Children's home run by Potensial Limited

Inspection report children’s home: SC489820 1 SC489820 Registered provider: Potensial Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is independently owned by a national company that operates a range of services for vulnerable adults and children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in October 2015 for up to four children and young people who may have learning disabilities. This is one of two children’s homes operated by the company in the south-west of England.

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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

Date of last inspection: 4 to 5 April 2017

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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 requires improvement 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

There is a sharp contrast between the good-quality care provided by staff in this home and the major weaknesses in leadership and management. Specifically, for the past 17 months, there has been no consistent strategy in terms of the home’s purpose and function. The lack of clarity has contributed to the failure to register a manager for the home for a period of 39 weeks. This, together with further regulatory breaches and five new requirements, has led to the judgement of declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At times, the home has accommodated more young adults than children. This is a breach of the Care Standards Act 2000. Following a meeting between Ofsted and senior leaders, one of the two young adults moved out of the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC489820 2 The interim manager and the staff team managed the young adult’s move very well. The company also undertook not to admit any more children or young adults until the child had been moved to a proposed new children’s home, which they intended to register with Ofsted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person now wishes to retain this home as a children’s home. She recognises that it is an urgent priority to apply to register a manager who is suitable to be in day-to-day control of this home. With the acting manager on annual leave at the time of this inspection, it is currently unclear who will apply to undertake the registered manager role at this home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person has not ensured that all the required information is sent to Ofsted. For example, independent visitor reports are completed every month, but are not sent to Ofsted. In October 2017, the inspector reminded the service of the requirement to submit these reports monthly. A senior manager sent the backlog of four reports at that time, but no new reports were received. The acting manager has completed one review of the quality of care since the last inspection, but this, along with the home’s updated statement of purpose, had also not been sent to Ofsted. These oversights, which were remedied during the inspection, have resulted in new requirements being made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person has made insufficient progress in meeting previous inspection requirements. Only one of the three requirements, which were made nine months ago, has been met in full.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection, when there were four staff vacancies, the company has worked hard to recruit more staff. The last two vacancies have recently been filled. This is an improvement, but neither of these new staff members have yet started in post, so the requirement has been repeated. During the period when the home had vacancies, the remaining staff and the management team have worked together to ensure that the children and young people are fully supported.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s managers have now ensured that staff have completed the required childcare qualifications.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person was required to comply with the home’s statement of purpose and conditions of registration. This element of the requirement is not met. The children’s home has continued to accommodate a young adult.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Fire safety checks are now carried out at the recommended intervals. However, it was not evident that the fire risk assessment had been reviewed promptly. This oversight has resulted in a new requirement.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safer recruitment practices continue to require improvement and the requirement raised at the last inspection has been repeated. Leaders and managers have not ensured that a full employment history is always obtained and that references are verified. Inspection report children’s home: SC489820 3 At the full inspection, a requirement was made that the responsible individual had to produce evidence to Ofsted that she was fit to undertake this role. This information was supplied and has been accepted, so the requirement is met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation made at the last inspection regarding appropriate supervision for the manager at that time is no longer applicable as that manager is no longer in post.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of the staff and the care that they provide is good. The young adult and the child enjoy very positive relationships with the staff. Both have made progress since the full inspection. The young adult is in a work placement and is doing well there. The child attends school regularly. He is achieving well and is increasing in confidence.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people are physically healthy and have access to therapeutic services if they require them. They enjoy a well-balanced diet. The child explained that he can help to choose his foods, guided by the staff. He is happy in the home and apart from occasional frustrations of living with someone from a very different age group, he is enjoying his time there.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people benefit from interesting and fun days out with the staff. One child has visited London and went to the Natural History Museum. He has also been to Bristol Zoo. The young people also enjoy rewarding visits with members of their extended families. This helps to keep them in touch with life at home and sustain important relationships for the future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no safeguarding concerns at this home. Since the last inspection, there has been no need to restrain the child. He has not gone missing.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have set behavioural and personal development targets for the child. These are realistic and achievable, and the child is working towards these positively. While the child has complex needs that result in challenging behaviour, the intensity and frequency of incidents have reduced.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/11/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/04/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC489820 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; 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 understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to ensuring that the home is operated in line with its statement of purpose and its conditions of registration. 28/02/2018

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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 ensures that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 16 (3)(a) and (b)) 31/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

25: Fire precautions 31/01/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC489820 5 If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home, the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 25 (2)) In particular, ensure that a fire risk assessment is carried out at intervals recommended by the fire and rescue service and that a copy is available on file to inform staff practice. 27: Appointment of manager

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership; does not satisfy regulation 28; or) is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that a person is appointed to manage the children’s home without further delay and that this person makes an application to Ofsted to be registered. 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1) to (3) (d) and Schedule 2).

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to ensuring that all staff who come to work at the children’s home have a fully documented employment history on file, with any gaps accounted for and recorded. 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The 31/01/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC489820 6 independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 44 (1) and (7)(a)) 45: Review of the quality of care

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the review of quality of care report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (4)9a)) 31/01/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC489820 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 address: Potens-UK, 68 Grange Road West, Birkenhead CH41 4DB

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Inspector

Heather Chaplin, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC489820 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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