Children's home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited

Inspection report children’s home: SC436551 1 SC436551 Registered provider: Mulberry House Care Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is registered for three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is one of several homes operated by an independent provider.

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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 monitoring visit took place on 10 August 2017. Two compliance notices were issued. A second visit to monitor the compliance notices took place on 18 September 2017. Both notices were 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.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was last inspected in June 2017. Following concerns received about the home, Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection on 10 August 2017. Five requirements and one recommendation were raised. Additionally, two compliance notices were issued. On 18 September 2017, a second monitoring inspection took place and found that both compliance notices were met. This was in relation to there being sufficient staff to care for young people and improvements being made to the home environment to make it safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been without a registered manager for over 26 weeks. The previous Inspection report children’s home: SC436551 2 manager left at the end of March 2017. The new manager has been in post since June 2017. Although the manager has submitted an application to Ofsted to register, a number of errors in the application have delayed the process. This does not show sufficient and timely commitment to providing stable, secure and accountable leadership.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers admitted to the home a young person whom staff could not safely care for. For example, one young person was admitted to the home for a week under a short- break arrangement, with a view to future stays at the home under this arrangement. As a result, managers have not adhered to the home’s statement of purpose and have not been compliant with the home’s conditions of registration.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers did not fully consider the impact of this young person coming to stay at the home on the young people who were already resident. The lack of careful planning led to a change in the group dynamics. Young people became challenging towards each other and staff. Fighting between young people broke out, causing damage to property, and police intervention was necessary on occasion. One young person had to sleep in the home’s annex for his safety and privacy. This was because his bedroom door was damaged and the lock broken after another young person had repeatedly kicked it. Furthermore, staff did not ensure that they received sufficient information about the young person when he was admitted. Consequently, when he went missing, staff had limited information to share with the police. This had the potential to compromise the young person’s safety and welfare.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection recognises that, despite the above shortfalls, managers and staff have made some improvements. The five requirements raised at the previous inspection have been met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff now receive additional on-line training to develop their knowledge and to better understand young people’s behaviour. All staff now receive practice-based supervision in line with the home’s policy and procedures. Staff feel supported, because they are having formal feedback about their performance. This helps to improve practice and assist in upskilling staff when practice falls short.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Action has been taken to ensure that the home environment is free from hazards. The home is now well maintained and provides a safe place for children to live. Staff have made a real effort to make the home feel warm and welcoming for young people. Communal rooms have been decorated with pictures and ornaments, and this has helped to restore the home to a good standard.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of agency staff is no longer heavily relied upon. Staff from another of the organisation’s homes have worked at this home for a temporary period. This has provided young people with some consistency. In addition, the manager is not included on the staffing roster to cover shifts. This gives her the time to carry out her management role. The manager keeps the staff roster up to date, so it clearly reflects the actual hours that the staff have worked. Four staff have been interviewed and are waiting for the relevant clearance checks to be done before starting work. This shows that efforts have been made to improve staffing arrangements. Inspection report children’s home: SC436551 3 Staff safely administer medication to young people. The manager now audits the medication, including the medication records. This helps the manager to identify any errors or concerns and enables her to take remedial action. The staff receive refresher

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

training to keep their practice needs up to date. This promotes young people’s health and well-being.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people contribute to their local community. They held a cake sale as a charity event to raise money. Young people helped to serve the cakes and to make visitors welcome. The neighbours and staff from the organisation’s other homes were invited. This helps young people to be a part of their local community.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 31/08/2016 Full Good 02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC436551 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure 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 in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation (14)(1)(2)(a)) 31/12/17

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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 difference 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: SC436551 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Mulberry House Care Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tollgate Business Centre, Tollgate Drive, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 3HS

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC436551 6 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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