Children's home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Wandsworth

Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 1 SC361206 Registered provider: St. Christopher’s Fellowship

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is managed by a charitable organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to eight children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 The children build trusted relationships with the staff. The staff take time to get to know the children, their interests and their behaviours. Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 2  The children feel listened to. They are able to identify a trusted adult to talk to and they know how to complain.  The staff are committed to achieving good outcomes for the children and keeping them safe.  The staff support the children to attend contact with their families in line with care plans.  All of the children have education plans. The staff help the children to continue to attend school consistently and make progress.  The children have the opportunity to take part in a number of activities. The staff encourage the children to engage in activities that they enjoy.  The staff encourage the children with their independence skills. The children’s progress is regularly reviewed to make sure that they are achieving their goals.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff have a good knowledge of child sexual exploitation. The manager actively seeks training for the staff to ensure that their knowledge is up to date.  The manager and the staff work effectively with other professionals to ensure that all aspects of risk are considered and reviewed. There is a multi-agency approach to safeguarding.  The staff are well apprised of the protocol for when children go missing from the home.  There is consistent staff team. Agency staff are rarely used. The current staff team is committed to providing good care for the children and is well supported with training.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Supervision records are not evident for all of the staff and there are gaps in supervision.  Group impact assessments do not clearly evidence the analysis of the decision making and how potential behaviours may have an impact on each child.  The manager does not review the records of sanctions regularly to oversee how effective the sanctions are.  The recruitment files do not consistently provide sufficient information in line with safer recruitment processes.  Internal monitoring does not ensure that the feedback of others is used effectively to develop and improve the home.  The staff do not sufficiently assess or record incidents of bullying.  Some of the risk assessments do not clearly identify each child’s individual plan for use of the internet and mobile devices. Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/11/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 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 positive relationships 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: understand and communicate that bullying is unacceptable; have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(xii)(xiii)(b)) 12/2/1017

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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 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 any harm to the child, and help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular regard to ensuring that each child’s access to the internet and use of devices is suitably assessed. 12/2/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32(1)) 12/2/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) has spoken to the user about the measure and that within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(c)) 12/2/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 5

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Recommendations

 Ensure that placements for children are only accepted when managers are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and when they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of the children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. Reviews should be underpinned by the Quality Standards as described in regulations 5 to 14. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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Recommendations

This is with particular regard to seeking the views of parents, children and placing authorities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is a good home. However, there are some aspects of the leadership and management that require improvement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children, who have complex needs and present with risky behaviours, are making progress towards their individual targets. The staff are skilled at working with children who are in, and maintaining, consistent care for children who have experienced a number of placement moves prior to arriving at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff build trusted relationships with the children. The staff take time to get to know the children, their interests and their behaviours. Clear plans outline the children’s needs and this act as guides for the staff. Placement plans are thorough and up to date, detailing the children’s routines and strategies for managing their behaviours. The staff follow the plans to provide consistent and nurturing care that helps the children to feel secure. One child said, ‘The staff are really nice and welcoming. They are helping me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children feel listened to. They are able to identify a trusted adult to talk to and they know how to complain. An advocate visits the home regularly, which provides the children with an independent person to talk to if they wish. One child said, ‘I can talk to some staff and if I am not happy about something I will say.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 6 The staff are committed to achieving good outcomes for the children and keeping them safe. They are concerned when children put themselves at risk, and undertake work with the children following an incident. This work helps the children to make informed choices to keep themselves safe. The staff undertake regular direct work with the children, talking about important issues in their lives. The children develop their awareness of good and bad relationships, which helps them to start to make good choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the children have education plans. One child who has recently arrived at the home will start school as soon as possible. The staff have good relationships with school staff. One education professional said, ‘Communication from the home is fantastic. We have a really good relationship. They [the staff] will always contact us to let us know if our child has had a difficult night or morning before school.’ This joint working helps the children to continue to attend school consistently and make progress. Some of the children struggled with school attendance prior to coming to the home, so improved attendance is a real achievement for them. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘My child has previously refused the education offered to him. Staff have worked hard and effectively to get him into education provision. He is doing well at the moment.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have the opportunity to take part in a number of activities. They enjoyed a holiday in the summer. There are regular trips to theme parks and the local trampoline park. The staff encourage the children to engage in activities that they enjoy. The staff offer regular fun days at the home. These fun days help to include all of the children as well as people who are important in the children’s lives. The staff all get involved, including dressing up on Halloween and celebrating Diwali at the home. The children gain important social skills and increased confidence through a variety of activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff encourage the children with their independence skills. There are tailored facilities at the home to help the children progress when they are ready. These include semi-independent rooms with a designated cooking area. There are clear life-skills plans in place. The staff work with the children to help them to undertake tasks such as cooking and budgeting. The children’s progress is regularly reviewed to make sure that they are achieving their goals to help them to prepare for the transition to independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Clear health plans are in place for the children. Healthy eating is encouraged. Weekly menus are displayed in the kitchen area. The children contribute to the meal planning, which helps them to understand food and the importance of a healthy diet. The staff have provided ongoing emotional support to one child, helping her to attend all of her health appointments and giving her ongoing advice to ensure that she looks after herself.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support the children to attend contact with their families in line with their plans. This helps the children to maintain important family links even though they are living away from home. One family member said, ‘Communication is very good. The staff are always polite, always caring. They have supported me to visit my child at the home, and they always phone once a week.’ Families are happy with the positive changes that they have seen in their children. One parent said, ‘Since my child has been at the home Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 7 we have been getting on a lot better. She’s doing really well, a lot better than she was, anyway.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Some children present with high-level risk-taking behaviours. There are a significant number of incidents. The staff make clear and detailed incident records. The staff work well with other agencies to safeguard the children as part of a multi-agency approach. The registered manager requests strategy meetings and professionals’ meetings following an incident of concern. The manager and the staff are committed to reducing the risks for each child. Plans are adapted to reflect changes. The staff are effective at using de-escalation techniques. This means that physical intervention has not been necessary.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

