Children's Home run by Keswick Care Limited in Wakefield

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183197 1

p.1

Keswick Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and managed. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural needs.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit was undertaken in response to concerns raised by an anonymous source, mainly in relation to restraint practices and staff training. The visit found that management oversight of the quality of care at the home is neither consistent nor effective in identifying shortfalls, particularly in relation to the use and recording of physical interventions and staff training.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home’s statement of purpose states that staff members do not receive training in permissible forms of restraint until after their six months of basic induction. In addition, staff who have the certificated training from previous employers and are due for training facilitated by the provider in May 2018 have already restrained children without a full assessment of their competence. This risks staff members using incorrect or out-of-date restraint techniques, with potential for harm.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The restraint and incident record does not contain all the information required by regulation. For example, the type of hold and the duration of the physical interventions used by staff are not always described clearly in the documentation. This compromises the registered manager’s ability to evaluate whether the intervention used was necessary and proportionate.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Not all of the restraint records are timely. For example, one physical intervention that occurred in August 2017 was recorded in the restraint log in January 2018. Some incidents involving physical holds are missing from the formal restraint log. These shortfalls compromise the registered manager’s ability to identify potential patterns, including the type of hold, the duration and frequency, and the children Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183197 2 and staff members who are involved.

p.1

This monitoring visit

One restraint entry on 12 February 2018 described staff members ‘rolling’ a child over to attempt to remove a blade from her. The record has not been monitored by the registered manager and no debriefings have yet taken place with the child involved. This delay obstructs any review to evaluate whether the actions taken by the staff members were safe and proportionate, and whether there are any lessons to be learned from the incident.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager said that staff debriefings do take place following serious incidents, but that these are not recorded. This lack of recording means that there is no evidence of what level of support and guidance is provided to staff members or any development or practice matters that may have been identified from such a debriefing.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Serious incidents involving police attendance at the home have not been notified to Ofsted. This prevents Ofsted, the regulator, from having full and up-to-date information about serious incidents and any actions taken to reduce their recurrence.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Not all staff have a record of undertaking safeguarding training. Not having this training risks staff members not knowing, understanding or following the correct safeguarding procedures.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments have not been updated to accurately reflect the agreed strategies to minimise risk. For example, one child’s risk assessment had not been reviewed since January 2017. The contents of the document state that all staff members are trained in approved restraint techniques, although not all staff members have received this training from the provider. This does not promote children’s welfare and safety.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager sends the independent person’s reports to Ofsted, as opposed to the independent person sending them directly. Some reports have been sent by the registered manager considerably late, and this does not comply with the regulations. This prevents Ofsted, the regulator, from tracking how the home is operating and how the provider acts on any issues raised during independent visits.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Individual children enjoy living at the home. They experience very positive relationships with staff, who show that they genuinely nurture and care for them. One child described the home as being the best place for them and that living at the home was good for them. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183197 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/06/2017 Full Outstanding 03/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/07/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183197 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

* 13: The leadership and management standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to their potential, and promotes their welfare.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

Review the statement of purpose in relation to staff member’s induction programmes, training and ongoing professional development.

p.4

Requirement Due date

Document how new staff members will be provided with the relevant training within their probation period to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children placed. (Regulation 13(2)(a)) 22/04/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

* 13: The leadership and management standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to their potential, and promotes their welfare.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

Provide behaviour management training to all staff members to whom require it, or their certification has expired, including yourself. If this training is unable to be provided in a timely way, provide interim guidance to these staff members on what actions they can take if they are involved in an incident of challenging behaviour. Keep a record of this training and guidance. 22/04/2018 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183197 5 Provide safeguarding training to all staff members who have not yet completed this. If this training is unable to be provided in a timely way, provide interim guidance to these new staff members about the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures. Keep a record of this training and guidance.

p.4

Requirement Due date

Devise a system to ensure that individual staff members receive relevant refresher training prior to the date that a certified course expires. (Regulation 13(2)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

* 13: The leadership and management standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to their potential, and promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

Review internal monitoring systems, and record this review.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular demonstrate how the following matters will be monitored, to ensure children’s safety and compliance with children’s homes regulation: restraint recording, staff debriefings following serious incidents, staff training records, and the notification of serious events. (Regulation 13(2)(h)) 22/04/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 22/04/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.5

Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62 paragraph 14.4)

p.5

Recommendations

This is specifically in relation to ensuring up-to-date, robust risk assessments. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183197 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.6

Inspector(s)

Jacqueline Malcolm, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183197 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.

p.6

Inspector(s)

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector(s)

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector(s)

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7