Children's home run by Chartwell Care Services Ltd in Islington

Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC468315 1 SC468315

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Chartwell Care Services Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to four young people who have a learning disability.

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This monitoring visit

Managers of the home notified Ofsted of two safeguarding incidents during November 2017. In the first incident, a child alleged that another resident hit them. The records of this incident do not contain sufficient detail to provide a clear picture of what took place. When the child started to disclose the allegation to the interim manager, they distracted the child with another subject. This prevents good safeguarding practice. There were sufficient staff on duty, but their supervision of children at this time (and during the second incident) was insufficient. Also, management did not inform parents of the allegation in a timely manner.

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This monitoring visit

In the second incident, a child got out of a window in the staff sleep-in room onto the roof. Staff left the child in a bathroom prior to this happening in order to answer the door. There are conflicting accounts of the whereabouts of other staff at the time. Supervision of the child was insufficient. Managers have made sure that the window is restricted since this incident to improve safety.

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This monitoring visit

An assessment was made of management‘s response to meeting four recommendations made at the last full inspection in July 2017. Managers have not fully met the four recommendations made at the last inspection. Maintenance of some aspects of the premises is lacking and not to a high standard for children. For example, there is a smell of urine in two areas and blown glass in some windows. Use of a temporary heater in the education room presents risk to children as this is extremely hot to the touch.

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This monitoring visit

New systems of tracking staff supervision are in place but supervision has not Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC468315 2 occurred at the recommended frequency. Children have not had the opportunity to experience a holiday. Managers have not discussed the possibility of including specific restraint techniques in children‘s education, health and care plans with social workers.

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This monitoring visit

Children have experienced a lot of change, with a considerable turnover of staff recently. The registered manager and five staff left the home. An interim manager is in now post who has applied for registration with Ofsted. Five new staff have joined the home. Planned use of agency staff covers other vacancies. The responsible individual is also new to the home, taking up the post in October. He advised that new staff appointments have been staggered to minimise disruption to children. There was a handover period where the registered manager handed over to the interim manager, designed to help children understand what was happening.

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This monitoring visit

Recruiting and retaining suitable staff has been an issue for the home. The responsible individual considers that a review of pay grades and the staff structure, plus staff promotions, is a positive step towards rectifying this situation.

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This monitoring visit

Two people independent of the home visit each month and report on their findings. Their reports do not specify their opinion as to whether children are safe in the home and if their well-being is promoted, as required by regulation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/07/2017 Full Good 07/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/10/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC468315 3

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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, 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

12.—(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‘s health. Specifically, ensure that heaters do not present a risk of burning. 31/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

12.—(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‘s child protection policies. Specifically, in not distracting a child when they are disclosing a concern. 31/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees (b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 31/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify each other relevant person without delay if (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(a)) Specifically, making sure parents/guardians are notified directly and without delay. 31/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (―the independent person‘s report‖) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‘s opinion as to whether— (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children‘s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) 31/12/2017 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC468315 4

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Recommendations

 Ensure that, for children‘s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children‘s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene, etc.). However, in doing so, homes should seek, as far as possible, to maintain a domestic rather than ‗institutional‘ impression.. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Specifically, review the displays in the home to ensure that they reflect a domestic environment and carry out maintenance speedily, particularly in providing bathrooms of a good standard for children and staff/visitors, conducting repairs, ensuring sufficient heating in the education room and ensuring that rooms do not smell of urine

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Recommendations

 Ensure that, where a child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, or statement of special educational needs in which a specific type of restraint is provided for use as part of the child‘s day-to-day routine, the home is exempted from the recording requirement in regulation 35(4). (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 50, paragraph 9.61). Specifically, consider agreeing techniques to include in children‘s plans with placing authorities and work towards reducing the high number of restraints.  Ensure staff also support children to try activities that are ‗new‘ for them, where appropriate. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 31, paragraph 6.4). Specifically, consider providing children with the experience of holidays.

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Recommendations

 Ensure the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 Ensure the home‘s record of the event must include a description of the action taken and the outcome of any resulting investigation (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 63, paragraph 14.14). Specifically, make sure that full details are recorded about incidents.

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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. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC468315 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Chartwell Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 12 Helmet Row, London EC1V 3QJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Olubunmi Fabusuyi

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Inspector

Jacqueline Graves, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC468315 6 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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