Children's home run by YCPG Services Ltd in Walsall

Inspection report children’s home: SC392492 1 SC392492 Registered provider: DMR Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private provider owns and operates this home.

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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 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

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of significant safeguarding incidents. On most occasions, staff manage these incidents well. However, during a recent incident, staff failed to take sufficient action to adequately protect young people. This was due to a breakdown in communication between the service and other agencies. As a result, actions taken by staff to protect young people from harm were based on assumption and not fact. This shortfall potentially placed young people at risk of serious harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has not notified Ofsted of all significant incidents. This means Inspection report children’s home: SC392492 2 that Ofsted is unable to fully assess how well the service safeguards young people outside of each inspection visit.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to only use physical restraint as a last resort and to protect young people from immediate harm. However, when restraint is necessary, records of these incidents lack sufficient detail. For example, staff do not ensure that they consistently include young people’s comments or the action staff take to de-escalate situations. In addition, when young people’s behaviours warrant the use of sanctions, staff do not include the effectiveness of these consequences in the records. As a result, the registered manager is unable to fully evaluate the appropriateness of the use of these measures of control. This potentially compromises young people’s safety and welfare.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people living in the home at the time of the last inspection have now left the service. Staff were unable to adequately manage and reduce young people’s risks or protect them from harm. Young people who have been admitted and discharged since the last inspection did not benefit from well-planned moves. This is detrimental to young people’s overall experiences.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments, relating to behaviours such as drug use or physical violence, do not detail the actions for staff to take to reduce and manage these risks. Consequently, these are not always well managed and some young people’s risk-taking behaviours escalate. The variable quality of risk assessments was raised at the last inspection. As a result, this requirement is repeated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of young people going missing from the home are well managed. Staff search local areas, liaise with other agencies and young people’s families, and continually attempt to locate young people. This promotes young people’s safety.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection in June 2017, Ofsted made four requirements and one recommendation. The registered manager has taken action to meet three of the requirements and the one recommendation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff now ensure that they seek young people’s views and wishes in relation to their individual care. When staff need to make decisions on behalf of young people or in their absence, they subsequently discuss the reasons for this in detail with the young person. Staff encourage young people to review their case records and comment on the content of their internal support plans. Furthermore, staff now ensure that they update these records in a timely manner. As a result, young people are now more involved in decisions about their care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has reviewed the statement of purpose to clarify the use of closed circuit television in and around the home. This monitoring and surveillance device is no longer in operation. The statement of purpose now reflects this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s privacy is now better protected. This is because staff ensure that if, or when, it is necessary for staff to search young people’s bedrooms, young people are always invited to be present. Inspection report children’s home: SC392492 3 One requirement is repeated and three new requirements are raised following this inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/06/2017 Full Good 28/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/05/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Full Requires improvement

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 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 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(vi)) 30/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14(1)(b)) 30/03/2018

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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 all necessary information. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(i-viii) 30/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; or there is any other incident relating to 30/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC392492 4 a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)(e))

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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: DMR Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: DMR Services, 102 Queslett Road East, Sutton Coldfield B74 2EZ

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Inspector

Jo Stephenson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC392492 5 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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