Children's home run by Medway Council in Medway

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066166 1 SC066166

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Medway Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short breaks for up to five children at a time who have severe learning disabilities, and who may have an associated physical disability and/or present challenging behaviour. Currently, there are 49 children registered with the service. The local authority, primary care trust and clinical commissioning group fund the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out following the children’s home being judged inadequate at the full inspection on 25 July 2017. One compliance notice and six requirements were made, and the focus of this visit was to assess the progress in meeting these.

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This monitoring visit

Following the previous inspection, the organisation undertook a full review of the relevant staff personnel records and took steps to ensure that all existing staff meet the standards for safer recruitment. Procedures have been revised and changed to strengthen the practice of safer recruitment and safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff development and training has been undertaken, and all existing staff are adequately equipped to meet the needs of the children. Staff deployment has been revised to ensure that all staff teams are able to meet the care and safety needs of the children. Tensions between staff have reduced and team working has improved. Plans are in place to ensure that the induction, probation and supervision of staff meet requirements. The actions taken have been appropriately prioritised, and a measured approach has been applied to addressing the failings and shortfalls. A ‘quick fix’ approach has been avoided, and there has been a focus on the long-term health of the service.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice has been met and clear action has been taken for the meeting of all requirements. However, only three have been met, leaving two unmet and one untested. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066166 2

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 32 (1), (2)(a)(b) and

(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) in relation to the fitness of workers.

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 32 (1), (2)(a)(b) and

The steps required were to ensure that all persons working in the service meet the requirements for fitness; to ensure that there are systems in place to monitor and audit the implementation of recruitment policies and procedures; to ensure that unchecked staff do not have unsupervised contact with children; and to ensure that personnel records contain the required information.

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 32 (1), (2)(a)(b) and

The organisation has conducted a detailed audit of all staff recruited. Only those meeting the requirements for fitness have been retained. The records of these staff all contain the required information.

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A compliance notice was issued under regulation 32 (1), (2)(a)(b) and

A full personnel record for each member of staff is held by the organisation’s human resources department, which is now responsible for the verification of all references. Managers are required to undergo training in safer recruitment before becoming involved in recruitment activities. These arrangements enable the organisation to monitor and audit the implementation of recruitment policies and procedures, and to ensure that these are met.

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(regulation 12 (1) and (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

The action required was to ensure that each staff team working with a group of children has the capacity to keep them safe, to recognise when they may be at risk of harm and to take appropriate action when concerns arise.

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(regulation 12 (1) and (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

All new and existing staff have undergone safeguarding training as well as other key training aimed at ensuring the proper and safe care of children with complex needs. Further training to continue upgrading the skills and knowledge of new staff is scheduled.

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(regulation 12 (1) and (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

New staff feel more confident and competent to meet the needs of the children who use the service, and their knowledge base is being strengthened.

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(regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

The required action was to ensure that the staff work together as a team, and to ensure that each shift has sufficient staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to care for the children staying at that time. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066166 3 Staff now say that they feel supported by the new management team and report a substantial reduction in divisions and tensions within the staff group. They display a focus on the children, as well as a healthy team ethic in supporting each other in meeting the needs of the children.

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(regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

The current planning of rotas takes the skill and experience of staff into account, to ensure that the staff teams for each group of children staying possess the collective knowledge and skills to meet the care and safety needs of those children.

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(2)(a))

The required action was to ensure that any significant incidents that have occurred are reviewed, and that any applicable disciplinary measures are implemented.

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(2)(a))

The one significant incident has been fully investigated by the interim manager, and has been documented. Identified shortfalls in procedures and staff training have been addressed. From this investigation, no disciplinary actions were recommended.

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(1)(a)(b))

The required action was to ensure that new staff complete an appropriate induction and a satisfactory period of probation.

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(1)(a)(b))

The staff induction programme has been revised, and the probation period of new staff has been extended from six to nine months. The necessary structures are not yet in place, but managers say that the revised processes will enable them to address the failure in meeting the requirements for an appropriate induction and the completion of a satisfactory period of probation, for all staff.

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(1)(a)(b))

This plan has not yet come to fruition, therefore the quality and content could not be evaluated at this stage.

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The timescale for meeting this requirement has been extended to 10

November 2017. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066166 4

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(regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

The action required was to ensure that incidents requiring notification to relevant persons be made within the required time frame.

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(regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

The requirements of regulation 40 have been explained to the members of staff in a team meeting. However, there have been no notifiable incidents since the last inspection and, therefore, the staff’s understanding of meeting this requirement is yet to be tested and demonstrated.

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(4)(b))

The action required was to ensure that each member of staff receives regular supervision, in accordance with the policy of the organisation. Significant shortfalls in this regard were identified at the last inspection. These were partly related to the absence of senior members of staff due to long-term sickness, and the organisation’s failure to ensure sufficient management presence and oversight.

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(4)(b))

The management are in the process of appointing and training senior members of staff to act up as supervisors in order to increase the capacity to provide regular staff supervision. Although the importance of this need is recognised by the management and has been given a high priority, current supervision arrangements remain insufficient. The service is not yet demonstrating that staff are in receipt of the guidance, support, reflective practice opportunities and professional challenge that they require.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/07/2017 Full Inadequate 20/12/2016 Full Good 01/06/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066166 5

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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 registered person must— (a) ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; and (b) ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b)) In particular, review the induction of recently appointed staff and ensure that all actions necessary to confirm completion of a satisfactory probation period are undertaken. 10/11/2017

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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)) 10/11/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (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); or (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 10/11/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066166 6

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

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Inspector

John Pledger, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066166 7 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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