Children's home run by Cruckton Hall Limited in North Kesteven

Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 1 SC401364 Registered provider: Cruckton Hall 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 privately owned home is also a residential special school and offers an integrated residential education and care package for a maximum of 92 boys aged between 8 and 19 years who have autistic spectrum disorders. The registered manager assumed her role in March 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2017 Full Good 23/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/06/2016 Full Good 28/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 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 health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(c)) 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; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at

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Requirement Due date

risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 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; and that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies 30/09/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 4 is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(d)(e)) 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— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills

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Requirement Due date

to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(d)(e)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) 30/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) In particular, ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. 30/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all elements of this regulation. (Regulation 35 (2)(a)(b)(c)) This is with respect to ensuring that staff practise restraint safely and in line with the behaviour management policy. 30/09/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.1) In particular, seek advice and verify information about past disciplinary action or allegations in partnership with the local safeguarding authority.  The registered person should ensure that children have separate bedrooms. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards,’ page 16, paragraph 3.19) In particular, consider how, if full, the service could conform to current government guidance for providing children with private, nurturing personal space.  The registered person should ensure the following elements of the workforce plan are included in the Statement of Purpose: (in accordance with Schedule 1

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Recommendations

(paragraphs 19 and 20)) the staffing structure; experience and qualifications of staff and arrangements for supervision of staff practice. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.10) In particular, keep this information up to date in relation to the current workforce.

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improvement to be good

Most children do very well at the school and benefit from a service that provides care and education. This includes receiving help from the services of a private psychiatrist and a growing therapeutic team. For example, one parent told inspectors that their son ‘has come on leaps and bounds since starting there. He is a complex character, but the teaching staff are great and really encourage his learning. They have managed to engage him in the classroom with 98% attendance, after a year of being a school refuser.’ Despite this good progress, a few children do not always receive good support to be healthy. Delays in delivery of mental health support, speech and language and occupational therapy, as well as dentistry, have meant that a few children have waited too long for healthcare. Staff do not always implement good health plans, for example healthy eating or exercise. Children learn self-reliance skills at all ages. Older boys living off-site develop the skills

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improvement to be good

that they need to see them into the next stage of their lives, which can include going to university, finding work or attending college. Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 6 Staff help children, many of whom live out of the area, to keep in touch with their parents and friends. One placing social worker was pleased with the quality of support for the local authority plan to improve family relationships in advance of a move home permanently. Children’s views are increasingly found in their contribution to care planning. Regular house meetings ensure that children’s views about life in their house are heard. Children have opportunities to talk about the things that matter in their lives and issues that staff think need to be a focus in key-work sessions. This helps children to develop skills to keep themselves safe online, think about others and communicate about their achievements, needs and the challenges that they face.

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improvement to be good

Inspectors were impressed by the knowledge and skill with which some established, experienced staff communicated their encouragement and support to children. Two psychology assistants provide useful support in direct work to children and in consultations with staff to develop their practice. Children get good, creative support when bullying occurs. Inspectors saw how staff enrich children’s experience of difference, whether cooking African food or challenging racism or discriminatory attitudes to women or their peers. There is good outdoor play space outside in extensive grounds. One parent told inspectors, ‘The children are always doing lots of different activities in the evenings and at weekends. The activities are varied and age appropriate for them. My son is always encouraged to go to clubs such as army cadets and football, etc.’ Additional outdoor play equipment, such as sunken trampolines, is being installed in one garden

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improvement to be good

Despite training, policy and clear procedures, the actions of some staff over the last year have jeopardised children’s safety and well-being. Some staff have failed to fulfil their position of trust. Others have failed to be open about behavioural incidents and have not implemented their responsibility to share concerns about colleagues’ care practice with their manager. Recording, practice and managerial review of how restraint is used as part of the overall behavioural approach is weak and does not evidence legal requirements or good practice. Staff have not recorded some significant unauthorised restraints. Other restraint records do not show that the threshold for necessary and proportionate restraint has been reached or give clarity about how staff take children to the ‘soft room’ during incidents. Other records lacked detail about de-escalation or effectiveness. Records do not always show a meaningful, independent conversation with children or staff about

