Children's home run by Newrays Care Services Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1240269 1 Registered provider: Newrays Care Service Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as 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

Following the last inspection, the home initially experienced a period of stability. However, in the last three months, three anonymous complaints have been made about the home and there has been an increase in complaints made by young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

In some instances, staff have not ensured that they have maintained professional boundaries with young people. For example, some staff have shared personal information about themselves, talked about colleagues’ practice in front of young people and not acted as positive role models. This has impacted on young people’s respect and trust in staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recent staff departures have been upsetting for young people. One staff member gave young people an unedited account of the reasons for a staff member’s departure. This unprofessional action was divisive for staff and young people. Inspection report children’s home: 1240269 2 In most instances, staff show a good understanding of how to manage and reduce risk- taking behaviours. This has contributed to reductions in self-harming behaviours, incidents of young people going missing and levels of aggression in the home. However, on one occasion a young person’s thoughts of self-harm were not acted on. This left the young person at risk of harm. When raised with the manager, she arranged to take steps to rectify this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of staff relationships with young people, particularly in the last three months, has impacted on staff’s ability to put in place consistent rules and boundaries. This has resulted in some young people not adhering to bedtime routines and staying up late. These poor sleep routines have impacted on young people’s general mood and motivation to engage in positive activities or attend education.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recently, staff have locked the kitchen at night to prevent young people from entering. This was because staff have been unable to manage young people’s behaviours in a more effective way. The use of this restriction has not been formally assessed to consider how proportionate and necessary it is.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one admission and one discharge. Another young person was rehabilitated home, but returned within a month. Despite this disappointing outcome, the young person’s social worker has praised the work completed by staff prior to and following the young person’s original discharge. Positively, a transition home remains an achievable target for the young person. Partnership working between staff and the local authority means that there is a detailed plan in place to support the young person’s rehabilitation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A member of staff recently used the whistle-blowing procedure to share concerns about staff’s care of young people. However, a lack of understanding about how to do this confidentially meant that colleagues accessed this information. This may erode staff’s trust in their being able to escalate concerns.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Of the four requirements and three recommendation identified at the full inspection, two requirements have not yet been fully met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Specifically, although staff recognise the importance of education, one young person is not accessing education. It is clear that the young person’s disjointed rehabilitation home has impacted on her motivation to engage in education. Positively, staff have worked closely with the virtual head and local authority to identify an appropriate education provision, which she can access as part of her transition home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Secondly, the leadership and management standard has not been fully met. The registered manager has not always been able to maintain sufficient oversight of the care that young people are receiving. For example, the registered manager’s actions in response to complaints made by young people are not always clear. This means that there have been missed opportunities to show young people that their opinions matter. Similarly, records of follow-up action with staff are poor in some instances. This has limited the registered manager’s ability to address poor staff performance. Inspection report children’s home: 1240269 3 In recent months, some staff have not received supervision in line with expectations. Again, this is a missed opportunity to address staff performance and promote the safe and consistent care of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

On one occasion, a member of staff took a young person’s documentation home with them. This resulted in sensitive information not being secure. The registered manager’s monitoring systems were not sufficient to identify this mistake.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the registered manager has completed a quality of care review, it was not submitted to Ofsted within the appropriate timescales. There is no obvious impact for young people.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2017 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, 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(ix)) 30/01/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1240269 4 The positive relationship standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from relationships based on mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; and strive to gain each child’s respect and trust. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(vi)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should ensure that staff act as role models for young people and support them to understand and develop relationships with staff, peers and partners which are positive and based on mutual trust and respect. 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 that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; and take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, when a young person expresses thoughts of self- harm, the registered provider should ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to assess and respond to the potential risk without delay 30/01/2018

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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 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. 30/01/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1240269 5 (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(b)(c)(g)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager should ensure that any lessons learned from investigations completed in relation to allegations and complaints made by young people or others are acted on swiftly and clearly evidenced. The registered person must ensure that the privacy of children is appropriately protected; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21(a)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider should ensure that the locking of the kitchen door or any other room is formally assessed and kept under regular review. 30/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive supervision in line with their supervision policy. 30/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. Case records must be kept securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(c)(d)) 30/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must completed a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘"a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

The registered must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(1)(4)(a)) 30/01/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s internal whistle-blowing procedures, and understand how information can be shared confidentially. Inspection report children’s home: 1240269 6 (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.9) Inspection report children’s home: 1240269 7

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Newrays Care Service Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Newrays Care Services Limited, Sinckot House, 211 Station House, Harrow HA1 2TP

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Inspector

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1240269 8 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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