Children's home run by Merryvale Children’s Home Limited in Merton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476069 1 SC476069

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Merryvale Children’s Home Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was triggered by: Information passed to Ofsted on 12 February 2018. The information indicated that the registered provider of the home is not running the home in line with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015. In particular, that there are serious concerns regarding staff recruitment and the safeguarding of children.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/05/2017 Full Inadequate 01/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 17/05/2016 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476069 2

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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 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 the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. Regulation 12(1)(b)) 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 01/05/2018

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476069 3 On 21 February 2018, an inspector conducted a pre-arranged monitoring visit to the home. The inspector met with the registered provider who also acts as the responsible individual. This monitoring visit found that the provider has failed to ensure that children are safeguarded. Serious failings in the recruitment of staff have placed children at a direct risk of harm. The registered provider and a member of their family, who is not employed to work in the children’s home, interviewed another member of their family to work as a support worker in the home. The registered manager was not involved in the interview. This person was subsequently employed and began working in the home in December 2017. The registered provider confirmed to the inspector that she was aware that this person had a conviction for a serious offence. The registered provider told the

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Information about this inspection

inspector that, despite knowing this information, she did not question the person as to why the conviction had not been declared on their application form. The inspector viewed the person’s recruitment records. These provided scant detail of any assessment of the person’s suitability to work with vulnerable children. The interview documents contained no evidence of the person being questioned about previous convictions or prior dealings with the police. The registered provider informed the inspector that she was aware that this person had changed their name since they had been convicted. The Disqualification and Baring Service (DBS) check obtained by the home was in this person’s new name and showed as clear. However, there was no evidence of checks being undertaken against the person’s previous name and no evidence of the registered provider scrutinising whether the person had declared their change of name when completing

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Information about this inspection

the DBS application. Had checks been completed against this person’s previous name, the conviction would have been disclosed. This significant shortfall placed children at direct risk of harm and seriously undermined formal procedures that are in place to keep children safe. On 21 February, the registered provider wrote to Ofsted to say that the individual was no longer employed at the home.

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Children’s home details

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476069 4 Unique reference number: SC476069

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Merryvale Children’s Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Beech Farm House, Beech Farm Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9QJ

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Inspector

Juanita Mayers, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC476069 5 to 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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