Children's home run by Action in Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 1 SC069221

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Action in Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to accommodate up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out following the children’s home being judged inadequate at the last full inspection on 11 July 2017. Three compliance notices, two requirements and a restriction of accommodation notice were issued from the previous inspection. The focus of this visit was to monitor the progress in meeting these.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, a new manager, not yet registered, was present, along with a director. The responsible individual was not present. All of the children had moved out of the home and the staff team was described as having been ‘laid off, with a view to returning at a later stage’.

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This monitoring visit

Since 3 August 2017, no children have lived in the home. No new admissions have been made and the manager confirmed that there are no current plans to make new placements. The provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

A new manager joined the home on 7 August 2017 and he has submitted an application to Ofsted to become registered. Actions have been taken in response to the compliance notices and requirements, but some of the steps are not met. With no children or staff currently present, the impact of some of the actions taken could not be tested or evaluated at this visit.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notices and requirements from the previous inspection are listed below, with details of the action taken and whether or not each is met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 2

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arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

The particular steps required were to review all children’s risk assessments and ensure that they contain clear strategies for staff to follow, so that the potential for children to come to harm is minimised, and to ensure that all relevant information is used to assess the risk associated with each child’s behaviour, needs and vulnerabilities. This should include all significant events and changes in the child’s circumstances.

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arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

The three children in placement during the previous inspection left the home before this compliance notice was received. Consequently, no current risk assessments were available to inform a judgement at this visit on whether the quality and content of risk assessments has improved.

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arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

However, a review of previous risk assessment records and processes has been undertaken by the manager. He has examined the content of the previous records and devised a new format, which is set to outline the assessment of risks, strategies to minimise these and staff responsibilities. Consequently, a more structured approach to the assessment of risk is ready for implementation in the event of children moving into the home.

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arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

This step is met and will be further tested at the next inspection.

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(ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe;

In particular, the step was to ensure that staff work with children to help them understand risky behaviour and how to keep themselves safe. A particular focus was in regards to safe internet use, car safety, risks in relation to setting fires and possessing knives.

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(ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe;

The focus of the step was related to the specific behaviours being demonstrated by the children in placement at the previous inspection. Due to their moving on, no current examples of staff practice could be tested at this visit. The manager has, however, begun to examine the ways in which staff can better support children in the future. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 3 A new policy outlining staff responsibilities in relation to their key working roles and the recording of key work sessions has been written. Training in regards to key work sessions is scheduled in the staff’s induction programme. The focus is concerned with the regularity and recording of such sessions. So far, the impact of such planned training cannot be evaluated because it has not yet occurred and there are no staff or children in the home. Furthermore, this action does not consider the need for the manager to explore staff’s understanding, skills and knowledge about the

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(ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe;

risks that children may take. The action taken fails to include how the manager intends to be assured that staff will be able to undertake meaningful key working regarding issues and topics of risk that may arise.

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children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

In particular, the step was to ensure that each child’s risk assessment is reviewed after every incident and/or monthly and discussed with all staff members and that staff can demonstrate an awareness of the risks and their responsibilities in relation to them.

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children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

Staff’s current practice of reviewing risk assessments could not be tested due to no children being in placement, or staff in post at the time of this visit. However, the action taken by the senior leaders in response to the second element of this step lacks a sufficient response.

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children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

Some aspects of safeguarding policy guidance have been updated and rewritten: for example, a missing from home policy. The responsibilities of staff to respond to such incidents are clearly outlined. For these incidents, the guidance is clear. A development plan produced in response to the previous inspection findings includes a section on staff training that features safeguarding. This plan is merely a table of topic headings, with no timescales or course content attached.

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children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

The manager stated that safeguarding training, to include staff’s safeguarding responsibilities, would be delivered when the staff team returns. However, no such training material was made available at this visit.

