Children's Home run by Amicus Residential Care Ltd in Reading

Inspection report children’s home: SC059221 1 SC059221 Registered provider: Causeway Care Homes Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately run and provides emergency as well as long-term placements for up to three children. The manager has been registered since March 2007.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children in the home have maintained progress from their starting points. They have good relationships with some staff and were seen to be able to approach staff whom they felt could best meet their needs. For example, a child was particularly angry with the registered manager, but was able to talk to another member of staff, suggesting she has no idea why she was so angry but recognising she needed help in this area. Since the last inspection, two children have moved on in a planned manner to semi- independent placements, closer to their families. One child has remained in placement for over a year and another moved into the home approximately three months ago. Planning for this child’s move was of a significantly better standard than that noted at the full inspection. Records detail the child’s needs and what actions are required to Inspection report children’s home: SC059221 2 meet them, and link with the current staff skills and the needs of others living in the

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

home. However, the recommendation regarding lack of effective planning is repeated because areas identified as needing extra support, such as staff training specifically to meet the child’s behavioural needs, have only just been planned. In addition, the requirement regarding risk assessments is also repeated because these remain vague regarding children’s behavioural needs, stating that staff use ‘alternative strategies’ without identifying what these are. Incidents of going missing from the home are particularly high for one child. The staff work closely with the child’s social worker and specialist police officer to identify the suitability of those she is meeting with when away from the home. Staff work cohesively with another local children’s home, where another child she regularly goes missing with is placed. Staff also meet the child in the local community and seek to identify the people she is with, using links with the local special school to identify those she is with

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

and the impact that they may have on each other’s safety. Strategy meetings have been held to identify how best to support the child; the social worker is conducting telephone return interviews because there is no provision locally. The plan of response should the child be missing is clear and completed in conjunction with the social worker and considering the detail in her SERAF. Since the child’s placement, there has also been an increase in the use of physical intervention and injury to staff. Records regarding this are clear and detail the child’s views and reflections on incidents. Joint working with a specialist worker from the placing authority is supporting the staff to determine strategies and responses. The registered manager is continuing to evaluate whether they are able to meet the child’s needs, recognising that her behaviour is more extreme than staff are used to managing, but also not wanting to be another broken placement for

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

her. Neither child placed is attending education regularly. Both have placements but have attended only once or twice in the last term. Staff are following a child’s plan as agreed by the educational psychologist, but they are frustrated that it is not resulting in any constructive activity during school hours. A referral has been made for the other child to attend the local special school, which is within walking distance, hoping this will help her to engage, particularly as she already knows some students from the school. The registered manager has said that there have been no safeguarding referrals to the designated officer since the last inspection. Other concerns have been raised to the children’s social workers and strategy meetings have taken place. Records are clear and show actions taken. Since the last inspection, action has been taken to meet the requirements and recommendations set. The smoking cessation nurse has visited the home and provided

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

all children with leaflets that contain hints and tips. She has also given staff nicotine gum and patches to give to children. Children are aware of how they can access the local drop-in service. It was noted during the inspection that one child had been smoking in his bedroom. Staff say that this is unusual for this child, although they had noted the concern themselves. Staff support children to attend specialist health appointments when deemed necessary or to gain advice and guidance. It was noted that the local substance misuse team only accept referrals via social workers, with priority to local children. They have requested support from services in the children’s placing authorities Inspection report children’s home: SC059221 3 when required. The registered manager is now receiving monthly professional supervision from a consultant, who is also helping with reviewing the home’s processes and procedures. This has enabled the registered manager to have better oversight of

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

how the home is functioning and any areas that require further development. To further support this, the independent visitor, in line with regulation 44, has redeveloped a monitoring and reporting template which provides greater challenge and clarity of their monitoring.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/07/2016 Full Good 07/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC059221 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(a)(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. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)) 31/12/2018

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, in line with their individual health plans and the ethos of the home, children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well-being to enhance, and supplement that provided by their school through Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE). Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and well- being such as, but not limited to, nutrition and healthy diet, exercise, mental health, sexual relationships, sexual health, contraception and use of legal highs, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18) In particular, take action aimed at eradicating smoking inside the home.  Registered persons must ensure there are procedures in place for welcoming and

p.4

Recommendations

introducing each child into the home, and they are sensitive to the needs of the child at the time of arrival. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.7)

p.4

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 Inspection report children’s home: SC059221 5 after.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.5

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’.

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Causeway Care Homes Ltd

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 118B Oxford Road, Reading RG1 7NQ

p.5

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Angela MacDonald

p.5

Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC059221 6 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.5

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6