Children's home run by R Place Limited

Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 1 SC429189 Registered provider: R Place Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children‘s home offers care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: n/a

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection.

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and young people since the most recent 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

There has not been a registered manager at the home since April 2017. The current management arrangements have not been submitted to Ofsted for review. During the inspection, the responsible individual stated that the management of the home is being overseen by two deputy managers and the responsible individual. A time-limited requirement is set in order that a suitably experienced and qualified manager is employed at the home without further delay.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection in April 2017, eight young people have been admitted to the home. Seven young people have been discharged, either to secure accommodation or alternative residential accommodation, as a result of highly challenging behaviours and criminal activity. There are currently four young people accommodated at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection in April 2017, there have been changes to the directorship of Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 2 the company. These changes have not been submitted to Ofsted for review and therefore no checks on new individuals have been undertaken.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose is misleading. A review of this document, last updated by the responsible individual in February 2018, claimed that the service continues to offer ‗specialist education, residential, mental health and health services‘ for young people. However, specialist packages, including psychological assessment and specialist education, are no longer provided by the home. Furthermore, the interior of the premises is not suitably maintained in order to offer a therapeutic, warm and caring environment. The home lacks the personal touch that makes it feel like a home. The statement of purpose is an essential document that provides information to placing authorities about the services available for young people who are referred to the home. The statement must accurately reflect the services provided and be regularly reviewed and updated, and a copy forwarded to Ofsted when any changes occur.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people regularly go missing or are absent from the home. Staff do not always know where young people are or what they are doing when they are away from the home. Some young people have become involved in criminal activity while being missing from the home. Key-work sessions take place, yet do not provide suitable advice and guidance to young people to help them to make a change to their risk-taking behaviours. Likewise, although staff follow reporting procedures, young people are not offered an independent return home interview. As a result, young people‘s risk-taking behaviours are not consistently managed or monitored in order to minimise and reduce further risks.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments cover a range of issues such as activities, behaviour and risk management. However, assessments do not review ‗what works‘ or ‗what needs to change‘ in order to be effective. Where risks are identified, the action to address and reduce risk is minimal. For example, a young person informed a staff member that the bicycle he had returned home on belongs to his 44-year-old friend. While this is recorded, there is no reference to any action that the staff took to manage this concern. The acting manager said, ‗Sometimes young people make things up just to get a response.‘ The failure to take appropriate steps results in young people‘s safety being compromised.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal and external monitoring visits state that there have been no incidents of bullying at the home. However, records of incidents highlight at least three occasions where a young person had been assaulted by his peer and had reported to staff that he was frightened. These are not recorded as specific bullying incidents. Consequently, incident reports do not reflect how the young person being assaulted was supported or the action taken to ensure his future safety. The acting manager said, ‗Some young people instigate the problems. We don‘t believe anyone was being bullied.‘ There is a failure to recognise and appropriately respond to a young person being assaulted or feeling unsafe in his home. Consequently, young people‘s safety and well-being are compromised at this home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are four young people currently resident at the home. Two young people attend full-time education. One young person receives nine hours of tutoring each week, while Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 3 another young person is awaiting a school placement and does not have any tutoring in place. While the acting manager has emailed and telephoned the local authority with regard to tutoring hours, there has been little progress in this area. The acting manager has not escalated this concern in order to secure the appropriate level of educational provision for this young person.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management plans are in place and are linked to an incentive programme. Young people are able to earn additional finances by following their individual plans, including behaviour targets. Strategies for managing behaviour are not consistently applied. For example, the records highlight assaults on staff and peers, cannabis and alcohol misuse, threatening behaviours, damage and concealed weapons. The evidence demonstrates that some young people may become violent and aggressive should they fail to earn incentives or be placed on supervised spends as a result of behaviours. Likewise, records of key-work sessions do not demonstrate that positive action is taken by staff to help young people to manage their emotions in a more acceptable way. Furthermore, although referrals to specialist agencies are made, young people fail to engage in the sessions made available to them. Consequently, young people‘s risk-taking

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

and dangerous behaviours continue unchecked.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is a detached building situated at the head of a cul-de-sac. It has a spacious driveway and maintained gardens. The interior of the home is clean and spacious. However, the individual bedrooms are bare. They lack personalisation and ownership. It is concerning that the televisions in each bedroom had been removed from the wall mounts and were propped up. Some rooms had excessive aerial cable, while others had the cables taped to the walls. All aerials were unplugged and did not use an appropriate fitting for the wire, therefore exposing the wire. Some young people did not have pillowcases. None of the bedrooms had curtains, but were fitted with blinds. Unfortunately, for occupants this reduces the domestic feel of the rooms. The living room was equally bare. There were no lamps, rugs or curtains to make it feel warm and homely. The acting manager said, ‗Young people spend a lot of time in the loft on

