Children's home run by Good Foundations Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065789 1 SC065789

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Good Foundations Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a children’s home for up to three young people. The home specialises in caring for young people who are unable to live at home and who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home is owned and operated by a private company.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 27 and 28 February 2018. The inspection found that the arrangements for safeguarding young people were inadequate. The registered manager and staff were not fully aware of their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting young people, and effective action was not always taken when there was serious concern about a young person’s welfare. Furthermore, the registered manager had failed to demonstrate that he was leading and managing the home in a manner that is consistent with the aims outlined in the statement of purpose and which ensures that the care being delivered meets the needs and promotes the welfare of those accommodated at the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 17 April 2018, an unannounced monitoring visit took place. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the progress made by the home regarding compliance notices issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. This related to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, the inspector found that the provider had taken steps to improve staff responses to all safeguarding concerns and that the management arrangements had significantly improved. A team meeting took place at which the staff’s roles and responsibilities with regards to safeguarding practices were reinforced. The interim manager used this meeting as an opportunity to highlight areas that required improving in relation to safeguarding and risk assessments. Furthermore, all staff members were provided with a copy of the provider’s safeguarding policies and Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065789 2 procedures. The interim manager has tested staff’s knowledge of safeguarding by producing a list of questions for staff to consider and then discuss in supervision.

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This monitoring visit

Young people’s risk assessment documents have been reviewed and improved to ensure that young people’s needs are clearly identified and strategies put in place to manage these in line with the local authority care plan. This further supports the health and safety of young people, as staff are better equipped to recognise and respond to concerns. As a result of these changes, young people’s welfare is promoted more effectively.

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This monitoring visit

There is currently no registered manager for this home. The home is being managed by a very experienced and qualified interim manager, who is in the process of applying to Ofsted to become registered as the home’s manager. She is assisted by an experienced deputy manager. The interim manager has introduced a management checklist, which enables her to routinely monitor, evaluate and analyse the work carried out by the staff. Daily, weekly and monthly monitoring takes place and has enabled her to identify weaknesses and to take remedial action. As a result, the quality of the records and practice has improved since the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

No further enforcement action is planned. However, a further inspection will take place to review how these improvements are being embedded to improve the quality of care provided.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

28/02/2018 Full Inadequate 21/11/2017 Full Inadequate 06/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/10/2016 Full Outstanding 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065789 3

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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 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; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. Also, ensure that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each

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Requirement Due date

child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii) and (b)) In particular, ensure that all identified risks and the strategies to reduce those risks are recorded effectively in each child’s relevant plans. Ensure that this is done in a manner that enables staff to follow them in the delivery of care. Ensure that staff are familiar with and follow the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures. Ensure tt staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. 15/6/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065789 4 Ensure that care is delivered in a manner which takes into account the risks identified in relevant plans, and that measures identified to reduce those risks are implemented and delivered by staff so that those receiving care are safe and protected. The leadership and management standard is that the

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Requirement Due date

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— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(f) and (h)) 15/6/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that each child’s relevant plans are followed; that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if— the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs; the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(e)(i) and (ii)) In particular, ensure that all care planning documents and agreed local authority plans are adhered to by managers and staff. 15/6/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065789 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person and the home’s staff should be familiar with the care planning process for looked-after children and must assist children to prepare for meetings in relation to this. Staff should play an important role in these meetings, including supporting the child and enabling a clear understanding to be reached about the child’s views, wishes, feelings, and expectations for their future. An independent advocate can also be called upon by the child or staff to support the child in their reviews. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.14)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065789 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Good Foundations Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Tower Quays, Tower Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 1BP

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Inspectors

Elaine Allison, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065789 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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