Children's Home run by Laurel Leaf Homes Ltd in Newham

Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 1 SC060545 Registered provider: Laurel Leaf Homes Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care and accommodation for up to eight young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The service accepts emergency placements as well as providing long-term care.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager resigned in September. The registered provider is in the process of recruiting to the post. The responsible individual has taken over the day-to-day management of the home in the interim. The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection remain outstanding. Leaders and managers do not effectively monitor the quality of care provided to the young person living in the home.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments have not been updated since May 2017 even though there have been a number of serious incidents since then. The home’s lone working risk assessment was last reviewed in September. However, there is no evidence of any managerial oversight of the appropriateness of the assessment in light of the significant events that have transpired since the last inspection. The young person has commenced part-time Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 2 employment that is not education-related. The risk assessment does not consider how the young person will be supported to stay safe in light of her vulnerabilities and whether she would be able to manage challenges with people outside of the home. This results in a lack of safety planning for the young person.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Experiences and progress of the young people since the last inspection are poor. A number of safeguarding incidents have been notified to the regulator. These include incidents of assault against staff, access to staff email, unauthorised use of a staff member’s bank card, a breach of confidentiality and an allegation made against a person working at the home. Police and the local authority designated officer have been involved in safeguarding matters. These incidents highlight a lack of supervision of the young person. Staff have trouble in handling difficult behaviours. Management oversight of staff practice and the home’s safeguarding arrangements is weak. There is limited evidence of the home working to implement the young person’s care plan as agreed at the child looked after’s review meeting in July.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff sign-in record has gaps and lacks clarity on the time and date on which some staff have signed in and out of the home. Supervision and monitoring of the young person are not robust. This has resulted in the young person gaining access to confidential and unauthorised items on the staff computer. The responsible individual has acknowledged that a female member of staff is not always on shift. This creates a potentially unsafe environment for the young person in the home as well as risks to staff.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has been temporarily excluded from school for allegedly assaulting staff. The virtual school head is in the process of arranging tutors to educate the young person in the home while a decision is made on future education provision. In the meantime, revision books are provided for the young person to work on, but it is unclear how helpful these are in supporting the young person’s learning. Not enough has been done to promote the young person’s education and, as a result, she is falling further behind in a crucial year when she would be sitting for her GCSEs.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has not engaged in any meaningful way with specialist services such as the child and adolescent mental health service. She has missed appointments with the youth offending service. It is not clear how proactive the home is being in ensuring that the young person is aware of appointments and how well staff communicate with the service.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been several missing-from-home incidents since the last inspection with no evidence of independent return home interviews being offered to the young person. Not all missing incidents are recorded in the missing log. As a result, opportunities to identify any learning for the staff to better inform what arrangements should be in place to protect the young person are missed.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The system for recording sanctions is inconsistent and incomplete. Not all sanctions are recorded appropriately. The young person’s views are recorded on most of the sanctions but there is no evidence of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the sanctions. Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 3 Inappropriate and challenging behaviours are not effectively managed, although a behaviour management plan is in place. Professionals have expressed concerns about the lack of consistent boundaries and appropriate consequences in the home. The lack of structure and boundaries is having a negative impact on outcomes for the young person.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Key-working sessions show the staff supporting the young person to reflect on her behaviour but there is no evaluation of the effectiveness of these sessions. Despite being in placement for over 10 months, the young person has made limited progress and the home does not have an updated assessment to explain this lack of progress.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have not been trained in behavioural management. Team Teach is in the process of being arranged but there is nothing in place in the interim to support staff to develop their practice. Staff currently receive supervision from the responsible individual. However, staff need substantial support in carrying out their tasks in a way that is consistent and has positive impact on the young person. A staff member stated that she would like to feel confident about her practice and develop her skills, and she would welcome training to enhance her understanding of young people with challenging starting points and difficult behaviour.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

No new young people have been admitted to or discharged from the home since the last inspection.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person stated that she feels safe in the home and has someone she can talk to. She wants to be in school but does not wish to return to the school she was excluded from.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Due to the lack of progress made since the last inspection, all the requirements and recommendations remain in place. An additional requirement for the registered person to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child is made at this inspection.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/04/2016 Full Good 04/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 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, the 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 order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure:

p.4

Requirement Due date

(i) 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 to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. 30/12/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure:

p.4

Requirement Due date

(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home;

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2)(a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out 30/12/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 5 in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard, the registered person must ensure:

p.5

Requirement Due date

(1) that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on:

p.5

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour;

p.5

Requirement Due date

(i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; (vii) help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from damaging, exploitative or harmful relationships; (x) are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; (xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. 30/12/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must:

p.5

Requirement Due date

(1) enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that:

p.5

Requirement Due date

(a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the registered person must:

p.5

Requirement Due date

(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 30/12/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 6 each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure that:

p.6

Requirement Due date

(2)(c) the premise is designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. 30/12/2017

p.6

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Evaluation of missing-from-home incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what works well. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)  Emergency admissions should not be taken unless the home’s statement of purpose and its capacity and support systems mean that it has the capability to

p.6

Recommendations

care for children admitted at very short notice while continuing to offer high quality care to children already living in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.6)  The behavioural management policy should set out how staff are trained and supported to meet the child’s needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.37)  The registered person should ensure that staff skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home’s workforce plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12) Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 7  Ensure that policies setting out arrangements for safeguarding children include gangs, trafficking and female genital mutilation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.19)

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role that they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should have a workforce development plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should: detail the necessary management and staffing structure, the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose; detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training; detail the process for managing and improving poor performance; detail the process

p.7

Recommendations

and timescales for supervision of practice and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  Ensure that a review of quality of care, under regulation 45, focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, and the impact that the care is having on the outcomes and improvements for the children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)  Ensure that the individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the

p.7

Recommendations

home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

p.7

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 differences 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 8 after.

p.7

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.8

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’.

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Laurel Leaf Homes Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 42 Stavordale Road, London N5 1NE

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Mohammad Baulackey

p.8

Inspector(s)

Linda Kim-Newby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC060545 9 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.

p.8

Inspector(s)

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.9

Inspector(s)

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

p.9

Inspector(s)

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

p.9