Children's home run by Care Afloat Ltd in West Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home monitoring visit: SC006010 1 SC006010 Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned and managed.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit to this home was carried out on 21 March 2018, after Ofsted received some concerns identified in notifications and information of concern from an external stakeholder.

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This monitoring visit

Although the monitoring visit showed that there were no regulatory breaches arising from the external stakeholder’s concerns, there were some breaches identified in relation to risk assessments, staffing arrangements and significant notifications.

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This monitoring visit

This is a solo-placement home, which means that only one young person lives at the home. At the last inspection, this young person was noted to be making very good progress following a number of previous placement breakdowns. Since that time, some aspects of the young person’s high-risk behaviours have increased, such as episodes of being missing from home. Over recent months, concerns have escalated in relation to the young person’s safety and well-being.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff demonstrate a good understanding of the risks to the young person’s safety and well-being. Risk assessments are in place, and these are regularly updated and reflect the increasing concerns. Although there are some good examples of clear measures for staff to follow in order to promote the young person’s safety, some measures are not sufficiently clear and do not reflect the day- to-day care of the young person, for example the timescales for the action to be taken when the young person is absent from the home.

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This monitoring visit

There is a missing from home protocol in place, which has been developed in partnership with other agencies. This could be improved by ensuring that pertinent information about the young person’s associates is consistently obtained so that staff Inspection report for children’s home monitoring visit: SC006010 2 are aware of any additional risks. In addition, a shortfall was identified in relation to obtaining significant information from interviews conducted by external partners with the young person when they have returned after a period of being missing from home. This information could potentially inform future risk management and, as such, help to safeguard the young person.

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This monitoring visit

A requirement is raised to address these issues.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager ensures that there is ongoing discussion with relevant partners and other people involved in the young person’s care. There have been some differences in opinion about boundaries and necessary safeguarding measures, which have caused some complexities in managing the risks associated with the young person’s care. The registered manager demonstrates an ability to challenge external services where appropriate, and when she feels this is necessary to promote the young person’s best interests.

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This monitoring visit

The home has experienced a high turnover of staff in recent months. This has had an impact on the overall skill set of the team, as a number of staff are still in their probationary periods. There is a mandatory training programme in place which some more recently appointed staff are still working through. It was identified during this inspection that on at least one recent occasion neither staff member on an overnight duty had completed their probationary periods or mandatory training, including first aid. A failure to ensure that the young person is consistently supported by suitably qualified and experienced staff does not promote the best interests of the young person. A requirement is raised in relation to this matter.

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This monitoring visit

Throughout the inspection, managers were helpful and cooperative. They demonstrated transparency and a commitment to ensuring that any learning from adverse incidents is acted upon. However, it was identified that some notifiable incidents had occurred at the home yet had not been notified to Ofsted. A failure to notify Ofsted of significant events undermines the ability of the regulator to monitor and manage risk effectively and, as such, does not promote young people’s best interests. A requirement is raised to address this matter.

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This monitoring visit

It was apparent through observation that the young person has positive relationships with staff. The young person interacts with staff in a comfortable and pleasant manner, and is able to make her needs and wishes known. The young person has previously made good progress and spoke highly of the home and staff. Staff have a good understanding of young person’s day-to-day needs and it is evident that they attempt to accommodate her wishes, where possible. It was noted that some aspects of the young person’s care planning could be more detailed to provide improved guidance for staff about the young person’s day-to-day needs and routines. A good practice recommendation is raised to support this further improvement. Inspection report for children’s home monitoring visit: SC006010 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/12/2017 Full Good 01/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/06/2016 Full Good 04/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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; help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12(1), (2)(a)(i)(ii)) 20/04/2018

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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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 fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and 20/04/2018 Inspection report for children’s home monitoring visit: SC006010 4 skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b), (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) 20/04/2018

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Recommendations

 Specifically in relation to daily care planning, staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC006010 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Doncaster Deaf Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Doncaster College & School for the Deaf, Leger Way, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN2 6AY

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Fletcher

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Inspectors

Marie Cordingley, social care inspector Mandy Williams, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home monitoring visit: SC006010 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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