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

electronic games; they don‘t really use the living room.‘ Additionally, there were wide cracks along walls and ceilings that require professional assessment. The management and staff had failed to identify the trailing wires and the cracks in the mortar as health and safety concerns. Young people‘s safety is compromised by the lack of monitoring and review of the premises.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported to maintain contact with family and friends. However, some contact plans are not adhered to and there are occasions when young people visit premises that are deemed to be ‗unsafe‘. For example, a young person regularly visits a parent who shares her home with known criminals. The acting manager stated that her hands are tied, as there is little that she can do. Although the placing social worker has been informed, the acting manager has not escalated these matters as a concern for the safety of the young person. As a result, the safety and well-being of young people are compromised.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides a range of activities that include indoor sky diving, trampolining, go- karting, and visits to the beach and fairground. They have created individual photobooks Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 4 for young people to take with them when they leave this home. The books contain stories in photographs of the activities that the young people have taken part in.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

External monitoring visits take place in order to provide an overview of the service provided at the home. However, reports are not received by Ofsted in accordance with regulation and are frequently outdated. This is a concern, particularly because the home has experienced periods of significant disruption without the regulatory body being informed in a timely manner.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal monitoring is completed. However, the reports fail to provide a clear analysis of the care provided at the home or the steps required to improve practice. Reports fail to address the decline in behaviours or identify patterns or trends. As a result, internal monitoring provides a superficial account of the quality of care being provided at the home, rather than a holistic and transparent account.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are looked after by a team of staff, some of whom are relatives or partners. The acting manager confirmed that there are no procedures in place to ensure that family members are supervised by a non-family member. It is essential that the potential for conflict of interest is addressed to ensure a transparent approach to the supervision of staff members.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/04/2017 Full Good 16/08/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 29/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 5

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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 registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place – (a) A person other than the registered person carries on or manages the children's home; (d) If the registered provider is a partnership, any change in the membership of the partnership (e) If the registered provider is an organisation – (ii) any change of director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the organisation. (Regulation 49 (a) (d) (e) (ii)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

* an organisation may only carry on a home if- each director of the organisation, who is involved in the carrying on of a home satisfies the requirements in paragraph six. (Regulation 26 (4) 6 )) 06/04/2018

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Requirement Due date

If the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority‘s or a relevant person‘s performance or response is inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child‘s needs are met in accordance with the child‘s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children‘s home a statement (―the statement of purpose‖) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (3) The registered person must— (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(1) (3)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

8: The education standard The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (Regulation 8 (1)) 28/04/2018 Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 6 11: The positive relationships standard The positive relationship standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from relationships based on – (a) mutual respect and trust (b) an understanding about unacceptable behaviour (c) positive responses to other children and adults. The registered person must ensure that staff address each child‘s behavioural and emotional needs as set out in the child‘s relevant plans. Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c), (2)(a)(i)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. The registered person must ensure 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. (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other (b 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 (d) the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‘s health (Regulation 12(1) (2) (i) (iii) (iv) (b) (d)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of the name of the person so appointed; and the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27(a)(b)) 28/04/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‘s home at least once each month and inspect the premises and such of the home‘s records as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44(1)(2)(b)) 31/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‘s home that – (a) helps children aspire to their full potential (b) promotes their welfare 28/03/2018 Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 7 (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to – (a) 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 (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1) (a) (b) (c), (2) (a) (c)) * The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (―the missing child policy‖) setting out— (b) the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has

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Requirement Due date

been, so absent. (Regulation 34(4)(b) ) 06/04/2018

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children and the feedback and opinion of children about the children‘s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (2) (a) (b)) 28/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 Children‘s home staff should take every step to ensure that individual children and young people are not subject to discrimination or bullying from their peers with particular regard to their sexuality. (‗Guide to the children‘s home regulations including the quality standards, page 16, paragraph 3.12)  Ensure that a system is in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional without a conflict of interest. (‗Guide to the children‘s home regulations including the quality standards‘, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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 difference 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 Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 8 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‘. Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 9

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Inspection report children‘s home: SC429189 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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