Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited in Westminster

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037543 1 SC037543

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Sherico Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is one of a number of homes owned by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of this children’s home on 10 August 2017. The purpose of that monitoring visit was triggered by:  a number of significant concerns expressed by the police since the last full inspection  the main concerns, which are staff’s inability to meet children’s needs, in particular that staff are unable to safely manage children’s behaviour and keep them safe without high levels of police involvement  the police missing person’s coordinator highlighting a number of weaknesses in relation to record-keeping when children go missing from the home.

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This monitoring visit

The main outcomes of the monitoring inspection of 10 August 2017 were that:

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This monitoring visit

 The home is in breach of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the associated ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’.  The home is not a safe place for children or staff.  Leaders’ and managers’ oversight of the quality of care provided to children by staff is ineffective.  Record-keeping is poor.  Leaders and managers fail to inform Ofsted of serious incidents when required.  The home is chaotic and there are serious concerns about staff’s failings to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037543 2 manage safeguarding concerns in the home.

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This monitoring visit

As a consequence of the findings of the monitoring inspection of 10 August 2017, Ofsted took enforcement action by issuing the home with a notice to restrict accommodation; the period of restriction is 22 August 2017 to 22 November 2017.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection took place to assess the home’s compliance with the notice to restrict accommodation and if the grounds for the notice continued.

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This monitoring visit

One child is currently placed at the home. This is the same child who was placed at the home when the previous monitoring inspection took place in August 2017. No other children have been admitted to the home since the notice to restrict accommodation was imposed. This confirms that the provider is complying with the notice to restrict accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments on the child placed at the home have been updated. However, there is little evidence to show how this has positively impacted on the child or the quality of care provided to them. The child has made a large number of verbal threats to staff.

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This monitoring visit

There is minimal evidence that the child is developing positive relationships with staff. The child appears to dictate what they will do in the home and is reluctant to take guidance from staff. In addition, there is little or no consequence to the child’s poor behaviour. This means that the child fails to receive appropriate responses from adults when they behave negatively.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff work excessive hours, in some instances over 70 hours a week. This includes a new member of staff who is not in receipt of regular formal supervision. This raises the risk of new members of staff working excessive hours without appropriate guidance and support. It is also unclear whether this member of staff has the required qualifications in care. The member of staff stated that they do have a level 3 qualification; however, the organisation’s quality assurance manager stated that they were putting the member of staff on a level 3 training course. This situation is confusing and does not evidence a robust approach to staff training and development.

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This monitoring visit

In conclusion, the provider is complying with the notice to restrict accommodation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037543 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2017 Interim Not judged 22/11/2016 Full Inadequate 23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037543 4

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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: Sherico Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2–4 Balmoral Road, London E10 5ND

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Inspector

Juanita Mayers, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037543 5 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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