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children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

( vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a

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child’s welfare;

In particular, the step was to ensure that staff escalate serious incidents and concerns to the local authority if they are unable to safeguard children and report all safeguarding issues. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 4 The manager described that a comprehensive review of all safeguarding-related policies and procedures is under way. Progress to date includes new guidance for staff to respond to episodes of children being absent or missing. This does not cover the range of reasons that may cause concern about a child’s welfare or any guidance for the staff to follow.

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keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

In particular, the step is to ensure that children’s records are consistent and current, with clear guidance for staff in regards to interventions and strategies to safeguard children. This is specific although not exclusively about missing from care.

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keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

The specific element of this step has been targeted by the new manager. A revised framework, in relation to children being absent or missing is now ready for implementation.

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keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

This step is met and will be further tested at the next inspection.

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keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

Due to the number of steps not met, this compliance notice is not met. The deadline for its completion has been extended to 17 November 2017.

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

The particular step was that the staff are equipped with the guidance and strategies they require to effectively support the children.

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

With no children in placement, or a staff team present, it is impossible to test a culture and its impact on children.

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

In considering this step, senior leaders are undertaking a review of the statement of purpose and some accompanying policies and procedures. An action plan has also been produced, but this is not dated and there is no indication of how it is being reviewed or evaluated. It is a list of topics and headings. The manager discussed his ideas about making changes to the age range, number and presenting needs of the children to be accommodated in the future; for example, children who have disabilities. None of these ideas features in the action plan.

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

The manager has made initial contact with the police and missing person’s liaison officer, and a new trainer for physical intervention training has been sourced. A Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 5 private tutor and a therapist have been identified, with the intention of providing a service for the children and staff. There is no clear planning or focus in place to demonstrate how and why these areas have been considered or the intended impact they will have on the quality of the service or the culture of the home.

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

This fragmented approach in response to the previous inspection findings fails to demonstrate how senior leaders intend to improve on the previous culture of the home.

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

In particular, the step was to ensure that all safeguarding incidents and welfare concerns are referred to the local authority and actions are taken to safeguard children.

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

Senior leaders have devised new reporting forms in the event of allegations and disclosures being made by children. The missing/absent without authority recording processes have also been updated. Individual missing from home templates now include clear instructions in regards to preventing, following and locating children. Recording processes include who is to be informed, with dates and times, as well as return interviews with feedback recorded.

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

Safeguarding practice continues to be poor. At this visit, an allegation against a staff member, made by a child before the previous inspection, had still not been referred to the local authority designated officer. Despite assurances that lessons had been learned and that future practice will improve, the necessary retrospective steps in this particular example had not been taken. Senior leaders have failed to demonstrate their own competence in following basic child protection procedures, in line with their responsibilities.

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statement of purpose;

Steps, in particular, were to establish and implement a referrals and admissions procedure which pays due regard to the needs of the referred child, the current children, and the skills and expertise of the staff team.

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statement of purpose;

The revised statement of purpose is not yet complete; however, some progress has Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 6 been made to update the previous referrals and admissions process that is described in this document. The responsibility for managing referrals is described to include a member of the senior leadership team, but the statement of purpose does not identify these individuals or their skills in this regard.

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statement of purpose;

A new compatibility risk assessment format for considering new referrals has been completed. This document asks some pertinent questions in order to inform the initial assessment. However, it does not include how the skills and expertise of the staff team will be factored into this decision-making process. The manager talked about a slow process for planned admissions but had no documentation to support this verbal statement.

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(c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) ensure that staff have the experience,

qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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(c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) ensure that staff have the experience,

In particular, conduct skills and training audits of every member of staff, in order to identify any skills and knowledge deficits. Produce a training plan with clear timescales for completion. Demonstrate that the impact and effectiveness of staffs’ learning is monitored and evaluated to ensure that the quality of care for young people improves. Ensure that all staff with management responsibilities, including deputising arrangements, have the skills, knowledge and qualifications to fulfil the functions of these roles. Conduct a separate and focused audit with regards to staff’s understanding and knowledge of their safeguarding duties and responsibilities. Produce and implement a training plan that addresses any shortfalls identified. Produce and implement a system to monitor staff’s continuing professional development.

