Children's home run by Virgin Care Limited in Camden

Inspection report children’s home: SC458431 1 SC458431 Registered provider: Virgin Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide a short-break service for up to five children. Some children may have a physical disability, learning disability and/or sensory impairment. The provision is privately operated by a nationwide organisation which has other homes in the area. The registered manager has been in post since January 2015. She has the qualifications, skills and experience to manage the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 8 February 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC458431 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 25/07/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/05/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC458431 3

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Recommendations

 Ensure that records demonstrate a detailed account of the discussions held with children following the use of restraint. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.60)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care and support from well-trained and committed staff. Staff develop positive and trusted relationships with children. Children are happy to stay at the home. A parent said, ‘I have always been more than happy with the care he receives; my son loves it there, he always asks how many sleeps until he goes to stay.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work well together with parents, social workers, school and healthcare professionals to ensure that children receive good continuity of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to make choices about the activities, meals, snacks and drinks they would like during their stay. For those children who do not communicate verbally, staff use alternative methods of communication to support them to make choices and day-to-day decisions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities, both in the home and in the local area. As a result, children who come to stay at the home can go on trips and activities that otherwise they may not be able to experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers ensure that there is careful and considered planning and preparation when children move from this short-break service to other accommodation. Staff work together with children’s new care providers to ensure a safe and supportive move.

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

The arrangements to safeguard children are good. Leaders and managers ensure that they communicate effectively safeguarding matters to safeguarding agencies and other professionals. Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have contacted the designated officer in relation to two potential safeguarding concerns. Following Inspection report children’s home: SC458431 4 consultation, the designated officer advised internal investigations. At the time of this inspection, one investigation is concluded and the other is still under investigation by the provider.

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

The registered manager alerts social workers, parents and healthcare professionals when there are concerns in relation to supporting children to manage their emotions and feelings.

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

Currently, a child is experiencing difficulties in managing his emotions and feelings. Staff ensure that he receives caring and sensitive support, as well as implementing the boundaries as identified in his behaviour support plan. Leaders and managers ensure that multi-agency working is at the centre of staff practice. A nurse said, ‘Joint working and sharing of information have been fantastic.’ This was echoed by a psychologist who said, ‘Communication is very good. Staff contact me and other professionals for advice if needed.’

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

Leaders and managers ensure that children’s behaviour support plans and associated risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. In relation to one particular child, staff attend regular strategy meetings to review the care that is provided and agree actions. This is an example of effective partnership working.

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

The registered manager monitors and evaluates the use of restraint, incidents and accidents. Discussions take place with children and staff following the use of an intervention. However, discussions with children are not always recorded in detail. In addition, the registered manager has identified that some record-keeping is not clear and concise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has returned to manage the home following a period of extended leave. She has the skills, experience and knowledge to manage the service. The home is managed efficiently and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager places the needs of the children at the centre of her practice. She has a good awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Since her return, she has prioritised and focused on supporting a child in managing his emotions and feelings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Visits by the independent visitor take place regularly and the registered manager responds effectively to recommendations made. The requirement made at the last inspection is met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s placement plans, and risk assessments, guide staff well about how children’s needs are to be met, and how risks are to be managed and reduced. The registered manager ensures that these documents are regularly reviewed and updated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, effective supervision and training that equips them to support the Inspection report children’s home: SC458431 5 children. Staff say that they feel well supported. Leaders and managers take effective action when concerns are raised in relation to staff practice.

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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: SC458431 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Virgin Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lynton House, 7–12 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9LT

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Inspector

David Kidner: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC458431 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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