Children's home run by Pine Forest Homes Limited in Cannock Chase

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 1 SC373693

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Pine Forest Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children aged eight to 17. The home provides both short- and long-term placements for children and young people who may have faced adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and placement and family breakdown.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since December 2015. A new manager was appointed in May 2018 and Ofsted received her registration application in in August 2018. This application is currently being processed.

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This monitoring visit

This children‟s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 3 and 4 July 2018 and a notice of restriction was served on 11 July 2018 to prevent any further young people being admitted to the home.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, the provider demonstrated compliance with the restriction notice as no further young people have been admitted to the home. One young person has left the home since the last inspection, leaving one young person living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the progress made in meeting four compliance notices and two requirements. All other requirements set at the last inspection will be considered at the next full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, inspectors found that some progress had been made. One compliance notice and one requirement, which had been raised at the last inspection, have been met. Managers now ensure that the physical environment is Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 2 maintained in good order and any damage that occurs is repaired in a timely manner. The manager has developed an improved system to report maintenance issues and to prioritise repairs. As a result, the home is well maintained.

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This monitoring visit

Staff now undertake regular key-work sessions with the young person to develop his understanding of risks. Staff also work with external stakeholders to provide a coordinated response to addressing child criminal exploitation. A worker from Catch22 said:

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This monitoring visit

„There has been an improvement since the new management came into place. They are responsive and keen to work with young people … I‟ve established a good rapport with the deputy manager; she communicates well with me and invites me to all meetings. The staff in general are more responsive; they are calling meetings and raising issues as and when they happen. They are trying to understand the motivation for the young person leaving the home and are curious about what he is doing when he is out and about.‟

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found that some steps have been taken to improve the shortfalls identified in the three other compliance notices. There is significant progress in engaging the placing authority. A social work team manager noted improvements since the new manager came into post. They said:

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This monitoring visit

„Having a new manager has been beneficial; the home appears more structured and organised. There is very good communication between the home and myself and I am kept up to date regarding incidents and other things I need to know.‟

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This monitoring visit

Despite these improvements, progress has not gone far enough and not all aspects of the compliance notices have been met. For example, the escalation policy, for managers and staff to use when they have concerns that a placing authority‟s actions are inadequate to ensure that a young persons‟ needs are met, is not fit for purpose. The manager showed inspectors a document which was described as the escalation policy. This document does not provide managers and staff with clear guidance about how to challenge other agencies when their actions fall short of acceptable standards to safeguard and promote young people‟s welfare.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments have been reviewed and updated following incidents. They contain sufficient detail to guide staff in how to respond to the young person‟s behaviour and include specific instructions about what to do to keep him safe. For example, there is an expectation that staff call the young person at agreed intervals when he is away from the home, and the risk assessment explains what steps staff need to take when he stays away from the home overnight with authorised friends and family. However, staff do not consistently follow these risk assessments. For example, staff continue to provide cursory checks on young people when they are away from the home. During the inspection, one such call was observed. This consisted of the member of staff asking the young person two questions: „Are you Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 3 ok?‟ and „Are you safe and well?‟ Furthermore, when staff check that a young person

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This monitoring visit

is at an agreed address this is not always done face to face and, at times , staff rely on seeing a young person at a window in the dark. This is not rigorous and does not provide an accurate indication of the child‟s safety or assessment of risks. This is especially significant as staff are aware of the young person‟s increased risk of involvement in criminal activity. As a result, staff are not taking all reasonable steps to safeguard the young person or mitigate risk.

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This monitoring visit

Leadership and management in the home has shown some progress, however this progress is in its infancy. As a result, the effectiveness and sustainability of management oversight is not evident. Furthermore, concerns remain about some aspects of management oversight. For example, managers have reviewed and updated risk assessments. However, they do not evaluate how effective these are and what further strategies could be used to manage and reduce risk. The manager and responsible individual have not had sufficient oversight of the operation of the home to ensure that staff consistently follow risk assessments. This means that strategies to manage and reduce the risks the young person is exposed to when he is outside the home are not followed effectively. This places the young person at potential risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has developed a monitoring tool to assist her with reviewing the quality of care provided and a monthly internal audit had been completed. However, at the time of the visit this monitoring tool had been used only once, on 30 July 2018. This reviewed the period of the month of June.

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This monitoring visit

The evidence provided to inspectors to show how managers have monitored the home in the intervening period is a record of a maintenance log now being used and the updating of risk assessments. The manager has developed further weekly tools that she plans to use to monitor the care provided, but at the point of the inspection they were not yet in use. There is no record of the periods of July and August being monitored and reviewed by the manager to improve the quality of care provided as part of an internal monthly audit. The responsible individual did complete monitoring during August 2018, which is general and lacks sufficient detail to support the leadership and management of the home. There is one young person living in the home. The home is registered for three young people. If these developing systems are unable to be embedded effectively with only one young person in placement, this raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of the leadership and management

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This monitoring visit

At the last inspection, shortfalls in staff skills, qualifications and experience were identified. During this visit to the home, no progress was noted in this area and further shortfalls were found. Managers and the responsible individual have not ensured that the staff have received adequate training since the last inspection. New staff to the home have received no training since they started. Furthermore, the manager is not fully aware of their previous experience and training, although it is known that they do not hold their level 3 diploma for residential childcare (or equivalent). Currently only two staff members hold the level 3 diploma and one of Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 4 those is currently suspended. New staff have received no formal induction and neither has the manager who started in May 2018. This means that managers allow staff to care for the young person without adequate training and an induction to the

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This monitoring visit

home. As staff lone work, this means those on their probation period lead shifts. This places the young person at risk of harm from staff who are poorly prepared for their role or to understand the needs and risks surrounding the young person.

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This monitoring visit

Training records show that most staff, including the deputy manager, have not completed core training courses, including fire safety, health and safety and risk assessing, equality and diversity and Team Teach. New staff members‟ training records and induction records are empty. The responsible individual confirmed that there has been no staff training since June 2018. This is despite the management team‟s knowledge of these shortfalls and Ofsted identifying this as a regulatory shortfall at the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit, four compliance notices have been issued.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/07/2018 Full Inadequate 13/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/11/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 5

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority‟s or a relevant person‟s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child‟s needs are met in accordance with the child‟s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))* 30/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children‟s home‟s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and 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

understand and apply the home‟s statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (a)(b)(2)(a)) 07/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The children‟s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who engage with them.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings. (Regulation 7 (b)(2)(a)(ii)) 07/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face 07/09/2018 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 6 and take appropriate action to help the child overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(iii)) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on mutual respect and trust; and understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child‟s behaviour, in accordance with the child‟s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(iii)) 07/09/2018

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i))* 30/09/2018

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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 aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c))* 30/09/2018

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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 aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h))* 30/09/2018 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 7 The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in and through the children‟s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the manager completes thorough impact risk assessments, which take account of the needs of young people already living in the home. 07/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in and through the children‟s home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

each child‟s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(2)(c)) 07/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 07/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 07/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; and there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (b)(e)) 07/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered 07/09/2018 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 8 person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)) The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children‟s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2)) 07/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children‟s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pine Forest Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ballance & Lowbridge, Accountants, 65 Market Street, Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire WS12 1AD

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Inspector(s)

Rebecca Quested, social care inspector Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC373693 10 to 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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