Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC454838 1 SC454838

p.1

The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A large private provider of children‟s services operates this home. Ofsted has registered the service for up to six children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit follows the last full inspection, when the home was judged inadequate. Ofsted suspended the registration of the service on 27 July 2017. Ofsted lifted the suspension on 5 September 2017 after the provider sent evidence that it had made sufficient progress in key areas.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has made a significant investment in the property, internally and externally. Externally, the previous points of access to the roofs no longer allow children to climb and put themselves at risk. Contractors have removed the roofs on two outbuildings so that no asbestos-based materials are accessible to children. The company has plans to convert one barn into a recreational area and a smaller outbuilding into a library. The barns connected to the house no longer contain staff cars, a staff smoking area, or assorted other items. This reduces the associated health and safety risks to an acceptable level. The fire safety officer has confirmed that recently implemented fire safety measures are satisfactory. Internally, redecoration and refurbishment have brought the property‟s interior to a very good standard. Bedrooms are colourful and have homely touches. This makes the environment welcoming and comfortable for children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff no longer lock internal communal doors, thereby unnecessarily restricting children‟s access to areas of the home. This means there is closer attention to children‟s rights.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Managers have improved the processes for monitoring. For example, managers have Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC454838 2 introduced an additional type of quality assurance, they have improved documents, and engaged an additional two self-employed independent visitors. These changes strengthen internal and external monitoring systems.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The statement of purpose is up to date. It reflects the fact that the provider intends to admit children in a younger age range.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers ensure that staff report serious incidents to Ofsted so that the regulator can regulate effectively.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff members have undertaken some additional training and spent time in other children‟s homes within the organisation to help with their learning and development. Managers have not fully evaluated the effectiveness of this. Furthermore, the records of supervision meetings for staff, the lead manager, and the registered manager are insufficient. It is not clear that managers and staff reflect on their individual performance and development needs to understand what went wrong at the home and how they will prevent a repeat.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home has not had any children living in it since 27 July 2017, so the manager cannot demonstrate the effectiveness of care planning and the impact of this on children‟s experiences and progress.

p.2

This monitoring visit

At the full inspection, Ofsted found shortfalls in the communication by the manager with people outside the home, such as neighbours, members of the local community, the parish councillor and the police. Since then he has undertaken no steps to establish relationships that would benefit children. This demonstrates a lack of understanding of the importance of rebuilding and maintaining such relationships, which are critical to the integration of children into the community.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The full inspection identified shortfalls in terms of staff ensuring that children attend education. Children have not lived at the home since 27 July 2017; therefore, the provider cannot demonstrate progress in this area. For the same reason, there is no evidence of staff managing children‟s negative behaviour in a more effective way.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has written an assessment of the location. This outlines the risks in the local area and the opportunities available to children. It refers to the neighbours, but not to the risks posed by their farm buildings, equipment, and livestock. Lack of clarity in this area increases the potential risk to children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

In conclusion, the provider has made some important improvements to the service. However, there remain a number of unresolved shortfalls in practice and leadership. The overall judgement remains inadequate. Ofsted will review progress at a full inspection. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC454838 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.3

Recent inspection history

25/07/2017 Full Inadequate 28/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/07/2016 Full Good 24/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC454838 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 within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that staff— seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children‟s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (d)) This is with specific reference to the issues relating to young people displaying anti-social behaviour. 27/10/17

p.4

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; and help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child‟s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (2)(iv)(x)) 27/10/17

p.4

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff— encourage each child to take responsibility for the child‟s behaviour, in accordance with the child‟s age and understanding; and communicate to each child expectations about the child‟s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child‟s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (2)(a)(iii)(v)) 27/10/17

p.4

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home‟s statement of purpose; and understand the impact 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 27/10/17 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC454838 5 home. (Regulation 13(2)(a)(f)) The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home. (Regulation 14 (2)(a)) In particular, ensure that contact arrangements between children and their families are made clear to staff. When there are concerns around contact, arrangements are risk assessed to ensure that these are safe. Managers must ensure that the staff know the care plan for each child.

p.4

Requirement Due date

Managers and staff must ensure that children‟s placement plans clearly set out their day-to-day care needs. 27/10/17

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) This is with regard to such supervision being of sufficient quality to allow for reflection about individual performance and development. 27/10/17

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out the measures of control, discipline and restraint, which may be used in relation to children in the home. 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— a description of the measure and its duration; and the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used. (Regulation 35 (1)(b)(2)(vi)) In particular, that all those involved in the restraint and who are witness to it have the opportunity to receive a debrief from somebody independent of the incident. 27/10/17

p.5

Recommendations

 Review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home‟s location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process: Children‟s homes regulation amendments 2014: Advice for children‟s homes providers on new duties under regulations that came in to effect in January and April 2014. This is with regard to identifying the risks posed by adjacent farms. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 64, paragraph 15.1) Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC454838 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC454838 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Children‟s Services

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

p.7

Inspectors

David Morgan, social care inspector Dave Carrigan, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC454838 8 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.

p.7

Inspectors

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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8