Atkinson Unit

Inspection report children‟s home: SC046276 1 SC046276 Registered provider: Devon County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children‟s home is managed by a local authority. The Department for Education approves it to restrict young people‟s liberty. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities. The children‟s home can accommodate up to 12 young people who are aged between 10 and 17 years and accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989. Admission of any young person under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State. The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2017

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection in November 2017, one requirement and six recommendations were raised. Although some improvements have been made, the one requirement and four of the six recommendations raised at the previous inspection have not been met. One recommendation that relates to records has been escalated to a requirement and the remaining three recommendations have been reinstated. A previous recommendation relating to the provision and delivery of education services will be assessed at the next full inspection of the home. Inspection report children‟s home: SC046276 2 Leaders and managers have undertaken a review of the of the medication systems. They consulted with healthcare professionals and introduced weekly audits. Despite this work, recording errors remain and further improvement is required to ensure that leaders and managers take sufficient action to prevent these errors from continuing.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical restraint is used in line with regulations. Records reviewed by inspectors showed that, although numbers remain low, in recent months, incidents resulting in physical intervention have increased. Those interventions that have been recorded were reviewed by inspectors and demonstrated that the criteria for using physical intervention had been met. Leaders and managers regularly review and monitor incidents that involve the use of physical intervention. This includes reviewing closed-circuit television.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Bullying incidents do occur. Young people spoken to said that staff respond quickly to any incidents that make them feel unsafe. Records show that any incidents are managed well and include information about how those involved were supported, challenged and educated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality and content of records kept about young people continue to require improvement. Records relating to single separation now include details about staff observations, but some information in these records is illegible. In addition, the views of children are not always sought and recorded. Records relating to searches now include details about the outcome of the search. However, staff do not always record the reasons for the search or the child‟s views following a search. The registered manager recognises that some records vary in quality, and that recording systems need to be streamlined. In response, he has introduced report writing workshops for all staff, and there are plans to introduce a new recording system for staff to use. The recruitment of new staff now includes an assessment of candidates‟ writing and reporting skills.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Progress to improve the communal and recreational rooms is slow. Young people have been consulted about ways to improve these rooms, and funding has been requested. However, further work is needed to make these spaces more comfortable and homely.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose has been reviewed and updated. This document provides good information about the aims and objectives of the home and the services and support available to young people. However, the registered manager has not forwarded a copy of this document to Ofsted as required.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, six young people have been admitted to the home and eight have been discharged. The arrangements to help these young people to move in and out of the home were well planned and, in the main, successful. At this inspection, it was noted that the number of young people living at the home has decreased. The registered manager has intentionally kept the numbers low in response to managing the current risks and behaviours of the young people and because seven new staff have recently started to work at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people‟s safety and security continue to be given a high priority. Staff spoken to Inspection report children‟s home: SC046276 3 know the young people well. Young people spoken with were positive about their opportunities and experiences. One young person could identify the progress he has made in his behaviour and said that this is because he has had the confidence to speak to staff when he is anxious, angry or upset.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of the appropriate security measures in place, there have not been any episodes of young people absconding from the home. Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have commissioned an agency to undertake return home interviews should a young person abscond.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, there have been three complaints made by young people. Records about these complaints are well maintained; they provide a clear audit trail of the actions taken and the outcome. The investigating officer has followed the home‟s policy by responding promptly to the concerns raised by the young people and has worked closely with a range of safeguarding professionals.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/09/2016 Full Good 12/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/10/2015 Full Good

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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 ensure a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that each child‟s record is kept up to date 30/04/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC046276 4 and is in line with the organisation‟s policy. (Regulation 23(2)(c))

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36: Children’s case records

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— (a) include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; (c) are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(c)) 30/04/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the young people are provided with a nurturing environment that is welcoming. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph 3.7) This specifically relates to the decoration of the communal areas in the home.  Searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child‟s or another person‟s safety or well-being. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 17, paragraph 3.20) This is with specific reference to ensuring that search records include the reason for the search and whether anything was found as a result of the search.  A record should be made and kept of all uses of single separation in secure children‟s homes. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 50, paragraph 9.65) This is with particular reference to ensuring that single separation records include

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Recommendations

a comprehensive record of staff observations during the period during which the young person is separated.

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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 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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC046276 5 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‟.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 4QD

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Inspectors

Sharron Escott, social care inspector Cathey Moriarty, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC046276 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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