Children's home run by South West Childcare Services

Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 1 Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

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Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to care for up to two children and/or young people who may have some behavioural and/or emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is situated in a residential area on the outskirts of a large city. The home has access to good amenities and public transport.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is part of a small organisation which has a number of children’s homes in the southwest of England.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A number of requirements were made at the full inspection. Not all of these requirements have been met.

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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.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that all of the requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Some of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection are still present. Most significant are concerns in respect of safeguarding children. A lack of confidence in respect of challenging other professionals has impacted on the quality of Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 2 care and services that young people receive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have failed to take steps to ensure that they are satisfied that a relationship between one young person and an older male is safe. Basic parental enquiries have not been made despite knowledge that the young person is spending prolonged periods of time in accommodation which is shared by a number of unknown adults.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One vulnerable young person has been allowed to spend nights in hotels with an older male. The registered manager was unable to demonstrate that this arrangement was safe and did not pose a risk to the young person. The risks outlined within the young person’s care planning documentation have not been considered. A newly appointed senior manager was fully aware of this arrangement but failed to identify possible risks or challenge this arrangement. This approach to care compromises the safety of children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff fail to motivate one young person to get up and out of their bedroom in the mornings despite them being of school age. During this inspection, the young person was in their bedroom until after 3pm. They had not been actively encouraged to participate in any type of activity or have any food. Staff demonstrated a lethargic complacency to the care provided to this young person, resulting in the young person being isolated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager implemented weekly room checks on an ongoing basis for one young person despite there being no current risks to warrant this action. There has been a lack of review or reflection resulting in an impingement of the young person’s privacy.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have ensured that the established staff team receive supervision on a regular basis. In addition, team meetings are improving and now include some reflective practice and learning. Staff report that they feel supported and that supervision is of good quality. Not all staff are receiving annual appraisals despite this being a requirement made at the last inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the serious shortfalls identified during this inspection, young people who live in this home are making some good progress in some aspects of their lives. One young person, who had not attended education for a significant period of time prior to living in this home, has just completed their GSCEs. They have also been supported to find full- time employment and they are motivated to go to work each day.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported very well by staff to have positive and regular contact with their families. One young person is being supported to move towards overnight stays with their family, which is significant progress from their starting point. Another young person has been emotionally and practically supported to meet members of their immediate family for the first time. The young person really appreciated this support and now has positive contact.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have good relationships with the staff that care for them. These Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 3 relationships are built on mutual trust and respect. Young people have open and honest conversations with staff, who know them very well, and this helps them to make positive choices in their lives.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements to the aesthetics of the home have significantly improved the presentation. Young people see this home as their home and they have made choices about how they would like their home to look. This has resulted in a cosy and welcoming environment for them to live in.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

6.—(1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— (a) understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (ii) protect and promote each child’s welfare; (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; 01/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

12.—(1) The protection of children standard is that children are 01/12/2017 Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 4 protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (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; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (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; (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child

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Requirement Due date

effectively from harm; in particular ensure that any decisions made in respect of children are based upon robust risk assessment taking into account the known risks for them. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

13.—(1) 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. (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; (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. In particular, consider emerging themes and trends and adapt care

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Requirement Due date

to reflect these patterns. In addition, room searches should only be used when there is a clear indicator that there is a risk of harm. 01/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

14.—(1) The care planning standard is that children— 01/12/2017 Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 5 (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; in particular, ensure that care planning reflects the current needs and risks of children and provides staff with clear expectations. 33: Employment of staff

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must ensure that all employees— (c) have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. 01/12/2017

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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 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 after.

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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.

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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: 1248071 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor Flat, 46 Durnford Street, Plymouth, Plymouth PL1 3QN

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Inspector

Tracey Ledder, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 7 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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