Children's Home run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Inspection report children‟s home: SC028905 1 SC028905 Registered provider: Staffordshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children‟s home is owned by a local authority. It is registered to provide short breaks for up to five children and young people who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours. The home also offers children and young people care on an emergency basis until an alternative placement is found.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2008.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was carried out to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The two young people who reside at the home frequently go missing. The young people place themselves at high risk of harm by becoming involved in criminal activity. There are also concerns that the young people are on the periphery of gang affiliation and are at risk of being criminally exploited.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management plans and young people‟s individual missing-from-home Inspection report children‟s home: SC028905 2 protocols lack the clarity to enable the staff to manage this risky behaviour effectively. As a result, staff practice is inconsistent. Some staff told the inspector that they followed the young people when they went missing and other staff said that they did not. Furthermore, when young people do not keep in touch with staff, the staff do not take sufficient action to locate them and ensure their safe return. This leaves young people at risk of potential harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has admitted six different young people to the home without completing a full assessment of risks. Although the registered manager now ensures that all relevant information is known about new young people prior to their admission, impact risk assessments are poor and do not consider the risks to and from young people already resident. Shortfalls in effective care planning place young people at potential risk of harm. For example, one young person went missing for several hours with another young person who has a history of going missing from care. Another young person was admitted despite concerns about her age and vulnerability and how well matched she was with the other young people who were already resident at the home. Decision making regarding admissions is poor and this does not adequately protect young people‟s safety and well-being.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not have educational placements, and have sporadic engagement with the in-house tutor. Although the young people have taken some entry-level exams since coming to live at the home, a lack of clear education or training plans does not help young people to reach their potential, and may impact on their future life chances. Furthermore, young people do not have good routines and do not engage in structured activities during the day. This is a missed opportunity for staff to focus on alternative activities, raise young people‟s aspirations and disrupt the patterns of young people‟s risk-taking behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has long-standing emotional-health needs. Despite this, he has not been offered an appointment with a specialist service since June 2018. In addition, staff have not held a consultation with the in-house therapeutic service for several months. These shortfalls mean that the young person‟s health needs remain unmet.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not support young people to fully understand the risks they are exposed to and how to keep themselves safe. Key-work sessions are not always meaningful. For example, there is little exploration of the dynamics of gang association, the young people‟s emotional well-being and the pressure they may feel to conform with negative influences. In addition, the staff‟s knowledge of the risks posed by criminal exploitation and gang association is inconsistent.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager works in partnership with the local authority, police and youth offending teams. Several professionals‟ meetings have taken place and plans are formulated to manage risk. However, these are ineffective and do not disrupt or reduce the frequency of incidents and the risks for young people who go missing from home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager‟s monitoring of the quality of care provided for young people is ineffective. Although monthly reviews are completed, the registered manager has failed Inspection report children‟s home: SC028905 3 to identify and act on concerns that were identified at this inspection. Furthermore, the home‟s six-monthly review of care report has not been submitted to Ofsted within the correct timescale.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has failed to address two recommendations raised at the last inspection. These relate to matching new young people with those already resident in the home, and effectively assessing risk. Requirements are now raised to address these shortfalls. Two compliance notices and a restriction of accommodation notice have also been issued.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2018 Full Good 18/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/07/2016 Full Good 08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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 and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child‟s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child‟s education and training and to 31/12/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC028905 4 maximise the child‟s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(iii)(iv)(vi)(ix)) The health and well-being standard is that children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well- being.

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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

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)(b)(2)(c)) 17/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship. (Regulation 11(1)(b)(2)(a)(ii)(iii)(vi)(vii)) 31/12/2018

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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 that staff—

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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))* 17/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home. (Regulation 17/12/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC028905 5 14(1)(a))* 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

After completing a quality of care review, the registered 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”).

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(1)(3)(4)(a)) 31/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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

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.

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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‟.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Staffordshire County Council, Wedgwood Buildings, Tipping Street, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 2DH Inspection report children‟s home: SC028905 6 Responsible individual: Elizabeth Kelay

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Inspector

Gareth Leckey, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC028905 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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