Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited

Inspection report children‘s home: SC007293 1 SC007293 Registered provider: Sherico Care Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who may have learning and/or physical disabilities. The home is wheelchair accessible, and offers a short-break service.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: not judged

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 31 October 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 this interim inspection the home was ‗not judged‘.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has not provided care or accommodation for children since March 2017. This inspection focuses on whether the children‘s home meets its statutory requirements in order to maintain its registration, and whether it is ready to accept placements. As a result, no judgement is made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is temporarily closed to enable the organisation to stabilise its other operational services. There is also a wish to recruit a suitable individual to effectively manage the home. The provider intends to start admitting children later in the year.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Due to the lack of progress, it is necessary to repeat the five requirements and the recommendation from the last inspection. The lack of quality assurance systems is an ongoing issue. Leaders do not promote the home‘s continued improvement. The provider has not ensured that independent monthly monitoring visits take place. Ofsted has Inspection report children‘s home: SC007293 2 received no regulation 44 monitoring reports since May 2017. The provider stated that it had recently appointed a highly experienced social work professional to undertake these duties. The lack of independent monitoring visits does not assist leaders in reviewing the home‘s effectiveness. Ofsted relies on these reports to keep up to date on whether the home remains suitable for accommodating children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders do not carry out quality of care reviews at six-monthly intervals as required by regulation. These reviews assist the home in evaluating its quality of care. The reviews also contribute to continual service development. The provider is required to forward review reports to Ofsted, but has not done so. This is a breach of the regulations.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has yet to improve the decor and facilities in the home‘s sensory room. This sensory play area is not well equipped. There is limited play material to support the creative play of children who have sensory needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Health and safety arrangements are sufficient, as there are no children residing at the home. The certificate of registration is on display. Fire safety arrangements are adequate. There is evidence of the servicing of the fire extinguishers and the fire alarm system. There is also documentation to confirm the safety of portable appliances.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Prior to accommodating children, the provider must ensure that the premises fully meets health and safety requirements. An out-of-date employers‘ liability insurance was on display during the inspection. The current employers‘ liability insurance was unavailable. There was also no evidence of checks to confirm the safety of the electrical installations and the gas supply at the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2017 Interim Not judged 16/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 28/01/2016 Interim Not judged

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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

Appointment of manager 01/06/2018 Inspection report children‘s home: SC007293 3 The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children‘s home if—

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Requirement Due date

(a) there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (―a quality of care review‖) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

(a) the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

(b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children‘s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

(c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 01/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

(3) After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (―the quality of care review report‖).

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Requirement Due date

(a) supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review 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(3) and (4)(a)) 01/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‘s home at least once each month. 01/06/2018 Inspection report children‘s home: SC007293 4 (2) When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

(a) if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

(b) to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home‘s records (except for a child‘s case records, unless the child and the child‘s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 44(1)(2)(a)(b)) Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

(4) The independent person must produce a report about a visit (―the independent person‘s report‖) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‘s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

(a) children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

(b) the conduct of the home promotes children‘s well-being.

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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 premises used for the purposes of the home are maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to having employers‘ liability insurance and a certificate to confirm the safety of the electrical installation and the gas supply. 01/06/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure children with disabilities have appropriate opportunities to have fun. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 32, paragraph 6.10). In particular, that the home improve equipment available in the sensory room. Inspection report children‘s home: SC007293 5

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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: Sherico Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sherico Care Homes Ltd, 2–4 Balmoral Road, London E10 5ND

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, social care inspector Inspection report children‘s home: SC007293 6 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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