Children's home run by Headway House Limited

Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 1 Registered provider: Headway House Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children. The home is privately owned. There has been no registered manager in post since 6 February 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children‘s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 13 November 2017

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/04/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children‘s home‘s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children‘s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand and apply the home‘s statement of purpose; ensure that staff— protect and promote each child‘s welfare; provide personalised care that meets each child‘s needs, as recorded in the child‘s relevant plans, taking account of the child‘s background; and help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(ii)(iv)(vi)) In particular, use key-work sessions more effectively. 08/06/2018

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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— help each child to achieve the child‘s education and training targets, as recorded in the child‘s relevant plans; support each child‘s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where 08/06/2018 Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 4 appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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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; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‘s child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vii)) 08/06/2018

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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 aspire 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(b)(2)(h)) 08/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (―case records‖) for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 08/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or 08/06/2018 Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 5 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(c)(d)(e)) The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‘s home at least once each month. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home‘s records (except for a child‘s case records, unless the child and the child‘s placing authority consent) as the independent person

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Requirement Due date

requires. A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. The independent person must produce a report about a visit (―the independent person‘s report‖) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‘s opinion as to whether— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children‘s well-being. The independent person‘s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5) 08/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person‘s report to— HMCI; upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; the placing authorities of children. (Regulation 44(7)(a)(b)(c)) 08/06/2018

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Recommendations

 As set out in regulations 31–33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 6 supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 61, paragraph 13.1) In particular, ensure regular agency staff receive formal supervision.  Staff need to demonstrate they fully understand the risks associated with any restraint technique. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 49, paragraph 9.56) In particular, when high risk holds have taken place, the records must detail that vital signs have been regularly checked and that the child is safe.  For children‘s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic

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Recommendations

environments. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  A child‘s bedroom should not generally be entered without their permission, though it may be necessary to establish routines to allow for rooms to be cleaned regularly. Usually, rooms should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child‘s or another person‘s safety or well-being. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 17, paragraph 3.20) In particular, ensure that the home has clear guidelines to be followed in the event of searching a child‘s room or belongings.

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improvement to be good

Individualised care is provided to the children by this staff team. Staff ensure that they listen to the children and invest quality time with them. Children describe staff as helpful and caring. However, a reactive culture to situations has been identified. This has not enabled children to progress as much as they possibly can. The same group of children remain living in the home. Progress has been seen with a reduction in children‘s challenging behaviours, damage to the property, and violent behaviours. Children are now much more able to accept and understand boundaries in place and manage difficult feelings. The staff office, which was a previous trigger for incidents, has been moved and, as a result, staff spend more time with children. Children state that they are happy and enjoy living at the home. Children who previously found group living difficult have overcome this and generally enjoy each other‘s

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improvement to be good

company. A social worker stated, ‗My child previously had a number of placement breakdowns and he now has stability. He feels well cared for.‘ Settling time and individual time with children on activities has enabled trusting relationships to be built with staff. This has enabled children to explore their own attachments and become more emotionally resilient. However, key-work sessions are Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 7 inconsistent and do not always offer advice and support. Following significant incidents of self-harming behaviours, feelings are not considered until some time later and, in some cases, not at all. The new manager is aware that this is an area that requires improvement. Children are all registered with an education provision or have a tutor that attends the home. Not all children have full-time education provided. Education attendance had improved significantly for two children, while engagement remains sporadic for the

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improvement to be good

other. Opportunities for children to reach their full potential in education are not being fully explored by staff. Staff are unaware of the level that children are working at academically and no additional support is provided outside of education. There is not enough creativity and ambition to ensure that children do their best and enhance their future choices. Children feel that they are listened to and have not raised any complaints or concerns. They raise any worries with staff and are able to talk through issues when they feel unfairly treated. This enables them to begin to compromise and understand why some decisions need to be made and are in their best interests. Care planning documentation in relation to self-harming behaviours gives insufficient direction to staff. Guidelines do not take into account strategies from professionals, with no emphasis on the steps that staff should take when there are early concerns for a

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improvement to be good

child‘s well-being. Although there are some strategies, these focus on when the child has reached crisis point. In addition, local authority paperwork is not available on children‘s files, and the home‘s care planning does not reflect the most recent multi-agency view on children‘s individual needs. A wide range of activities are available to children in the local community. All opportunities are adapted to meet children‘s interests and to motivate them to try new experiences and enhance their social interaction. Children are beginning to be prepared for their futures. They have a diverse staff team that has created an open atmosphere which is enabling each child to develop a positive self-image and a sense of their own identity. Staff place the children‘s well-being at the centre of their practice.

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improvement to be good

There has been a priority by staff to keep children safe. Staff act promptly on any concerns and report them to the managers. Children are beginning to be able to talk to staff if they don‘t feel safe. However, there have been occasions when managers have made the decision to investigate concerns without gaining advice from an external professional. This is not in line with the home‘s child protection policy. Managers responsible for reporting and managing allegations and safeguarding concerns have not undertaken specific training in this area. Most risks are understood by staff; however, the advice and guidance provided to children in key-work sessions is not enabling them to fully understand how to keep themselves safe. Children are involved in online gaming. Staff have limited knowledge of Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 8 the games that children are playing on and the potential of grooming in this area.

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improvement to be good

There have been low numbers of incidents of children going missing. Staff have responded appropriately when this has occurred. When there are suspicions that children may have used illegal substances, staff have made decisions to request children to empty pockets and show staff their bags every time they return following free time. There are no clear guidelines on this. This practice is invasive and detracts from children‘s feelings of trust. Children appear to feel safe and relaxed in the home. There has been a reduction in the number of physical interventions used and managers now review records and have a better awareness of patterns and trends. However, when floor restraints have been used, comprehensive records have not been kept, including when checks on children‘s vital signs have occurred, although staff state that this takes place. Staff are using more restorative practices to enable children to learn from their

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improvement to be good

behaviours. They are beginning to take ownership and responsibility. The relationships between the children have improved and they are now being more respectful of each other. There has been ongoing work around the home to ensure that the physical environment is safe and homely. The management team recognises the need to continue to make the environment as homely as possible and less institutionalised. This continues to be in place, but has yet to be fully completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers are child centred; however, due to a change of roles in the management team, managers are only just beginning to recognise some of the shortfalls. The home is described as ‗disorganised‘ by managers. Monitoring has been ineffective in identifying all weaknesses; the lack of consistent and active monitoring has resulted in requirements being repeated. Although the new manager has ideas in place on how to rectify identified concerns, the development plan has not been updated. This inhibits prioritisation of needed tasks. Managers are, however, aware of the progress that children are making and have high aspirations for them. The home is staffed and resourced to meet the children‘s needs. Staff report that they are well supported in their roles and have received a range of training specific to the individual vulnerabilities of children placed. There has been some use of some agency staff on a regular basis; these staff do not currently receive any formal supervision to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

enable them to reflect on their practice. The independent visitor has changed since the last inspection. Ofsted has not received reports and the current visits do not fully evaluate or identify when there have been safeguarding concerns, and it is unclear if they are providing sufficient challenge to the management team. Significant events have not been notified when required to Ofsted and this does not enable the regulator to be kept up to date with what is happening in the home. The Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 9 managers do challenge the necessary professionals when they have felt that they are not fulfilling their responsibilities. Managers do ensure that children are provided with a good quality of care by being strong advocates for them.

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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

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: 1214688 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Headway House Limited

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Inspector

Emeline Evans, social care inspector Inspection report children‘s home: 1214688 11 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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