Children's home run by Pine Forest Homes Limited in Cannock Chase

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 1 SC373693

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Pine Forest Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates the home.

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This monitoring visit

This home was last inspected in March 2018 and was judged to have declined in effectiveness. Nine requirements were made at this time, of which three were subject to compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection took place to check progress and to ensure that the three compliance notices are met. The remaining six requirements are not due until May 2018. As a result, these will be checked at a future inspection. A further aspect to this visit is to review some recent concerns about frequency of police attendance at the home and impact on the local community.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments have been reviewed and updated. Furthermore, placing services have been consulted on these risk assessments. This means that young people’s risks have been assessed by key individuals and there is now common agreement on how best to work with young people. This has led to a reduction in incidents for young people. When young people do go missing from home, clear arrangements are now in place and managers ensure that staff implement agreed strategies. Incidents of young people going missing from home have reduced since the last inspection. When concerns do arise, managers ensure that appropriate actions are taken.

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This monitoring visit

There have also been improvements to the leadership and management of the home. The responsible individual is currently in day-to-day charge of the home and is supported by an assistant manager. This has led to some stability and consistency Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 2 in the home. There are now better checks in place to monitor the quality of care. For example, regular checks on fire safety, the environment, behaviour records, medication and care plans highlight any shortfalls and set timescales for improvement. This has coincided with the organisation introducing a new filing and recording system. This change followed the provider’s review of their current systems. Feedback from young people has also been sought and is being used to monitor the service at the home.

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This monitoring visit

No new staff have been recruited since the last inspection. However, the provider has reviewed all staff recruitment files and rectified the identified shortfalls from the last inspection. These specifically related to ensuring that staff have up-to-date criminal records checks, and that references are verified prior to employment starting.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has reviewed the use of sanctions. Negative behaviour is now addressed through fair, reasonable and proportionate sanctions. For example, when young people play music too loud, their speakers are removed. This means that consequences to negative behaviours are immediate, and are relevant to the behaviour. Although the home’s recording system includes space for the views of young people following sanctions, these are not always recorded as required by regulation. When young people persistently display negative behaviours, the provider ensures that there are clear discussions with the young people about the potential effects of this continuing behaviour. Placing services are also made aware.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the frequency of young people going missing has reduced and the home is becoming more settled. However, there have been some instances of antisocial behaviour which have impacted on the local community. The provider has worked with the local police to reduce the impact of these behaviours. Furthermore, the provider has met with affected individuals and rectified damage when this has been caused. The provider continues to work with the local police and has further plans to involve other professionals, including the local authority, to ensure that the home does not continue to adversely impact on the local community.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this inspection visit, the three compliance notices are judged to be met. The remaining requirements from the March 2018 inspection have not been checked. A further requirement has been made to ensure that the views of young people are sought and recorded where sanctions are given.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 3 08/11/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/07/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 4

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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, and must ensure that staff— if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child overcome any such barriers; help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(iii)(viii) 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in and through the children’s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)) In particular, ensure that the manager completes thorough impact risk assessments, which take account of the needs of young people already living in the home. 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must arrange for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23(1)) 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c)) 25/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint , the action taken in response and the outcome 01/05/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 5 of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 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. 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. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parent, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(b)(4)(a)(5)) 01/05/2018

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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: Pine Forest Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ballance & Lowbridge , Accountants, 65 Market Street, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire WS12 1AD

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Inspector

Pete Hylton, social care compliance inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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