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(c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) ensure that staff have the experience,

The manager has completed a list of the training completed by all staff who were working at the home. This list does not examine the individual or collective skills of the team. Therefore, no analysis of the team’s ability to effectively meet the needs of children has been undertaken. Consequently, senior leaders do not have a plan to address this.

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(c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) ensure that staff have the experience,

A blanket response approach includes the proposal to deliver a two-week induction period when staff return and new ones are employed. The induction plan has been devised and is described by the manager as being ‘subject to review’. The plan includes a list of core topics to be delivered each day. The manager did not provide examples of the materials to be used. Therefore, the quality of this material could not be examined at this visit.

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(c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) ensure that staff have the experience,

Training plans include safer recruitment training to take place for the manager, the deputy manager and the responsible individual. The manager has enrolled with Kent Safeguarding Children Board in order to access its training forums and he is also enrolled on the designated safeguarding lead training. Such plans are not informed Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 7 by a skills audit of the management team, as was a required step within this notice.

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(c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) ensure that staff have the experience,

The manager will be attending a Kent children’s home forum provided by the police regarding the criminalisation of young people, children held in custody and the health of children in care. The manager described that staff will undertake online safety training in addition to face-to-face training.

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(c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) ensure that staff have the experience,

The final step of this notice was to produce and implement a system to monitor staff’s continual professional development. Although the manager described his intention to hold regular staff supervision and team meetings, he was unable to produce sufficient supporting evidence or documentation to show how he would implement a system to monitor staff’s continual professional development.

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(c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) ensure that staff have the experience,

Due to the number of steps not met, this compliance notice is not met. The deadline for its completion has been extended to 17 November 2017

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persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable,

children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of a fire.

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persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable,

The last fire drill was completed on 17 August 2017. A fire drill was not completed while children were placed. Procedures are now in place for regular fire drills to take place. This has not been tested due to children not being placed and no staff in place.

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persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable,

The manager has taken reasonable action to ensure that future practices will occur at suitable intervals.

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and any regulations made under it are complied with in respect of the

Senior leaders have acted on this step and showed verification from fire contractors Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 8 of the reinstatement of the hallway door on a magnet and verified that the lounge door can remain open. In addition, fire safety measures have been undertaken in the laundry room and the office door has been reinstated.

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designed and furnished as to—

(ii) enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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designed and furnished as to—

At this visit, extensive refurbishment works were under way. Senior leaders are taking clear measures to improve on the quality and aesthetics of the home. Although not fully completed, the actions taken so far are proportionate to the timeline so far. Progress with this requirement will be further explored at the next visit.

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(e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered

At this visit, all relevant notifications had been made.

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understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided

The manager discussed how he intends to implement a formal structure to capture the progress and experiences of the children, but no structured or formal processes are yet in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 9 This requirement is repeated.

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(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements

in the quality of care provided in the home.

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(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements

At this visit, the manager discussed his ideas with regards to his intended use of staff supervision and team meetings, as well as planned sessions to be facilitated by a part-time therapist, in order to help the staff team to review and monitor the progress of the children.

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(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements

No formal structure or plans were available at this stage in support of these intended actions.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/07/2017 Full Inadequate 21/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/12/2016 Full Good 31/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 10

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (10) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— *(ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; *(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; (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(ii)(v)(vi)) 17/11/2017

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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— *(a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and *(b) promotes their welfare, particularly to ensure that all safeguarding incidents and welfare concerns are referred to the local authority and actions are taken to safeguard children. *2(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and deliver the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b),(2)(a)(c),(2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)) 17/11/2017

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Requirement Due date

(6) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— (2)(c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished as to— (ii) enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. 17/11/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 17/11/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 11 There is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

(2)(f) Understand the impact that the quality of care provided in 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 home. (h) Use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 ((2) (f) (h) 17/11/2017

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2 The Avenue, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0NA

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC069221 12 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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