Children's Home run by K & G Care Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1270767 1

p.1

K&G Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that provides medium- and long-term care for up to five children and young people who have emotional needs and challenging behaviour.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review progress in addressing shortfalls that were identified at an interim inspection in August 2018. These shortfalls related to the management of safeguarding concerns and weaknesses in quality assurance systems. Following the interim inspection, two compliance notices and a restriction notice were issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The specific concerns that led to compliance notices being imposed have been addressed.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Improvements to the quality of care for children and monitoring systems have been made since the last inspection. A new manager and deputy manager have recently commenced employment. This means that staff receive better direction, and so have a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The retention of staff has improved. No agency staff have been used for over two weeks. This means better continuity of care for children. The day-to-day experience of children is better. Staff are more confident in their roles.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A review of the quality of care has been completed and a report sent to Ofsted. New monitoring tools have been introduced. Although systems are still new, they are likely to be more effective in improving the quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1270767 2 However, the home is not yet able to demonstrate that staff have a thorough understanding of how to meet each child’s needs. Consequently, the restriction notice remains in place. Additional requirements have been made to address weaknesses identified during this monitoring visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The staff team is still new. Some staff, therefore, lack the experience, skills and knowledge to provide safe care for children. They lack an in-depth understanding of children’s vulnerabilities. Most staff have not received training on several relevant topics, such as attachment disorder, child criminal exploitation and drug awareness.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Multi-agency collaborative working is not yet part of the ethos of the home. This puts children at risk. For example, a professionals’ meeting had not been requested for a child who may be at risk of child criminal exploitation. Furthermore, the quality of communication with social workers is variable.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/08/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1270767 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

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)) 30/11/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

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;

p.3

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.3

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 30/11/2018 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1270767 4 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(d)) 30/11/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

p.4

Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation. (Regulation 19(1)(2)(f)) 30/11/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.4

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(e)(i)) 30/11/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in 30/11/2018 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1270767 5 the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(a))

p.4

Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  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

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.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1270767 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 202, West Retford Hall, Rectory Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 7AY

p.6

Inspector

Joanne Vyas, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1270767 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7