Children's Home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report children‟s home: SC020595 1 SC020595 Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is part of a small privately owned organisation. The home is able to accommodate up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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

Two young people have moved on from the home and two young people have moved in, since the last inspection. The young people who have left the home made good progress and experienced a positive transition on to their next steps. Staff work hard to get to know new young people quickly, which helps young people to settle in.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people‟s placement plans contain a good level of detail about their needs. Young people contribute to these plans and, consequently, they directly influence their care. For example, young people explain to staff what strategies are most likely to help them to calm down when they are upset. Staff incorporate this information into behaviour management plans and use these to inform their approach.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers review young people‟s risk assessments regularly. This shows that managers examine and reassess risks such as child sexual exploitation and young people who go missing from home. However, it is not always clear whether staff read these documents. This does not help young people to receive consistent care and it does not fully promote Inspection report children‟s home: SC020595 2 their safety and well-being.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When the previous manager left, an interim manager took over the day-to-day running of the home. A permanent manager has been appointed and is due to start work at the home in the coming weeks. The temporary manager has supported the staff and the young people well. A member of staff described the temporary manager as having a „positive impact‟ on the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Changes in the home‟s management arrangements contributed to the late completion of the bi-annual quality of care review. This was subsequently carried out by the interim manager. The quality of care review report identifies some of the strengths of the service and areas for development. However, the report does not show that young people‟s views regarding the home‟s development have been taken into consideration. Furthermore, managers have not sent the report to Ofsted in line with regulation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have made some significant improvements in their behaviour. As a result, staff no longer need to use physical intervention as often as they once did to keep young people and others safe from harm. Two requirements raised at the last inspection related to shortfalls in restraint records. This inspection found that one requirement has been met; the second will be repeated. Records now contain more detailed information and are completed swiftly after an incident has occurred. However, some incidents lack managerial oversight, and young people‟s comments about what happened are not always included in the incident reports.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of young people going missing from the home have reduced in number since the last inspection. When such incidents do occur, the staff follow the home‟s procedures and respond well to these incidents.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work well with a range of professionals and keep social workers informed about the young people‟s progress. Social workers particularly like the information system used by the organisation because they can access this remotely and read their young person‟s case records. Sharing information easily with professionals enables young people to receive coordinated care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have now undertaken training around radicalisation and so a requirement raised at the last inspection has now been met. Managers and staff have also made improvements to the home environment.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although team meeting records have improved, it is not always clear whether the staff who do not attend these meetings read the meeting minutes. As a result, it is not clear whether staff have familiarised themselves with the issues discussed and actions agreed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home‟s location risk assessment requires updating to ensure that risks within the local area are identified and steps are taken to reduce any possible impact on young people. Inspection report children‟s home: SC020595 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/06/2017 Full Good 19/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 01/03/2016 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 registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so, has spoken to the user about the measure and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(i)(ii)) 30/06/2017

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard 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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. 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.

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 45(2)(b)(4)(a)) 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes 30/06/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC020595 4 of the children‟s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). (Regulation 46 (1))

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff consistently follow the home‟s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home‟s care. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 53 paragraph 10.20) Specifically, ensure that staff read team meeting minutes to keep up to date with practice issues.

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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 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: SC020595 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Families@Familycare Ltd, Old Mill House, 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6QE

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Inspector

Andrew Hewston, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC020595 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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