Children's home run by Pine Forest Homes Limited in Cannock Chase

Inspection report children’s home: SC373693 1 SC373693 Registered provider: Pine Forest Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been no registered manager since February 2016. From December 2017, the responsible individual has provided management oversight of the home until a new manager is recruited. The absence of a registered manager has meant that young people and staff have not experienced leadership and management from a person who has successfully been registered with Ofsted to manage the home.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, ten requirements were raised, two of which have been addressed. The fire safety requirements are now met and a new fire safety door has been installed in the basement. The maintenance shortfalls identified at the last inspection have been rectified and the communal areas in the home provide young people with a warm and homely environment. Inspection report children’s home: SC373693 2 However, young people’s bedrooms require attention. They are not kept clean, and there is used crockery and laundry left on the bedroom floor. Although staff have encouraged the young person to use a whiteboard to express his feelings, one young person’s bedroom has offensive writing and drawings on the walls and furniture. In this way, the staff do not effectively help young people to look after their belongings and develop responsibility for their own personal space. This does not help young people to feel

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

valued. Furthermore, it does not prepare them well for independence. For example, without clear guidance and support, young people are not learning about acceptable boundaries, which will be required, for example, if they are to maintain rented accommodation.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Insufficient action has been taken to meet eight of the requirements raised at the last inspection. As a result, these requirements are repeated and three are the subject of compliance notices, which have been issued to the provider.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff do not effectively challenge placing authorities in respect of care planning. For example, concerns about young people’s missing behaviour have not been escalated to multi-agency planning meetings or authorities challenged about the absence of key documentation on young people’s case files. As a result, young people do not always receive coordinated care and support that promotes their safety and welfare.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not effectively safeguard young people. When young people have been absent from the home, staff do not take effective action to confirm their whereabouts. For example, one young person was absent from the home for six nights, and staff took insufficient action to confirm where he was staying or that he was safe.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risks assessments are not consistently reviewed by staff following significant incidents. Staff do not follow individual risk management plans and do not undertake individual work with young people to address identified risks, for example about the impact of substance misuse. This means that young people’s particular vulnerabilities are not addressed, and there is an absence of effective strategies and interventions to guide staff and encourage young people to take responsibility for their own safety.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers carry out initial impact risk assessments prior to any new young person coming to live at the home, However, they fail to consider the impact that new young people may have on those already resident or the skills and experience of staff to meet young people’s needs. This has led to a lack of robust risk management and young people not being effectively safeguarded.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers do not sufficiently review or evaluate records and events to understand how staff can better support young people’s progress and experiences. They have consistently failed to evaluate the quality of care provided in the home. For example, monthly care management reviews have only been completed for two months since the last inspection. The biannual quality of care review does not show that managers and staff have consulted with key stakeholders such as parents and placing authorities. This limits the manager’s understanding of the impact of staff’s practice on young people’s lives and progress. Furthermore, the quality of care review report has not been Inspection report children’s home: SC373693 3 submitted to or received by Ofsted.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Measures of control are not effectively reviewed or monitored by managers. This has led to staff repeating sanctions that were ineffective and failing to follow up individual work with young people to address areas of potential risk. As a result, young people do not understand the impact of their actions on themselves or others. Furthermore, they do not receive effective support to make different choices about their behaviour.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Medication administration arrangements are not sufficiently robust. At the last inspection, staff were unable to access medication records, as the key had been taken off site. Although a new handover system has been introduced to address this shortfall, it is ineffective as staff do not follow the agreed protocol. For example, in February, staff recorded on only 10 occasions (out of 28) when they had handed over the key before leaving the home, in line with the new procedure.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers fail to ensure that young people are effectively protected by safe recruitment practices. Employment references are not verified, and there is no clear evidence that criminal record checks are completed prior to staff starting their employment.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although there have been no new complaints received since the last inspection, the arrangements for reviewing and recording complaints remain unchanged. Consequently, it is unclear how managers have addressed the shortfall raised at the last inspection.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of changes of young people living at the home. Four young people have joined the home and four young people have left. Two of the young people only stayed for a short period while more appropriate placements were identified. Two established young people moved on, one in a planned move to semi-independence and one in an unplanned move out of the area due to increased criminal activity. Staff effectively supported young people during their transitions. Young people who have recently arrived at the home said that staff made them feel welcome and provided them with information about the home. This gives them an understanding of what is expected of them and what the home has to offer.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s progress is variable. One young person who joined the home since the last inspection is making good progress from his starting point. His school attendance has improved, and the number of missing incidents has reduced. Staff are developing positive relationships with him and are supporting him with his aspirations to join the public services through cadet schemes.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The progress of other young people is very limited. Neither of the other two young people are in full-time education. One young person has not engaged with any education since his placement in February, and another young person’s participation is less than eight hours a month, since December 2017. Routines and activities in the home are not conducive to supporting educational engagement. There are no clear education plans for staff to follow or guidance about how days could be structured to facilitate learning.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Patterns of missing incidents have persisted, and criminal activity has continued for some young people. Staff have been ineffective in responding to these concerns. For Inspection report children’s home: SC373693 4 example, when young people go missing from home, there is no evidence that staff look for the young people, to help bring about their safe return. Although independent return interviews are completed, staff have not followed or updated individual risk management plans or identified strategies to disrupt patterns of missing from home. Agencies working with young people have expressed concern that young people may be linked with gang- related activity. Staff do not recognise these risks or take effective action to address concerns with young people. As a consequence, young people are not effectively safeguarded.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are currently supported by a small core group of staff, supplemented by agency staff who are familiar to them. Young people said that they have a good relationship with staff. Staffing has recently been strengthened by the recruitment of two experienced staff members.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/11/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 08/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

p.4

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

The registered person must, and must ensure that staff— if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 01/05/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 01/05/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC373693 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child overcome any such barriers; help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(iii)(viii) 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— help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(ii)(v)(vi*)) 22/04/2018

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 fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(f)(h*)) 22/04/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in and through the children’s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)) In particular, ensure that the manager completes thorough impact risk assessments, which take account of the needs of young people already living in the home. 01/05/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must arrange for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)) 01/05/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(3)(d))* 22/04/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any 01/05/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC373693 6 complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; The registered person must 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. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parent, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(b)(4)(a)(5)) 01/05/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.6

Recommendations

 Ensure staff help each child prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17 ,paragraph 3.27) Specifically, ensure that young people are supported to keep their bedrooms clean and look after their belongings.

p.6

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.

p.6

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. Inspection report children’s home: SC373693 7 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’.

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pine Forest Homes Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ballance & Lowbridge , Accountants, 65 Market Street, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire WS12 1AD

p.7

Inspectors

Anne Daly, social care inspector Jackie Line, regulatory social care inspection manager Inspection report children’s home: SC373693 8 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.

p.7

Inspectors

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 http://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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8