Children's Home run by The Place Young People’s Company in Leicestershire

Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private organisation and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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

The service has declined in effectiveness due to concerns about how a specific safeguarding situation has been managed. During the inspection, inconsistencies were found in the way that staff understood risk and interpreted the plans that were in place to manage risk in this case. The inspection found that staff are not always clear about their roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, the specific concerns relating to the child are not reflected in their risk assessment documentation. As a result, the child is at increased risk of harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the period since the last inspection, a child has made an allegation against a member of staff. This allegation was not immediately reported to the local authority’s designated officer. This was addressed promptly when the registered manager returned to work after a period of absence. As the response of the manager was robust, and included training for relevant staff and reiteration of policies and procedures, no requirement Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 2 against regulations is set on this occasion. Following an investigation, no further action was taken by the local authority’s designated officer and no evidence of inappropriate practice was identified.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home now benefits from having a registered manager, after an extended period of interim management arrangements.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leadership team has taken a positive step by restricting further admissions while specific safeguarding issues are being clarified and fully understood. The manager feels that this is important to ensure that future placement matching is appropriate.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The team does not give up on children easily. While notice was given to end one child’s placement in October 2017, this decision was not taken lightly. The team remained committed and worked with the placing authority during a difficult period to strengthen plans; the team also provided therapeutic support for the child. Ultimately, the placement ended after a serious assault on a member of staff. The child’s social worker spoke positively about the way the team ensured that community activities took place with this child, regardless of the potential for behavioural challenges. While it was acknowledged that concerning behaviours had continued, the number of incidents had reduced.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When new children are admitted the manager ensures that there are well-organised transitions. Although the child admitted in November did not come for a visit, this was deemed as appropriate on this occasion. The social worker for the child said: ‘The admission was as planned as it could be.’ Written information was provided for the child; this enabled her to understand the service she would receive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have good relationships with staff. Observations of relaxed interactions were made during the inspection. A child who has lived in the home since May 2017 spoke extremely positively about his experiences in the home. He is confident about the care provided; he feels safe and enjoys spending time with staff. He continues to excel across a range of sporting activities, his favourite being football. He has more recently received good support to change his school, in-line with multi-agency agreed plans. The initial part-time programme of education is progressing towards becoming full time through gradual increases in the amount of time the child spends at school. This shows that appropriate support is provided for individual educational needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person has taken action to address the two requirements set at the time of the last inspection. Behaviour management records now consistently reflect that the staff involved have been spoken to by a manager. Medication administration arrangements have improved. The medication at the focus of the weakness at the time of the last inspection has since been identified by a health professional as no longer required, and returned to the pharmacy. No further weaknesses are identified in relation to medication administration. Managers have spent time reinforcing policies and procedures with staff in order to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities in these areas. Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 3

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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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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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 Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 4 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 18b Market Place, Nottingham NG13 8AP

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Inspector

Mary Timms, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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