Children's home run by Shropshire Council

Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 1 SC370982 Registered provider: Shropshire Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of two homes that are provided by a local authority. The home is registered for five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people like living at the home.  Young people have positive relationships with staff.  Young people improve their learning opportunities and engage well with education.  Young people receive good support to help them move on.  Staff provide excellent support to the extended families of young people. This helps young people to restore positive relationships with those people who are important to them.  Young people enjoy a range of leisure opportunities.  Staff follow missing from home procedures, and this helps to keep young people safe.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children‟s home‟s areas for development

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager has not met all of the requirements made at the last full inspection.  Staff do not use physical intervention in line with young people‟s behaviour management plans.  Staff do not always record incidents of bullying and respond effectively.  Not all young people have a statutory care plan.  The manager does not always notify Ofsted following a significant event.  Staff do not consistently keep accurate records.  Staff do not follow the home‟s procedure for the administration, storage and disposal of medication.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/11/2016 Full Outstanding 12/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/11/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 3

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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 registered person 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 positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11(1)(c)(2)(a)(xiii)) 31/10/2017

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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 in paragraph (1) 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; and 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(1)(2)(a)(i)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that damage to the home is repaired quickly and that risk assessments accurately reflect young people‟s needs and the strategies required to keep them safe. 31/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that restraint in relation to a child is necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20(2)) 31/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and, within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”) has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)) 31/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which include the information and documents 31/10/2017 Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 4 listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36(1)(a) Schedule 3.19)

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that each child has an up-to-date care plan. The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37(1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, maintain a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working in the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. 31/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation. (Regulation 40(4)(a)) 31/10/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that medicines are administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. These are fundamentally the same sorts of arrangements as a good parent would make but are subject to additional safeguards. Where the home has questions or concerns about a child‟s medication, they should approach an expert such as a General Medical Practitioner, community pharmacist or designated nurse for looked-after children. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last full inspection in November 2016, four young people have moved into the home and four have moved out. Three young people have moved on positively in line with their care plans. One young person moved on sooner than anticipated due to safeguarding concerns. The manager took effective action to find a more suitable placement for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are fit and well. Young people enjoy an active lifestyle that improves their physical fitness. Young people enjoy homemade meals and they receive a nutritious and well-balanced diet. Young people look after their health and attend routine health appointments. A parent commented, „[Name of child] is much healthier and happier since being at the home.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress with their education. The manager works well with Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 5 education professionals to support young people‟s education. For example, when young people face difficulties in school, she takes effective action to identify a more suitable education placement. This helped to reduce one young person‟s anxieties about school. Consequently, he has remained engaged in education, and this promotes his learning. A staff member said, „He has settled into education [and] now attends a full-time placement. In January 2017, he had not been attending and had been excluded. We did some work with him and got him back into school.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage young people to stay in touch with friends and family and welcome visitors to the home. Staff help to support and strengthen family relationships. For example, a family support worker helps parents through a programme that identifies how the relationship with their child can improve. As a result, young people and their parents or carers re-build once-fractured relationships. This helps young people to return home to live with their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have their say about the home during weekly meetings. The agenda addresses set topics and the views of young people. This helps young people to contribute to the day-to-day running of the home and to offer suggestions of what they like and do not like. Young people know how to complain and are able to express any worries or concerns. A young person said, „I was given a welcome book and know what to do if I am unhappy. We have a meeting on Sundays. I feel staff listen to me.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help young people to develop their independence skills. For example, young people learn to use public transport independently to visit friends and family. Other young people have their own bank accounts and can now manage their own money. As a result, young people become more confident and self-sufficient. A parent said, „Staff are preparing him well for leaving in September.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy an array of leisure activities. For example, they participate in trips to the seaside and theme parks. They also enjoy going out for meals. One young person attends a music youth group. In this way, staff support young people to have new opportunities, which help to build their confidence and skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people get on well with staff and speak highly of them. Positive relationships between staff and young people help young people to build trust. A young person said, „The best thing about being here is the great staff.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people living in the home have not always got along well with each other. This is because the manager does not routinely complete a compatibility risk assessment for each child already living in the home. This has at times had a negative impact on the relationships that young people have with each other. Furthermore, it compromises some young people‟s experience of living in the home. The group dynamics have now changed and relationships between young people are better. A young person said, „I get on with all the other young people and enjoy living here.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all young people have a statutory care plan. For example, a young person placed in the home in May still does not have an up-to-date care plan. Although the manager has Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 6 challenged the social worker about this, this challenge has not been effective. Not having up-to-date care plans impacts on the staff‟s ability to deliver care in line with the young person‟s individual plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some young people require prescribed medication. Trained staff administer medication. However, staff do not always follow the home‟s medication procedures. For example, staff do not always use a second staff member to witness the administration of controlled drugs. Staff do not store medication that needs to be kept at a lower temperature in a fridge. Furthermore, staff administer homely remedies, but they do not check with the general practitioner or a suitably qualified health practitioner that these remedies can be used safely alongside prescribed medication. This does not fully promote young people‟s welfare.

