were not invited to this meeting. Ofsted was not notified of this matter until two weeks after the strategy meeting was held by the placing local authority.

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This monitoring visit

The young person was not at further risk from the alleged perpetrator during the period of inaction and when the aforementioned failures by the home occurred.

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This monitoring visit

The home reviewed its safeguarding procedure in April 2017. The procedure and associated forms are focused on referring child protection matters to the designated officer in the local authority and informing the placing authority of any incidents. While best practice suggests that responsible authorities should be notified of concerns, the accountability for consideration of child protection matters and potential criminal enquiries is located in the area the young person lives. The home’s procedure is very focused on procedures where adults working with the young people have alleged to have abused children. However, there is insufficient clarity on other procedures; for example, incidents that have occurred before the young person arrived at the home, other adults not directly working with the young people, and child-on-child abuse.

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This monitoring visit

Records of safeguarding concerns are kept by the home. The records examined in relation to the matter notified to Ofsted were lacking in sufficient detail and clarity. For example, the records did not make clear when some key decisions were made by managers in the home and by external agencies and professionals, and the rationale for those decisions.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager fully recognised and accepted the failures. The manager intends to carry out a review of the home’s procedures and recording systems, and stated she is taking action to ensure that all staff at all levels understand their responsibilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/05/2017 Full Outstanding 06/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/06/2016 Full Outstanding 12/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036740 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

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

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; (e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, where there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare, ensure child protection procedures and statutory guidance (Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015) are followed and that clear records are made about any matters and actions taken in response. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(e)) 15/09/17

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— (a) is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect. (2) The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular— (b) provide for a prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located; (c) provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about past abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area 30/09/17 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036740 4 the alleged abuse or neglect occurred. In particular, ensure that the child protection procedure is reviewed and revised so that it is commensurate with statutory guidance (Working Together to Safeguard Children

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (d) a child protection enquiry involving a child — (i) is instigated; or (ii) concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry). (Regulation 40(4)(d)) 15/09/17

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of the visit was to assess the actions taken by the home in light of a safeguarding matter that the home notified to Ofsted under regulation 40 of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 on 31 July 2017.

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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: SC036740 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shelagh Mitchell

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Inspector

Shaun Common, lead professional – secure estate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036740 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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