Children's home run by Children Assisted in a Real Environment Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1257022 1 Registered provider: Children Assisted in a Real Environment (care) Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of three homes provided by the same company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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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 has not yet had a full inspection. At this interim inspection the home was ‘not judged’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has provided only limited short breaks to children since its registration on 26 July 2017. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to make a judgement about their experiences and progress. This inspection focuses on whether the children’s home meets its statutory requirements in order to maintain its registration.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has appointed four members of staff. However, while children are not using the service, the provider deploys these staff to another of the provider’s homes. Recruitment is ongoing to find further staff plus a deputy. Staff have completed an induction and basic online training as well as the home’s restraint training. A schedule shows staff training planned for the next year.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A robust recruitment process helps ensure that staff are suitable to work with vulnerable children. For example, the registered manager obtains two references and conducts Inspection report children’s home: 1257022 2 checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). However, ascertaining why an applicant left their previous employment (if this involved working with children or vulnerable adults) is not currently undertaken. This would be an additional safeguard.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management arrangements remain suitable. The registered manager monitors the service. An independent person visits the home each month and writes reports of her visits.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well maintained. It is clean, tidy and comfortably furnished. The registered manager has ensured the safety of the building, for example by checks of the fire safety systems. When children have been present, they have participated in fire drills to promote their safety.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made some changes to improve the safety of the premises in response to an action plan made at the time of registration. These include: adding safety film to glass at children’s level; closing off cupboards that contain exposed insulation and water pipes; securing some bedroom furniture to walls; and improving ventilation in the conservatory. As a result, the building is a safer environment for children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has provided additional furnishings to improve the quality of care. These include a range of books on new bookshelves in the conservatory, further equipment in the sensory room and some pictorial signs to assist children’s communication in the kitchen.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some policies show improvement. The registered manager has now written two pictorial versions of the children’s guide. These give appropriate information about what children may experience either on long-term placements or on short breaks. Some other policies require improvement in order to better reflect a service for children who have learning disabilities and to comply with the quality standards.

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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

Inspection report children’s home: 1257022 3 Information required in respect of persons seeking to carry on, manage or work at a children’s home: if a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, verification so far as reasonably practicable of the reason why the employment or position ended. (Regulation 32, Schedule 2 (4)) 30/05/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure the behaviour management policy describes the home’s approach to promoting positive behaviour and the measures of control, discipline, and restraint which may be used in the home. These measures should be set in the context of building positive relationships with children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.33) Specifically, make sure the policy includes: the general principles of behaviour management; sanctions and restorative justice; and how staff are trained in behaviour management.

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Recommendations

 Make sure the home’s procedures take into account the views of appropriate local services and have regard to police and local authority protocols for responding to missing person’s incidents in the area where the home is located. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.29) Specifically, ensure that the policy and procedure take into account current protocols and regulation, for example about independent return home interviews, and reflect good practice for children who have learning disabilities.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that procedures for dealing with allegations of bullying are in place and staff have the skills required to intervene, protect and address bullying behaviours effectively. (See regulation 34 (3) on the policy for the prevention of bullying.) (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.16) Specifically, ensure that the anti- bullying policy does not include an inappropriate description of those likely to be bullied and includes information on cyber bullying.

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Information about this inspection

No children or support staff were present at the time of the inspection. The registered manager and independent person assisted. A tour of the premises took place. The inspector examined a sample of policies and procedures and staff recruitment files.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out Inspection report children’s home: 1257022 4 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: Children Assisted in a Real Environment (care) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 144 Old Oak Road, London W3 7HF

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Inspector

Jacqueline Graves, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1257022 5 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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