One child in particular has a high number of missing-from-home incidents. The staff are well apprised of the protocol to follow when children go missing. The staff continue to make contact with the children during this period and liaise with the police and other agencies. The staff undertake work with the children on their return from going missing from the home, and return home interviews are requested. The manager liaises closely with the placing authority when there are specific concerns.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Placing authorities are positive about the level of care provided by the home. One social worker said, ‘The staff are doing their best with a very complex and difficult situation.’ Another professional said, ‘The staff continue to do everything that they can to safeguard my child.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff have a good knowledge of managing and understanding child sexual exploitation (CSE). The manager actively seeks training for the staff to ensure that their knowledge remains up to date. During the inspection, the team attended training delivered by a specialist in managing child sexual exploitation. This professional said, ‘Staff are being proactive. They have been working with one child to find different strategies to try and engage them. Staff are already aware of what CSE is. The work today was more about developing individual strategies. The staff are already making referrals to the multi-agency group for strategy discussions. The home manager has been proactive in arranging for me to attend the home.’ Some of the children are at significant risk of sexual exploitation. The staff are responding appropriately and are creative at looking at ways to engage the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Individual risk assessments are comprehensive and thorough. There are concerns that one child continues to smoke in her bedroom. The staff and the manager have clear and plans in place to address this risk on a daily basis. The staff work effectively with other professionals to ensure that all aspects of risk are considered and reviewed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

One professional said, ‘Communication with the home is very good. I have been advising and consulting the staff team. The way that they have introduced free time for [a child] has been spot on. There are six-weekly case management meetings, which ensures accountability so that people are aware of what they have to do.’ Risk assessments, Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 8 although generally thorough, do not clearly identify each child’s individual plan for their use of the internet and mobile devices. The manager is clear about the process but there is a lack of written information to guide the staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The risks and behaviours in relation to each child are clearly identified. The home has a bullying record, and the staff have undertaken anti-bullying training. One child spoke of ‘bullyish’ incidents from another child and described an incident. This incident is not recorded as a bullying incident. It is not clear how or if the staff are assessing each incident or if specific work is being undertaken with the children to address perceived bullying, leaving children feeling unsafe or targeted by other children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The new manager is not yet registered with Ofsted. She has been in post a short time, since November 2017. However, she has a good understanding of the home as she has been employed as the deputy manager for several years. The manager is progressing towards completion of a relevant level 5 qualification. She is supported by a deputy manager who has also worked at the home for a significant period of time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Most of the recommendations and requirements have been met since the last inspection. One recommendation in relation to impact assessments will be reinstated because, although progress has been made in this area, this is not yet of the expected quality.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are transition and admission protocols. The manager and the staff undertake individual risk and group compatibility assessments. However, the group assessments do not clearly evidence the analysis of the decision making and how behaviours impact on each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are three staff vacancies. The high number of incidents and missing-from-home incidents has increased the workload of the staff team, with additional administrative tasks and management of incidents. There is no impact on the children at this stage and the staff vacancies are envisaged to be short term. New staff have been recruited to fill these posts and the checks are being processed to enable the new staff to start as soon as possible. A sessional worker is due to be commissioned to work with one child to address this issue further.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a consistent staff team, and agency staff are rarely used. The current staff team is committed to providing good care for the children. The team is well supported with training. The staff are level 3 qualified or equivalent, or are working towards a relevant level 3 qualification. The staff are adapting to the change in management and see this as positive for the home. The regular team meetings are informative and generally well attended. Supervision records are not evident for all of the staff and there are gaps in supervision, which is taking place regularly enough to support the staff in their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff apply sanctions for unwanted behaviour. However, the records are not reviewed by the manager regularly enough to oversee the effectiveness of the sanctions. This is an area that has been identified by the manager as needing an in-depth review. Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 9 The records of checks on two of the recruitment files showed that references did not provide sufficient information. In addition, one recruitment file did not contain an overseas check for one staff member. Failure to ensure that recruitment checks are robust has the potential to put children at risk. The manager has now attended safer- recruitment training and the recruitment process has been reviewed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The external monitoring is effective and helps to improve the progress of the home, as tasks are identified by the visitor and addressed by the manager in a timely way. The internal monitoring outlines the progress of the children and the home in the reporting period. However, it does not consider the views of placing authorities, children and parents. This does not ensure that the feedback of others is used effectively to develop and improve the home.

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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

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: SC361206 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: St. Christopher’s Fellowship

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Putney High Street, London SW15 1SZ

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Inspector

Debbie Young, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC361206 11 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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