Children's Home run by PCT Care Services Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 1 SC471856 Registered provider: PCT Care Services 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

This home is run by a private organisation. It provides accommodation for up to six children, aged between eight and 17, who may have experienced difficulties that relate to their emotional, behavioural and learning needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted on 09 November 2017.

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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: 31 January 2018

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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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 2 31/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 23/08/2016 Full Inadequate Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 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—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children‘s home‘s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children‘s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the external and internal appearance of the home is well maintained and presented. 05/07/2018

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‘s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the grounds of the home are made safe and that hazards are removed. 05/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to 31/05/2018 Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 4 the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, make immediate arrangements to ensure that all of the fire doors are repaired and that all fire records are written accurately. For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (―the Level 3 Diploma‖); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5))a)(b)) 20/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff receive supervision at the frequency set out in the home‘s supervision policy. 26/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‘s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person‘s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1)(7)(a)) 31/07/2018

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Recommendations

Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 5  When children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must challenge them to meet the child‘s needs under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure children‘s needs are met). (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  Regulations 35–39 detail the records that must be kept in children‘s homes. Case

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Recommendations

records must be kept up-to-date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that records of children going missing from the home are signed and dated, and there is a clear record of whether a return interview was requested for the child and if it took place.

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improvement to be good

Staff work hard to create good relationships with the children and their families, and with external professionals. However, the children‘s overall experiences and progress are mixed. One child‘s placement ended in an unplanned way after an escalation of challenging and aggressive behaviour. This was despite the best efforts of the staff, who worked hard to sustain the placement. Another child had a well-planned transition into the home. This child‘s social worker said, ‗I was impressed with the matching process and the child-focused transition into the home, which took place over 10 days. I am over the moon that [the child] is doing so well.‘

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improvement to be good

The staff understand the importance of education for children. One child who moved to the home recently has three hours of education from a teaching assistant every day. This is a temporary arrangement until a long-term education placement is found. Another child has disengaged from their education. The child said, ‗I‘m not going to [the school] as they offered me hair and beauty. I want to do sports.‘ The staff are working hard to find a new school for the child. In the meantime, alternative education and activities are not being provided and the child is allowed to remain in bed. The child‘s social worker raised this as an issue. Failure to provide a consistent routine means that the child will not be suitably prepared to return to a full-time education timetable.

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improvement to be good

The home encourages the children to make friends in the local community. The staff arrange and facilitate contact between the children and their families. This can involve Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 6 the staff travelling some distance to ensure that contact happens.

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improvement to be good

The children‘s views and opinions are gained through key-working sessions, house meetings and a ‗grumbles‘ book. The children are positive about their relationships with the staff, and feel listened to. The children know how to make a complaint and the different people with whom they can speak to share their concerns.

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improvement to be good

The staff encourage positive behaviour through the use of rewards. Sanctions imposed in response to unwanted behaviour are fair and proportionate. The staff use a restorative approach to good effect.

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improvement to be good

The staff encourage the children to develop self-care skills such as preparing food and clearing away after communal meals. A wide range of activities are available to the children, such as football, swimming, trips to the cinema and the beach, bowling, visiting the climbing wall and playing squash. One child plays for a local football team and the staff facilitate his attendance at games. His participation is enabling him to develop his talent and skill, as well as extending his friendship group.

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improvement to be good

The home is well decorated and presented in some areas, but there is a significant need for improvement and repair in other areas. There are items in the grounds of the home that are hazardous to children and staff, including various pieces of broken furniture, and wood with protruding rusty nails. The fences on both sides of the property have been blown down. This makes the property less secure and could be dangerous if children were to cut themselves on any of the broken and rusty hazards.

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improvement to be good

Essential fire safety measures are lacking. The rear fire escape door is in need of repair. This was noted by the manager over two months ago and, although enquiries had been made, the issue has not been fixed. Five internal fire doors were found not to close properly despite the fire safety record stating that there are no issues. This shortfall was highlighted as a concern during the inspection. In response, the manager made immediate plans to address the shortfall, which poses a risk to children and staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff respond proactively when children go missing or leave the home without permission, and actively look for the children. There have been only two incidents of children going missing since the last inspection. However, the records of these incidents are not signed and dated, and it is not clear if a return home interview was requested or took place.

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improvement to be good

Staff are skilled in de-escalating violent and aggressive behaviours. Physical interventions are rarely used. Staff manage one child‘s behaviour well by redirecting him without resorting to restraint. This is positive because the child was restrained regularly in his previous placement. Staff successfully encourage positive behaviour through the use of incentives and rewards. Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 7 The training that the staff receive equips them to understand effective safeguarding practice. The staff are clear about their roles and their responsibilities in regard to safeguarding the children.

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improvement to be good

The staff create strong, positive relationships with the children‘s families and external professionals, and undertake effective multi-agency work to meet the children‘s needs. Feedback from families and professionals is consistently positive. One child‘s parent said that communication with the home is ‗fantastic‘, and acknowledged the efforts that the staff have made to find suitable education for her son. One child‘s social worker said that it is unbelievable that the staff have taught their child to swim in a short period of time. Another child‘s social worker said, ‗The difference is fantastic. [The child] is able to give his views and express himself well. He has made secure relationships with staff that are open and honest.‘

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

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2017. She is child focused and has the relevant qualifications, experience and skills to manage the home. There have been improvements since the manager took up the role in September 2017 and she has a development plan to take the home forward.

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

Five of the home‘s 12 staff are suitably qualified, with four staff enrolled on and working towards a suitable, recognised qualification with a local college. The staff could not all be enrolled at the same time as this would leave the home short of staff on college workshop days. This means that the previous shortfall in respect of staff‘s qualifications has not been met and is therefore raised again.

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

Staff do not receive practice-led supervision in accordance with organisational policy. One member of staff is avoidant of supervision. Although the registered manager has identified an external resource to address this, it means that there are gaps in supervision for this staff member. Another member of staff has not had a formal supervision since transferring to the home from another home in December 2017. This means that staff do not have the opportunity to reflect and consider their practice and development in a planned, formal and structured way.

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

The most recent internal review of care is thorough and has an action plan. External monitoring is also thorough and raises appropriate challenge with the registered manager. The external monitoring reports are discussed regularly at team meetings so that the staff are aware of their content. However, the independent visitor‘s report for January 2018 was not submitted to Ofsted. Failure to submit monitoring reports means that Ofsted is not informed about the quality of care and the home‘s ability to safeguard children effectively.

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

The staff are offered a comprehensive training package. They are positive about their work and the care of the children. The staff members feel that they are part of a team Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 8 and that they are supportive of one another.

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

The children are discussed in detail at the regular team meetings, and are at the centre of activities at the home. The registered manager consults with the children and their families and stakeholders about the care provided by the home. The children benefit from key-working sessions, during which the staff discuss relevant issues and capture the children‘s views. One child said, ‗You can tell the staff anything at any time. Staff will always talk to you if you want to talk to them. They will always take time out of their day to do this. If I wanted to play any sport, they will go out and get the equipment and play the sport with me.‘ This inclusive approach means that the children feel respected and part of the home.

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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. Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PCT Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Hall Farm, Silfield Road, Silfield, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 9NH

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Sally-Anne Slade-Watts

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Inspector

Ricky D‘Arcy: social care inspector Inspection report children‘s home: SC471856 10 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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