Children's home run by Tumblewood Project Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC028435 1 SC028435

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Tumblewood Project Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home operates as a therapeutic community for a maximum of 15 girls who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The community is run by a private organisation that offers residential care alongside therapeutic intervention including counselling, play therapy and psychiatric support. Children usually attend the on-site school.

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This monitoring visit

An interim inspection undertaken in November 2017 judged the home to have declined in effectiveness. At that visit, shortfalls were identified. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the current performance of the home and to identify whether progress had been made in addressing the previous shortfalls. While some positive practice was seen on this visit, inspectors identified continued shortfalls regarding the protection of children and the effectiveness of leaders and managers. At this visit, requirements have been made under three of the same regulations that were raised at the interim inspection in November 2017.

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This monitoring visit

Following the previous inspection, leaders and managers identified a sharp escalation of incidents between some children where they were at risk of harm. Leaders and managers made the appropriate decision that some children’s needs could not be met at the home and two children have since moved on. Since then, incidents have reduced in severity and the involvement of the police at the home has decreased.

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This monitoring visit

On one occasion, leaders and managers failed to make the necessary child protection referral to the appropriate agency. Leaders and managers did not immediately refer an allegation of sexual assault to the local authority, but investigated the allegation themselves. An additional example of leaders and managers initiating an internal investigation into child protection concerns before Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC028435 2 referring to safeguarding agencies was seen. This approach could undermine any potential criminal investigation.

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This monitoring visit

On two occasions, children were injured during incidents when restraint was used. Inspectors were not provided with evidence to show whether leaders and managers had considered these injuries as potential child protection concerns or whether they had consulted with the designated officer about them. Some safeguarding records do not comprehensively describe the discussions that leaders and managers have when they consult with or refer to safeguarding agencies. Other safeguarding concerns and internal investigations were dealt with appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

Support for children who show challenging behaviour is inconsistent. Although leaders and managers monitor serious incidents and children’s behaviour, their oversight does not always prevent inconsistent practice. While the inspectors saw examples of some very nurturing and positive responses to children which de- escalated their behaviour successfully, other examples did not demonstrate sufficient reflective techniques or restorative responses were used. For example, on one occasion, staff prevented a child from having access to her home to stop the child from repeatedly setting the fire alarm off. The child became distressed. It was not evident that staff had first attempted to manage this situation as detailed in the child’s placement plan. At times, some children have been stopped from attending activities outside of the home which are beneficial to their progress and experiences, such as horse riding. On occasions, leaders and managers have recognised that

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This monitoring visit

stopping activities is not appropriate and have lifted the sanctions. However, this is not done consistently and consequently children are given mixed messages about what sanctions are used. Leaders and managers do not always measure whether the sanctions are effective.

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This monitoring visit

While placement plans and risk assessments are detailed and comprehensive, one child’s plans do not clearly provide the care team with all of the details they need to support the child. For example, while staff use nurturing strategies to support children who self-harm, one child’s plan does not provide specific details about the actions staff are required to take if this child removes themselves to their bedroom and staff think they are likely to self-harm. Two incidents occurred where staff did not follow the child to continue de-escalation strategies before they self-harmed.

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This monitoring visit

Some children are monitored in their bedrooms through the use of door alarms. Risk assessments for the use of door alarms are carried out. However, the assessment for one child does not demonstrate if leaders and managers have considered how the risks to the child could be managed without the use of a door alarm, now that the child lives in a house on her own and has one-to-one support at all times.

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This monitoring visit

A lock on one door stops children in one home using a fire exit without a key being obtained from staff. After this was raised by inspectors, leaders and managers put plans in place to ensure that children have immediate access to the exit that they require should a fire break out. Children are unable to open two windows in one of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC028435 3 the homes as one is screwed shut and another did not have a handle. Other windows in this home could be opened. A window replacement plan has started and leaders and managers intend for this to continue.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have a maintenance plan to improve the quality of the home. This is an ongoing programme. Leaders and managers took immediate action during this visit to rectify some cleanliness and maintenance issues.

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This monitoring visit

Systems to independently monitor the quality of care meet the letter of regulation. It is noteworthy, however, that all independent visits during the last nine months have been announced and take place during the school day. The timing of these visits means that the independent visitor has no direct observation of the children’s experiences at evenings and weekends. Leaders and managers took action during the inspection to ensure that future visits will include unannounced visits at all times of the day and when children are in the home.

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This monitoring visit

During the inspection, some positive relationships were observed between children and members of the care team.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/11/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/01/2017 Full Requires improvement 27/09/2016 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC028435 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

Understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure care planning documents provide staff with the necessary detail required to meet the needs of children. Continue to improve the quality of the home to ensure it is a homely environment throughout and meets the needs of children. 08/03/2018

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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— 08/03/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC028435 5 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12, (1)(2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that leaders, managers and staff identify risks and make child protection referrals to the appropriate safeguarding agencies as required. 13: The leadership and management standard

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13, (1)(b)(2)(a)(f)(h)) 08/03/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC028435 6 In particular, ensure that leaders and managers deliver the ethos as set out in the statement of purpose. Ensure that monitoring systems in place are effective tools to identity inconsistent practice, learning and development. 20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty

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Requirement Due date

(2) Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that internal doors leading to fire exits are not locked.

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Requirement Due date

Assess how risks could be managed without the use of a door alarm for children that live alone. 08/03/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that expectations of standards of behaviour are high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, and paragraph 8.11). In particular, ensure that approaches used to manage children’s behaviour are applied consistently.

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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

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tumblewood Project Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 The Laurels, Hawkeridge Road, Heywood, Westbury, Wiltshire BA13 4LF

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Inspector(s)

Nicola Lownds, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC028435 7 Tracey Ledder, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC028435 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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