Children's Home run by Keys Cwc Limited in South Gloucestershire

Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 1 SC374640 Registered provider: Crossways Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children‟s home is registered to care for up to three children. It is part of a large national organisation. Since the last full inspection, this home has been acquired by a new company. A manager is in post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: 17 October 2017

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2017 04/07/2017 16/03/2017 16/06/2016 Full Full Interim Full Requires improvement Inadequate Sustained effectiveness Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard (1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— (a) understand the children‟s home‟s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children‟s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) understand and apply the home‟s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff— (i) understand and apply the home‟s statement of purpose; (ii) protect and promote each child‟s welfare; and (v) help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, care should be consistent and reflect children‟s needs and take into account their previous experiences. 01/09/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) meet each child‟s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child‟s relevant plans; (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child‟s behaviour, in accordance with the child‟s age and understanding; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve 01/09/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 4 conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; (v) communicate to each child expectations about the child‟s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those

p.3

Requirement Due date

expectations in accordance with the child‟s age and understanding; (ix) understand how children‟s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; (x) are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; (xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; (xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and (b) that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

p.4

Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) 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; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‟s child protection policies; (b) that the home‟s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child

p.4

Requirement Due date

effectively from harm; and (e) that the effectiveness of the home‟s child protection policies is monitored regularly. 25/07/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 5 13: The leadership and management standard (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home‟s statement of purpose; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of

p.4

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided in the home; (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 01/09/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard (1) The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (b) that arrangements are in place to ensure— (c) that each child‟s relevant plans are followed; and (e) that the child‟s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child‟s relevant plans is requested, if— (i) the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child‟s needs. In particular, ensure that all important information about children‟s current and historical needs and risks are known and understood by staff, and that the care that children receive reflects their past experiences and supports their emotional well-being and safety. In addition, ensure that care plans are relevant, clear and

p.5

Requirement Due date

directive. 01/09/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 6 23: Medicines (1) The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children‟s home. (2) In particular, the registered person must ensure that— (a) medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; (b) medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and (c) a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. 25/07/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers (1) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‟s safety. (2) The registered person may only— (a) employ an individual to work at the children‟s home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that— (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. (4) 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— (a) the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the

p.6

Requirement Due date

Level 3 Diploma”); or (b) a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (5) The relevant date is— (a) 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 (b) in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (6) The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual— (a) does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or (b) works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- 01/09/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 7 time basis.

p.6

Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event (4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; or (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (5) A notification made under this regulation— (a) must include details of— (i) the matter; (ii) the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and (iii) any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; (b) must be made or confirmed in writing. 01/09/2018

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Too many staff do not know important information, including all of the risks, about the children they are caring for. Consequently, the care that children receive does not always take into account their past experiences and trauma.

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Healthcare and medication are not well managed and lessons are not being learned from past incidents to help improve future experiences for children. For example, a child being given the wrong amount of medication for over 12 months as well as other incidents, including administering medication at the wrong time and staff not following basic hygiene practices.

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

In addition, a recent incident occurred which resulted in a child sustaining multiple injuries. Although staff immediately provided first aid to the child, the injuries were not seen by a medical professional until five days after the incident. Weaknesses in leaders‟ and managers‟ oversight of this incident resulted in a delay to assess an unexplained injury.

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and mangers do not review the impact that the use of electronic devices, including gaming consoles, have on the children‟s health and well-being. Children spend prolonged periods of time on such devices which too often creates conflict when children are asked to do other things. For example, stopping to eat dinner or going to bed.

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children regularly attend education. However, a recent exclusion had not been challenged or followed up by leaders and managers. As a result, the child did not have a Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 8 date for reintegration back into education until inspectors intervened to ensure that this issue was dealt with in a timely way.

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children‟s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their favourite things. The introduction of a kitten to the home has been beneficial and a really positive step for the children in building attachments and developing the skills to care for others.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are supported well by staff to spend time with their families. Staff facilitate these arrangements and work closely with local authorities to ensure that this time is positive and beneficial for children.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite a number of changes in the staff team, the inspectors observed some positive interactions and relationships between children and the staff. A social worker and the children spoke positively about these relationships.

p.8

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

Children‟s safety and welfare are not promoted effectively. Too many concerns have not been noted or dealt with by leaders and managers.

p.8

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

The management of medication is unsafe. Medication is not managed in accordance with the organisation‟s medication policy. As a result, children are placed at risk because staff are unclear about what they should be doing. Despite staff having recently completed safe administration of medication training, poor practice has continued. Insufficient action has been taken by leaders and managers to ensure that all staff are competent to manage medication safely. Urgent action is required to address this serious weakness.

p.8

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

Safeguarding concerns are not always identified and managed effectively as they should be. For example, a recent serious child protection concern was dealt with poorly and not in accordance with „Working Together‟. Leaders and managers did not properly report the incident to the designated officer. Consequently, this limited her ability to make a fully informed decision about what action to take. An internal investigation took place, but this too was weak and flawed in its exploration of what happened and why.

p.8

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

Other examples include incidents of a child going missing from school and returning home with unexplained amounts of money. In such instances, managers have not investigated thoroughly to ascertain and assess whether the child is at risk of exploitation. Urgent action is required to ensure that any concerns about children‟s welfare and safety are managed effectively.

p.8

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

Too often incidents occur where one child‟s behaviour has a negative and distressing effect on another child. During one such incident, staff were not supervising the children as required and the incident quickly escalated into something serious. Leaders and managers have made arrangements with the placing authorities to discuss these behaviours and to agree strategies about how to manage them in the future. While this is a positive move, it is too soon to judge the impact on children‟s health and protection. Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 9

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Recording systems are ineffective and make it difficult for managers to identify poor practice and to evaluate the level of risk for children. Incidents are not always recorded on „incident reports‟. Too often they are recorded on a different system that does not capture the severity of the incident and therefore minimises its seriousness and any implications for the future. Managers do not monitor this other system often enough and as a consequence follow up and/or preventative action is too slow.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Important information about children‟s current needs is difficult to find as it is written within the same records as historical and often out-of-date information. Senior leaders recognise some of the recording weaknesses and plans are underway to change the paperwork and recording systems. However, improving the recording weaknesses is taking too long as it means that new staff who are already working in the home do not have clear records to refer to.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers‟ auditing of medication and first aid kits is poor. Medication records show clear discrepancies in the recording and administering of medication. Where a discrepancy was identified, insufficient action was taken to locate the medication or ascertain what had happened.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have not ensured that all staff have the skills, knowledge and required care qualification to provide consistently good care to children.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

One serious and significant incident was not notified to Ofsted and other agencies in line with regulation. Information is not always shared in its fullness. This prevents external scrutiny and questions being asked about children‟s care.

p.9

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.9

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: SC374640 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crossways Care Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Keys Group, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen, Worcestershire B63 4AH

p.10

Inspector(s)

Tracey Ledder: social care inspector Paula Lahey: regulatory inspector manager Inspection report children‟s home: SC374640 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.10

Inspector(s)

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.11

Inspector(s)

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

p.11

Inspector(s)

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

p.11