Children's home run by Oxfordshire County Council in Oxford

Inspection report children‟s home: SC036383 1 SC036383 Registered provider: Oxfordshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children‟s home provides care and accommodation for up to six female young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is managed by a local authority.

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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 declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The assessments carried out before a child moves into the home are weak. There is a failure to consider, in depth, how the risks that one child poses may impact on a child with vulnerabilities related to that risk. There is insufficient consideration given to whether the staff group as a whole will be able to manage the proposed group of children, and each child‟s complex needs, safely and effectively. As a result, admission decision making is overly optimistic about the staff‟s ability to care for and safeguard children who have many complex and competing needs. This poor practice has led to placements breaking down.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of serious bullying incidents. Children have highlighted their fear about their safety to the manager and others on more than one occasion. Incidents escalated beyond the control of staff and Inspection report children‟s home: SC036383 2 relationships became irreparable. Due to this, some children continued to pose serious risks to other children and these children were moved out of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children who have histories of being in controlling, coercive and violent relationships have developed a romantic relationship with each other. The admission risk assessment did not fully consider the potential impact of this risk. The arrangements for monitoring this relationship and reducing risks have been ineffective. One of these children has used serious self-harm as a way of dealing with her emotional struggles. This child has the means to purchase goods over the internet, including medicines. Attempts at stopping her having access to the funds to do this have been unsuccessful.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Guidance for staff on what they need to do to manage risk following an incident is not always provided for them in a timely way. For example, when a child had been missing from home and disclosed that she had used drugs, staff were not given guidance immediately on what they should do to prevent a similar situation occurring. The manager said this was because a multi-agency meeting to discuss the risk assessment was planned for 11 days later.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite a recommendation being made at the last inspection about staff being good role models for children in relation to their smoking habits, a staff member smoked in a car while driving a young person. This put the child‟s health at risk, was poor role modelling and broke the law. It is believed that other staff were aware that this happened, and failed to report the incident to the manager. There is an ongoing investigation into this matter.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Allegations made by children about some staff members‟ actions, which potentially constituted abuse, have not all been followed up thoroughly. For example, in one case, crucial witnesses to an incident were not interviewed. In another case, hospital staff, who are not safeguarding professionals, were asked to try to get further information from a child about an allegation she had made. If there had been a criminal investigation, this could have led to evidence being judged inadmissible in court. Decisions made about not suspending the member of staff were flawed. The risk that the staff member could tamper with evidence was not considered. Staff on shift were not aware of why the shift was organised so that the member of staff had limited time in the child‟s presence. This left the potential for evidence to be interfered with. Records made of these complaints/allegations were of a poor quality and were incomplete; this

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

makes auditing and monitoring difficult.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children‟s meetings have not been occurring for some weeks. This means that children are not getting the opportunity to collectively express their opinions or ideas about life in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All children have educational placements, but their attendance is variable. When children decide they do not want to go to school, staff are not successful in getting them there. For example, on the first day of the inspection, two children were not in school and on the second day, all of the children refused to attend. Children had no focus to their day and were not engaged in learning. While all of the children have aspirations for their Inspection report children‟s home: SC036383 3 futures, their poor attendance is impacting on their opportunities to fulfil these. The monitoring arrangements have not picked up the significant issues found during this inspection relating to children‟s safety and well-being. The manager was due to have completed her six-monthly monitoring at the end of September, but due to absence has only recently completed this. Ofsted has not been provided with a final copy of her

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

report, as it is waiting to be quality assured. Therefore, it is not yet known if the previous requirement has been met. This aspect of the regulation will be assessed at the next inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement about case recording made at the last inspection was not fully assessed on this occasion, and will be looked at during the next inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some improvements in the working relationships with education professionals and some good joint working in developing education plans for children. In the case of a child who has a history of leaving the school site, there has been some good joint working with the school to try and minimise these incidents and keep the child safe. One child has completed and passed some GCSEs. Another child also completed and passed some GCSEs, and is enrolled at college to improve on her grades. Another child has a part-time job alongside her education placement.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some improvement has been made in ensuring that staff training is completed. However, not all staff training is up to date, as was required at the last inspection. For example, staff have not been provided with training on dealing with female genital mutilation. The manager said she has recently found some training in this area for staff, which she will get them to complete. There is other mandatory training that has not been done, or has not been, updated by all staff. Four staff have not been trained in social learning theory, which is the model of work used in this home; this does not help staff to provide a consistent approach to the care of the children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of staff supervision has improved. Supervision now provides good opportunities for staff and managers to reflect on development, practice issues and the needs of the children. However, the frequency of supervision is not in line with the organisation‟s expectations and not all records have the full date or duration of the session. Additionally, neither the supervisor nor the supervisee signs to agree that the record is a true record of the meeting.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff continue to have strong working relationships with the child and adolescent mental health team. This, and the support from the organisation‟s clinical team, helps staff to support those children who have significant emotional needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff understand that it is important to listen to children and in some areas of their work they are doing this well. For example, they are supporting a child to explore her identity. They are doing this in a sensitive, supportive and non-judgemental way. This child‟s social worker said the child feels listened to.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection report children‟s home: SC036383 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/04/2016 Full Requires improvement 24/11/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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— (a) that staff— (i) 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 any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‟s

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Requirement Due date

child protection policies; (b) that the home‟s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 19/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

13.—(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (h) use monitoring and review systems to 19/02/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC036383 5 make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 13(1)(2)(a)(b)(h)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, further develop the monitoring and quality assurance systems, and ensure that children‟s welfare is at the forefront of decision making about whether there is a need to suspend a member of staff following an allegation being made about them. 14.—(1) The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) 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; (b) that arrangements are in place to— (i) ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the

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Requirement Due date

home; and (iii) plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child‟s placing authority (Regulation 14(1)(a)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that decision making about placements is based on comprehensive assessments of: the compatibility of the children; the ability of staff to balance the needs of each child while managing the needs of the group effectively; the likelihood of the placement being successful. 19/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

8.—(1) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) help each child to achieve the child‟s education and training targets, as recorded in the child‟s relevant plans; (ii) support each child‟s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; (iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; (iv) help each child to understand the importance and value of 19/02/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC036383 6 education, learning, training and employment; (v) promote opportunities for each child to learn informally.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) 10.—(1) The health and well-being standard is that— (a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles (Regulation 10(1)(a)(b)(c)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff members do not ever smoke in the presence of children. 19/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children. The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(1)(3)) 19/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1)(5)) 19/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that each staff member undertakes training and updates to their training in a timely way. Ensure staff receive supervision at the frequency expected by the organisation. 19/02/2018

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Recommendations

 Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home‟s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child‟s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 22, paragraph 4.11). In particular, ensure that children are encouraged to have regular opportunities to meet with each other and staff, to express their views about life in the home.  A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The Inspection report children‟s home: SC036383 7 record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b) („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations

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Recommendations

including the quality standards‟, page 61, paragraph 13.3). In particular, ensure that records include the duration and the exact date of the supervision, and that it is signed as a true record by supervisor and supervisee.

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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 address: Oxfordshire County Council, County Hall, New Road, Oxford OX1 1ND

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Inspector:

Rosie Dancer, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC036383 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 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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