Children's home run by Marlowe Child & Family Services Limited in Tewkesbury

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393228 1 SC393228

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Marlowe Child & Family Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to care for up to five children of the same gender. The children may have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

A previous monitoring visit was undertaken in September 2017. During that visit, widespread shortfalls were identified.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to follow up and review those concerns and consider any progress made. Not enough progress has been made to satisfy inspectors that management arrangements are strong and that children living at this home are safe.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to give sufficient consideration to concerns raised by a child following a physical intervention that took place in school. In addition, until they were informed by inspectors, managers failed to recognise in the very early stages of a safeguarding concern that it did not relate to a previous incident. This early delay prevented them from making suitable arrangements to prevent risk from the outset. However appropriate preventative steps were later taken.

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This monitoring visit

The manager had failed to respond fully to the concerns raised by one child in respect of a member of staff. While the issues had been discussed with the member of staff concerned and additional supervision and guidance made available to them, the manager had failed to recognise the child’s concern as a complaint. Consequently, the complaint was not followed up with the child, and he was not informed of the outcome. This could, in effect, leave the child with the impression that his concerns were disregarded. The manager, appointed in August 2017, does not yet have the knowledge, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393228 2 experience or training to equip her for the role, and she is not currently registered with Ofsted. The manager is not in daily control of safeguarding in the home as this is managed by the headteacher of an offsite school. During this inspection, senior leaders confirmed to inspectors that they had identified that the manager required

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This monitoring visit

further training and support and are taking steps to rectify this. There is regular management oversight of records of incidents. However, management oversight is not always effective in ensuring sufficient rigour in the management of safeguarding concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Lack of effective management oversight has led to mistakes in the recording of the administration of medication.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers fail to ensure that the care documentation for children provides clear information to staff to help them to understand children’s needs and to deliver effective care. This was a concern at the previous monitoring visit. Not all staff were able to explain key risks for children. Strategies for caring for children, outlined in their documentation, are not always known by staff or transferred into practice. This leads to inconsistences in the approach of the staff team and care being provided outside the recommendations made by the organisation’s own therapy team.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers failed to demonstrate to inspectors that fire drills have taken place at suitable intervals. Records provided to inspectors show that it has been almost one year since one of the children took part in a fire drill. This lack of a fire drill means that managers cannot be confident that all children would know how to get out of the home quickly should the need arise to evacuate the building.

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This monitoring visit

There is now an improved system to ensure that sanctions and consequences for children’s behaviour are appropriate and reparative through use of a central record of sanctions. However, the system is not yet embedded and some staff continue to record sanctions elsewhere. The manager does not yet have full oversight of sanctions which limits monitoring of their effectiveness.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the upkeep of the home. The home provides a welcoming environment. Steps are being taken to ensure that each room is well furnished and carpeted. Children clearly value this improvement, and this is reflected in a reduction in the amount of damage that is now caused to the home. Some practice remains that distracts from a homely environment, including food being locked away in cupboards and the presence of a payphone on a dining-room wall.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to children’s bedrooms. Inspectors found these to be clean and tidy. Staff now support children to keep their rooms in a tidier state. Window restrictors remain in all the children’s bedrooms. Senior leaders have made a decision that this is appropriate for the children’s age and levels of need.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a reduction in incidents involving violence and damage in the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393228 3 Physical intervention has also reduced. Relationships between staff and children have improved, and children were seen to be positively engaged with each other and staff during this inspection. The kitchen has become the hub of the home, and children, staff and visitors use this area to spend time chatting together, playing games or just sitting together over a cup of tea.

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This monitoring visit

Some children are enjoying increased, positive contact with their families. This contact is supported well by staff from the home. This has been particularly important for one child who now feels valued and part of their family.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/09/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/04/2016 Full Good 12/10/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393228 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

(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) 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; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (b) 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. 12/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skills required to effective be in day-to-day control of the home and deliver safe and consistent care for children. 12/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

(1) The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s 12/02/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393228 5 home; (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (c) that each child’s relevant plans are followed. 23: Medicines

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Requirement Due date

1) The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. 12/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

1) After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— (d) ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. 12/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

(1) Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children. (3) The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. 12/02/2018

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393228 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Marlowe Child & Family Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Staverton Court, Staverton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 0UX

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Inspector(s)

Tracey Ledder, social care inspector Nicola Lownds, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393228 7 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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