Children's home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Thanet

Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 1 SC478616 Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company which has a small number of similar homes in the area. It is registered to accommodate up to three young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The company also has a school which young people may attend.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 21 November 2017

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be 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 improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left the home to work in the organisation’s education provision. The deputy manager is the acting manager. She has a proven track record within the organisation and the experience and skills required for the role.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved on. The departure has enabled the organisation to reflect on lessons learned from his placement matching. There have been no new admissions to the home. The acting manager has identified that the team’s focus is on improving the quality of the service before new admissions are considered. As a result, the emphasis on the development of the home is providing stability for the young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The frequency of untoward incidents has been reduced. The community police have supported the organisation to formally manage the anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 2 the home. This has reduced unwanted gatherings of young people nearby. Young people living at the home report feeling safe. They are pleased that the environment in which they live has become calmer. They have invested in the home by taking part in regular meetings in which issues impacting on the home’s dynamics have been discussed. This has enabled the young people to engage in reflection upon incidents.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The organisation’s health and well-being team has provided advice and support to the staff. The staff have been given tools to help them to identify and manage risky behaviour. This guides their risk assessments and gives them clear strategies to follow to manage risk. This early intervention planning enables staff to work proactively.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the full inspection in November, five requirements and seven recommendations were made. The health and well-being standard is now met. The acting manager has put in place a system for ordering and restocking prescribed medication. Further to this, staff have been retrained to administer medication, and the manager makes observations of their practice. Weekly managerial checks further ensure that medication is safely managed. As a result, the practice for the safe management of medication at the home has improved.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement was made regarding the positive relationships standard. This was specifically related to staff having the skills and knowledge to recognise signs of bullying. The staff and young people have both undertaken an online course to help them to understand the signs of bullying. The young people have signed up to an anti-bullying charter, and the staff log and monitor any behaviour that they observe to be of a bullying nature. As a result, the requirement is met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement was made regarding the protection of children. This was specifically related to ensuring that the home is free from hazards. The home has undergone significant redevelopment. The common areas have been redecorated and new carpets fitted. The young people’s bedrooms have also been redecorated to their individual taste. A cleaning schedule and regular maintenance checks have ensured that the home remains clean, safe and hazard-free. Consequently, the requirement is met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement was made regarding the leadership and management standard. The acting manager has the required skills and attributes to deliver the home’s service effectively. She has organised stringent weekly checks to ensure the smooth running of the home. She recognises the impact of low staffing on the ability to manage behaviour, and has increased staffing levels. Frequent supervisions and staff meetings ensure that the team is consistent in its approach to managing behaviour. As a result, the requirement is met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The final requirement was about care planning. The acting manager and her team have identified that one young person will move to another provision. They have reflected on the home’s dynamics since the last inspection and, despite their best efforts, they can no longer safely manage the current group together. The acting manager has reviewed the referral process. She is committed to ensuring that the needs of those already living at the home are carefully considered alongside matches of any new young people. The Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 3 decision not to consider referrals until the current group has settled demonstrates that the care planning requirement is met and the recommendation regarding new referrals, although not yet full embedded, has been taken on board.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Bullying has been a focus. Staff now have the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to bullying. Young people’s meetings have explored this further, and staff have intervened when they have observed bullying behaviours. A log details such incidents and key-work sessions have followed, using a range of online materials to underpin the anti-bullying ethos. The recommendation regarding bullying is met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are frequently updated. As the young people grow and develop, their risk assessments and behaviour plans are adapted to meet their changing needs. Changes to individual plans are discussed at staff meetings, and staff sign documents to confirm that they have read the changes. Consequently, the recommendation regarding risk is met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation was made regarding sufficient staff. The acting manager has ensured that staffing levels enable staff to safely meet the needs of the young people. Experienced staff from other homes have supported the team, at times. This recommendation is now met. However, the recommendation regarding contingency plans being in place, in case of shortfalls in staffing levels, has not been met. No such plan was available during the inspection. This recommendation is repeated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s records are up to date. They provide clear and objective reporting of their progress and any incidents that have occurred. The acting manager and her deputy regularly sample the records to ensure that the quality is monitored. As a result, the recommendation regarding staff’s understanding of record keeping is met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

In response to the final recommendation, the organisation has reviewed the independent visitor’s reports. The acting manager states that the reports have improved in quality and are now providing her with useful information which supports her to continually develop the home. Consequently, this recommendation is met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good 09/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 4

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Recommendations

 Contingency plans should be prepared in the event of a shortfall in staffing levels. If it is likely that there might only be one member of staff on duty at any time the manager should make a formal assessment of the implications for children’s care, including any likely risks. This assessment should be recorded and available for inspection by Ofsted and placing authorities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.18)

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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 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: SC478616 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 424 Margate Road, Ramsgate CT12 6SJ

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Inspector

Sarah Olliver, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 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 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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