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improvement to be good

the incident, or when these conversations have taken place. Absence of managerial review after restraint and safeguarding concerns means that the provider misses the opportunity to rigorously audit and learn lessons when staff practice has fallen short. This approach does not ensure that practice improves or that Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 7 children get consistent or safe behavioural support. Despite this, staff generally promote a positive behavioural approach. There are early signs of promise in work to analyse behaviour. However, this is let down by poor records and inaccurate data. Many parents and professionals commented on how children develop better social skills during their time at the school. One parent, when describing the staff’s approach with their son, said, ‘Staff explain things to him and keep on trying if he struggles to change his behaviour. They reward good behaviour and put sanctions in place for

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improvement to be good

inappropriate behaviour, and on the whole, this works. They also understand what triggers bad behaviour for each of the boys.’ Placing authorities and school staff are entirely positive in relation to how the service keeps children safe. A previous requirement to review and update risk assessments is not met. Risk assessments are still not evaluated for their effectiveness, for example after children go missing from the home or harm themselves, or to ensure that children have a local authority interview after going missing. Actual arrangements for storage of fire extinguishers is not detailed in the fire risk assessment.

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improvement to be good

The registered person did not seek advice from the local area safeguarding officer as part of safer recruitment checks, where this was appropriate. A new, experienced human resources manager is helping to widen the scope of recruitment to make sure that they employ only the best people with a range of life experience and wisdom. A placing authority said, ‘The young person appears happy, confident and relaxed in placement. He clearly feels safe there. There have been self-harm incidents over the last two years, however the placement has improved its response to these in order to reduce risk and recurrence.’

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good

At the last inspection a year ago, inspectors found that managerial monitoring did not always result in continuous improvement. This is still the case, despite a change in managerial arrangements. Internal and external monitoring and review systems have not identified weaknesses found during this inspection and omit analysis and learning about safeguarding issues or complaint outcomes. Managers have missed the opportunity to identify and share improvements across the service. For example, managers in the houses are not aware of issues raised by complaints and so are not involved in improvement. Staff say that they do not get feedback about issues they raise. A formal report on the quality of care was completed in January 2018. This report did not make recommendations to drive improvement. It also did not seek the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities or staff. The local education authority has assisted the school to look at concerns raised by

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good

Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 8 whistleblowing, and these have all now been concluded. Information for parents and placing authorities in the statement of purpose does not make clear the structure, experience and qualifications of the current staff team. This means that people who use the service may not know what to expect from the workforce. The accommodation arrangements and registration are now out of step with both Ofsted and government guidance for children’s homes. The seven houses that make up the children’s home cannot provide single bedrooms for the maximum number of 92 children. If full, the home could not offer children sufficient privacy or nurturing individual space. The responsible individual does not wish currently to reduce numbers. There are not enough permanent, experienced and qualified staff to meet the needs of the current group of 26 children in six operational houses. Over 50% of the staff

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good

team have left in the last year. There is currently an approximate 30% shortfall in permanent staffing required. Only 20% of the required workforce hold the nationally approved qualification in working with children. The provider is investing in the service and adding to the therapeutic team. They are working hard to recruit and improve the stability and quality of the workforce. Eleven new staff have recently been recruited. The high turnover of staff challenges children’s continuity of care and their ability to establish secure, lasting relationships with the adults who care for them. Parents told Ofsted in surveys that they were worried about staffing and the impact on their children. One parent said, ‘We do not believe that the staff have the training and the number to deal with the profile of kids they are catering for.’ Ineffective staff supervision lacks focus on safeguarding or improving care practice

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good

after significant incidents, investigations or even disciplinary proceedings. This means that staff have not had the help that they need to improve their practice and deliver safe care to children. The provider is working to improve the frequency and quality of staff supervision. A few parents expressed criticism about how managers have responded to their concerns about the quality of service for their children. However, most parents are extremely pleased with their experience and children’s progress. One parent told inspectors about his son, ‘The school approaches difficulties positively. Staff ask how they can help him. They are very understanding and patient, always looking on the positive side. I’m sure he’s in the best place.’ Placing authorities are also very positive about the service. One professional told inspectors, ‘The young person we have placed there has very specific needs, making him difficult to place. He has made progress in all areas of his life and has surpassed

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good

all expectations, both personally and educationally.’

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 9 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: SC401364 10

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cruckton Hall Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Vicarage, 61 High Street, Swinderby, Lincoln LN6 9LU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Donna Varley-Turner

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Inspectors

Christy Wannop, social care inspector Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Andrew Hewston, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC401364 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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