Children's home run by RNIB Charity in Camden

Inspection report children’s home: SC485607 1 SC485607 Registered provider: RNIB Charity Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a large children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to 30 children and young people in five purpose-built bungalows. The children and young people have a visual impairment, a learning and/or physical disability and/or sensory impairment. One of the bungalows is also registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and provides a specialist service to children and young people who have high health and medical needs who require long-term ventilation, or who have life- threatening or life-limiting conditions. The establishment is owned by a large national charity. The majority of the children and young people attend a registered school on the same site. Some young people remain at the home until the age of 19 to complete their education.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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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 the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, no young people have moved into or out of the home. The registered manager and staff have made developments in monitoring the quality of care that young people receive. The registered manager has a clear plan in place to make improvement. Behaviour support plans now identify how staff are to manage young Inspection report children’s home: SC485607 2 people’s behaviour and respond when they are anxious. Structured activities and specialist input are overseen by an occupational therapist and reviewed by managers. This means that young people have made improvements with their behaviours. Staff talk to young people about how they feel and about the care that they receive. One young person has said, ‘I like living at Pears.’ However, the registered manager is not making sure that the independent visitor is speaking to young people, parents, relatives or staff about the quality of care provided. This could prevent improvements being made to the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection there have been three concerning notifications reported to Ofsted. Managers have taken the necessary action to address the concerns and considered lessons learned. During one incident, two members of staff inserted the wrong size equipment for a young person who has a tracheostomy. Changes have been made to the systems and appropriate action taken with staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One incident related to a delay in an agency staff member and two other staff members reporting a child protection concern that they had witnessed. This shortfall means that other young people could be at risk if staff do not respond quickly enough. In addition, eight staff require updated safeguarding training. This means that not all staff have the skills required to keep young people safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Lastly, one staff member did not give a young person medication in line with his prescription. Appropriate medical advice was sought and the staff member is being investigated. However, this shortfall could mean that children are at risk of physical harm if staff do not follow medication processes properly.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff make sure that all young people are now participating in a variety of activities in the home and in the local community. Since the last inspection, some fun activities have been brought to the home such as the ‘fun zoo’. This means that all young people are provided with a variety of activities and leisure opportunities to meet their needs. For example, staff have enabled one young person who was not regularly accessing the community to go bowling with other young people. He also goes walking and shopping with staff and goes out for meals. Staff encourage the young person to do more chores around the home such as the recycling and cleaning his shoes. This means that young people are developing their independence skills and their self-confidence. Staff help young people to use the hydrotherapy pool at the home. This means that young people have the opportunity to have fun without lengthy travel time.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager now has effective systems in place to make sure that agency staff have the same pre-employment checks as permanent staff. This means that young people receive care from appropriately vetted adults. Improvements have also been made with staff supervisions. However, during this inspection, four staff members were not clear about safeguarding processes. They told the inspectors that safeguarding incidents are reported to other managers within the home to make decisions. This means that there is a delay in reporting incidents and information could be overlooked. The local authority referral processes and internal referral processes are in conflict. In addition, the internal referral guidance differs on several posters within the home. This Inspection report children’s home: SC485607 3 shortfall means that safeguarding processes need reviewing by managers. Processes in place lead to staff confusion and a lack of clarity about how to report safeguarding

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/11/2016 Full Good 18/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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 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 (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that staff have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12(1) and (2)(a)(iii)) 16/02/2018

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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 (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12(1) and (2)(e)) 16/02/2018

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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— 16/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC485607 4 ensures that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1) and (2)(c)) The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)) 16/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person, if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44(2)(a)) 16/03/2018

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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: SC485607 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o RNIB, 105 Judd Street, Camden, London WC1H 9NE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Teresa Stephenson

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Inspectors

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector Pete Hylton, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC485607 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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