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improvement to be good

Young people currently living in the home said that they feel safe. However, this has not always been the case. One young person has not always felt safe because of the behaviour of another young person towards them. This situation arose because the manager admitted a young person without completing a thorough compatibility risk assessment. This was despite it being known that the two young people had a poor relationship history. This led to one young person physically assaulting the other. Furthermore, a young person came to live at the home without staff having a full understanding of her vulnerability to child sexual exploitation. Failing to assess young people‟s needs before they move in does not promote their safety and welfare.

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improvement to be good

Some young people occasionally go missing from care. Staff implement good strategies to minimise risk. They follow procedures and take action to help young people to return safely. Young people have a return home interview, completed by someone who is independent. This helps to identify what triggers young people to go missing and enables the staff to offer the right support. Some young people go missing from home less frequently than they did, which reflects the progress that they have made.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff develop positive working relationships with partner agencies, including the police. For example, they have met with the police to discuss strategies about how to minimise risk for young people who go missing. Good information sharing with the police also means that the police understand the needs of each child and can respond appropriately when necessary.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently record incidents of bullying. Furthermore, although they talk to the young people they do not always tackle such issues effectively. As a result, staff miss opportunities to help young people to learn about how their behaviour affects other people and how to improve this.

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improvement to be good

Staff on two occasions physically stopped a young person from leaving the home. The young person‟s behaviour management plan did not give sufficient evidence about why such action was necessary. Thus, staff do not always use physical intervention in line Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 7 with young people‟s relevant plans.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not record physical intervention in line with regulation. For example, the manager does not record debriefs with staff following an incident involving restraint, and she does not review the effectiveness of the measure. This lack of effective oversight makes it difficult for staff and young people to learn from what has happened and to reduce the chances of it happening again.

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improvement to be good

The manager safely recruits staff. Two staff members are new to the service. They are subject to rigorous vetting to ensure that they are suitable to work with vulnerable young people. Safer recruitment practice keeps young people safe.

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

The home is led by a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced registered manager. The registered manager holds a level 5 diploma in leadership management. She is supported by a qualified deputy manager.

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

A largely stable staff team cares for young people. This provides young people with consistency and a platform from which they can develop trusting relationships. This helps young people to feel cared for and to make progress.

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

Staff are suitably qualified to a level 3 diploma or equivalent in the care of children and young people. Those who do not have a suitable qualification yet are expected to achieve one within the required timescales. Staff receive training, which equips them with a range of skills and knowledge to care for young people. New staff receive an induction that helps to prepare them for their roles.

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

Staff receive supervision. The manager is attending some training to help staff to be more reflective in supervision. Updating her own skills supports staff development. The manager provides staff with an annual appraisal. As a result, staff receive a review of their performance, which identifies their strengths and areas for development.

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

The manager has not met all the requirements raised at the last inspection. This demonstrates that she does not learn from inspection and this limits the capacity of the home to improve. However, she has ensured that a broken trampoline has been replaced, providing a safe alternative for young people to use and an updated statement of purpose now reflects the age range of young people accommodated.

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

The manager still does not notify Ofsted of all significant incidents that occur in the home. For example, she did not inform Ofsted of concerns relating to one young person who was vulnerable to child sexual exploitation. Although managers and staff took action, they did not inform Ofsted. This means that the regulator cannot accurately monitor the service and this does not promote young people‟s welfare.

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

One young person‟s bedroom carpet requires replacing and some other damage has not been repaired quickly enough. In this way, managers and staff do not maintain the Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 8 home to a good standard throughout.

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

The manager undertakes monitoring and produces a quality of care review report, which she shares with Ofsted. However, monitoring activity has not identified shortfalls in record-keeping, for example, restraint records. Furthermore, the manager has not identified issues relating to medication and does not keep staff rosters that reflect the actual hours that the staff work. This lack of attention to detail makes it difficult to identify shortfalls or patterns and trends and does not help the manager to develop the service.

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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 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.

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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: SC370982 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC370982 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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