Children's home run by Adventure Care Limited in High Peak

Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC375136 1 SC375136 Adventure Care Limited Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private company.

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This monitoring visit

This home is subject to a restriction of accommodation notice, restricting the number of children or young people accommodated to one. This was a result of a monitoring visit on 7 November 2017. The visit identified serious concerns about care and safeguarding practice. This led to eight requirements being made. The purpose of this monitoring visit is to assess if improvements made by the provider meet regulatory requirements. In addition, this visit is to ascertain whether robust management arrangements are in place.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit the home has continued to provide care and support for one young person. The provider has not accepted any new admissions. This means that the provider has complied with the restriction notice.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit on 7 November 2017 identified that staff did not understand or apply the home’s aims, as defined in the statement of purpose. There were specific issues regarding the use of camping as a therapeutic intervention. Children perceived camping as a punishment. Staff used ‘wild camping’ activities in an ad hoc manner. This was viewed by some children as transgressing their rights in relation to their dignity, privacy and provision of basic physical necessities. Since the last monitoring visit, the provider has not used camping as a therapeutic intervention. The provider has written a new policy for camping activities. This policy provides a clear description of the use and nature of any camping activity. The revised statement of purpose and children’s guide also provide a clear account of the use of camping. All staff have read, signed and discussed the policy with the responsible individual. The acting manager is confident that all staff have a clear understanding

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This monitoring visit

Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC375136 2 about the use of therapeutic camping. A shortfall from the previous monitoring visit related to risk assessments. A requirement was made to ensure that the provider assessed children’s individual needs, risks and vulnerabilities, and any impact on existing residents, before the admission of children to the home. There have been no new admissions since the last monitoring visit. However, the provider has revised their impact risk assessment tool. This is an improved method of assessing the compatibility of children and young people admitted to the home. The second part of this requirement is that staff have a clear understanding of their roles. In particular, that their conduct reflects professional and child-centred practice. Since the last visit, all new staff have undergone a comprehensive two-week training programme and a three-day

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This monitoring visit

induction to the home. All staff have read and signed that they have understood a range of policies, including personal conduct and a code of conduct. The acting manager has led four team meetings since the last visit. She has discussed and tested out staff understanding of their roles. All staff are having regular supervision to further support their development. These actions enable staff to develop a clear understanding of their roles as children’s residential workers.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has ensured that all actions made through looked after reviews are carried out. An independent reviewing officer and team manager provided very positive feedback about the placement of a young person. They confirmed that the provider works in full accordance with the care plan. The acting manager has attended and contributed to two recent statutory reviews, in addition to strategy meetings. Records show that the provider has maintained clear records to evidence partnership working with the local authority.

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This monitoring visit

Practice in physical intervention has been strengthened. There have been no physical interventions since the last monitoring visit. Staff have attended a two-day restraint training course. Staff have read and signed the physical intervention policy. The acting manager is clear about the recording requirements when physical interventions occur. She understands that managers need to review the effectiveness of physical interventions and identify and challenge any inappropriate practice.

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This monitoring visit

Medication practice has been reviewed and all new staff have received medication training as part of their induction. This is further reinforced through team meeting discussions. Staff practice will be monitored through supervision and appraisal.

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This monitoring visit

The acting manager has demonstrated an improved understanding of the provider’s statutory obligation to report concerns in line with regulatory requirements. Since the last monitoring visit, the acting manager has notified HMCI, the designated officer and relevant persons about an allegation of abuse against an ex-employee.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has recruited new staff. This fulfils the staffing structure as described in the statement of purpose and means that there is sufficient staffing at all times. The acting manager and staff team have undertaken safeguarding training. This Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC375136 3 ensures that all staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to recognise and act on safeguarding concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The home does not currently have a registered manager. A new manager has been identified, and has a planned start date of January 2018. Ofsted is awaiting the manager’s registration application. The suitability of the proposed registered manager will be assessed by Ofsted. The current acting manager has day-to-day management responsibility until this time. A new responsible individual has been identified to lead the operation of the home. He has the relevant knowledge and experience in leading and managing residential provision.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit has been able to recognise improvements in the operation of the home. However, there has been insufficient time to establish if the provider’s actions will ensure clear and sustainable progress. The requirements made at the last visit are largely met, but some remain untested. The requirements will remain in place to ensure that staff and managers can demonstrate that they can be met over a sustained period.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/06/2017 Full Good 30/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/05/2016 Full Good 06/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC375136 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children, and use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare; treat each child with dignity and respect; provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b), (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, to ensure that staff understand and apply the home’s aims (as defined in the statement of purpose). With regard to the use of camping as a therapeutic intervention, ensure that this is not perceived by children as a punishment. In addition, ensure that camping activities do not transgress the rights of children (dignity, privacy and provision of basic physical necessities). 31/03/2018

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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 staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of harm to the child; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and 31/03/2018 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC375136 5 responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1), (2)(a)(i)(iv)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific regard to ensuring that impact risk assessments are consistently undertaken prior to new admissions being agreed, and that staff have a clear understanding of how to intervene and protect children when they are at risk of harm. This also refers to ensuring that staff understand their roles as residential childcare practitioners and that their conduct reflects professional and child-centred practice. This means upholding their responsibility to adhere to protocols and procedures, as defined in behaviour management and safeguarding procedures.

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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 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—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b), (2)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is with regard to managers ensuring that they recognise and act on safeguarding concerns, as outlined in the statement of purpose and safeguarding policy. Also to ensure that there is sufficient staffing at all times. 31/03/2018

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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, and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 each child’s relevant plans are followed; that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s 31/03/2018 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC375136 6 relevant plans is requested, if the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14(1), (a)(b)(2)(c)(e)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this refers to ensuring that all care plans and decisions made through statutory reviews are upheld.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child’s). Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20(1)(a)(b), (2))

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular regard to ensuring that all restraints take place in accordance with the physical intervention approach used by the provider, as defined in the statement of purpose. 31/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. In particular, the registered person must ensure that medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them. (Regulation 23(1), (2)(a)) 31/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the date, time and location of the use of the measure; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iii)(vii)) 31/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 31/03/2018 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC375136 7

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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: Adventure Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Manchester Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6SB

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Inspector(s)

Amanda Ellis, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: SC375136 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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