Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 1 SC040638

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Surrey County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

Seven requirements were made at the full inspection on 24 January 2018. The completion date for all requirements was 28 February 2018. At this visit, the inspection monitored the progress against all requirements.

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it seeks to achieve for children and use this understanding to deliver care

that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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This relates to ensuring that all young people have adequate money

towards personal care. Young people are now able to save money from their toiletries allowance to buy more expensive items. Additionally, extra money is available should they need specialist personal care products. This requirement is met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 2

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unambiguous, including detail of any agreed physical intervention

techniques for that young person. Young people’s plans are in the process of being updated. They now contain details of how to support young people when they are anxious or upset. Plans are split into sections, which identify the type of issue of behaviour that may be displayed and what the response should be. This enables staff to respond consistently to young people. The plans will be updated quarterly. All staff have benefited from attending behaviour management training as a team. This has enabled staff to consider each young person that they care for and how best to respond to their needs. Staff have agreed a code of conduct, which is displayed in the office. This details what holds are acceptable, and an agreed phrase to intervene to support each other. Staff now record all holds, despite the direction from the training provider to only record ‘high level’ holds. This is to ensure transparency and clear recording of all practice.

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unambiguous, including detail of any agreed physical intervention

This requirement is partially met because not all plans have yet been updated.

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The protection of children standard is that children are protected from

harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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response to a young person making a disclosure of any form of abuse or

harm. There are currently three ongoing child protection investigations. Two have been instigated since the last inspection. Records show that the two recent issues have been managed swiftly and effectively, and have included the appropriate involvement of partner agencies. Records of disclosures of historical abuse of one particular young person are detailed and demonstrate joint working with the young person’s social worker, and how the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 3 staff are supporting the young person during what is clearly a distressing time for him. Ofsted has been informed through safeguarding notifications of all disclosures and the action taken. This requirements is met.

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The protection of children standard is that children are protected from

harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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This is to include the whistleblowing procedure and how to act accordingly

to any concerns in the home by any member of staff. The acting manager and acting assistant manager are keen to make sure staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Team meetings have been utilised to refresh staff knowledge of their safeguarding obligations. It is clear that knowing the child protection procedure is of itself not enough, but that staff need to implement it. Managers confirm that staff have become more professionally curious and are reviewing the actions and decisions of each other in an exploratory and learning manner. This includes the actions and decisions of the acting managers in the home. This has been welcomed and actively encouraged. This requirement is met.

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enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that

helps children to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare.

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Particularly, the responsible individual making use of external monitoring

systems and knowledge of practice in the home. There has been one report by the independent visitor since the last inspection. There is no reason to suspect matters have not been acted on. However, this requirement needs more time to determine the outcome. This requirement cannot be judged as met or unmet at this time.

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preventing injury to any person (including the child) or serious damage to

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child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20(1)(a)(b)(2))

There has been one issue in relation to suspected inappropriate use of physical intervention since the last inspection. The member of staff involved was removed immediately from working in the home and currently remains suspended. There has been no other use of physical intervention since November 2017. Staff are focusing on de-escalation and young people’s plans are being updated to direct staff in managing young people’s behaviour. This requirement is met.

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outcome of the child protection enquiry). (Regulation 40(4)(c)(d)(i)(ii))

All relevant issues and incidents have been reported to Ofsted. This requirement is met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/01/2018 Full Inadequate 15/03/2017 Full Good 13/06/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/03/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 5

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 11(1)(2)(a)(i)) In particular, plans to support young people must be clear and unambiguous, including detail of any agreed physical intervention techniques for that young person. 30/04/2018

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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 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(vii)) This is to include whistleblowing procedure and how to act accordingly to any concerns in the home by any member of staff. 30/04/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(f)(h)) Particularly, the responsible individual making use of external monitoring systems and knowledge of practice in the home. 30/04/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 6

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking GU22 7QQ

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 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 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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