Children's Home run by Derby City Council in Derby

Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 1 SC036019 Registered provider: Derby City Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who are vulnerable and whose behaviour can be challenging. There is no registered manager at this home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/04/2017 Full Good 08/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/04/2016 Full Good 30/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 3

p.2

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.

p.3

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 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)(a)(viii)) 08/07/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25(1)(d)) 08/07/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27(1)(a)) 08/07/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

*The positive relationship 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 understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(xii)(xiii)) 08/07/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills. 08/07/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to develop the child’s interests and hobbies; participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))(b)) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out— how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s

p.3

Requirement Due date

home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35(1)(a)(b)) 08/07/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children. The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(1)(3)) 08/07/2018

p.4

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 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(vi)) 08/07/2018

p.4

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 aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(b)(2)(d)) Managers have failed to ensure that there is sufficient staff working to support the needs of each child on one occasion recently. This relates to when children are identified as needing 1:1 staff support in the home. This undermines the ability of staff to respond quickly and effectively to children’s complex needs. It also places children are risk of significant harm. 08/07/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 5 The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.4

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare. Help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. Regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)) 08/07/2018

p.5

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 arrangements are in place to ensure the effective induction of each child in the home; and that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(i)(c)) 08/07/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.5

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are not protected from potential or actual harm. Staff have not ensured Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 6 children’s safety at all times. Children regularly place themselves and others at risk of significant harm. Strategies to support and protect them by staff are currently inadequate. Only one child is making progress in relation to their education. Other children have sporadic attendance and engagement with education. There is a lack of educationally focused work being done with them during the school day. It is not clear what the attendance figures are for children living in this home. The recommendation set at the last inspection in respect of education has not been met. It is not clear what social activities children are offered or take part in. Records do not reflect clear planning for children’s social needs each week. The recommendation set at the last inspection has not been met.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are not regularly consulted with regarding their views, wishes and feelings. The manager has failed to ensure that children receive feedback about any issues or requests they make. Placement plans do not reflect consultation or engagement with children. Children do not read, comment on or sign their plans. There have been a number of emergency admissions to the home since the last inspection. A number of children were admitted and discharged in under 24 hours over a short period. Arrangements for such admissions do not ensure the effective induction of children into the home.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Bullying is a significant issue. There are no clear procedures or processes for staff to follow. One child has reported being physically and verbally bullied by other children on a regular basis. Records reflect no clear action being taken to eradicate such concerning behaviours. There is no consistent or regular use of sanctions or consequences to address concerning or damaging behaviours by children. Children are not robustly protected from harm. A recent serious incident involving several children escalated to a very concerning level. Staff failed to intervene in a timely manner. Children report concerns to staff, but insufficient action is taken to respond to such concerns or resolve them. Records do not reflect management oversight or awareness of concerns. Risk assessments do not provide clear or detailed analysis of issues or actions to be taken to ensure that children are protected from harm.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children regularly go missing or absent themselves from the home. The local authority has not routinely offered return interviews to children. This would assist staff and managers to better understand the reasons for such behaviours and take action to reduce them. On at least one occasion, staff have used inappropriate and restrictive behaviour management strategies to manage concerning behaviours. Electricity supplies to children’s bedrooms have been turned off to prevent them from using devices.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children’s safety is not ensured at all times. This includes ensuring that regular Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 7 emergency fire evacuations take place.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been no registered manager at the home for over 26 weeks. The current interim manager only came into post very recently. Managers have failed to ensure that the welfare of children is promoted at all times. Systems for monitoring the progress of children are not robust or clear. The three shortfalls identified at the last inspection have not been considered or met. This does not reflect a learning culture or ethos by managers. Recent serious incidents involving children have not been adequately responded to. Risk assessments have not been amended or reviewed in a timely manner. There is no structure in place to ensure that regular direct work is undertaken with children. As such, concerning behaviours continue to be evident and place children at risk of significant harm. Managers do not currently demonstrate a clear understanding of the needs of children or how those needs are being met. They have also failed to consult with children or seek

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

their views, wishes and feelings regularly on the care provided to them. Known risks have not been satisfactorily addressed, leading to risk to children. Staff and managers work positively with involved agencies. They seek advice and support in relation to supporting children. One health colleague spoke positively about the close and positive partnership working with staff and children. Staff share relevant information with agencies and hold regular meetings to discuss specific children and issues.

p.7

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.

p.7

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: SC036019 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Treasurers Department, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby DE1 2FS

p.8

Inspector

Tracy Murty, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC036019 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9