Children's home run by Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited in West Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 1 SC443009

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Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home is one of a small group. Care and accommodation are provided for up to six boys who have moderate to severe learning difficulties. The manager has been in post since 9 October 2017 and registered since 21 September 2018. She does not possess a relevant level 5 qualification.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted served a notice restricting accommodation at this home on 15 November 2018 because of serious concerns that were identified at the full inspection on 5 and 6 November 2018. Two compliance notices were served under Regulations 12 and 13, relating to the protection of children and the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor compliance with the notice restricting accommodation and to monitor progress against the steps set out in the compliance notices in accordance with Regulation 12 and Regulation 13.

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This monitoring visit

No children have been admitted to the home. The provider is therefore compliant with the notice restricting accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed and updated risk assessments. However, there remain significant shortfalls with the quality of the documents and the management of them. One child’s internet risk assessment was found to contain substantial inaccuracies at the full inspection. At this visit, an updated version of the risk assessment was on the child’s file and in a ‘compliance’ folder. However, these versions contained the same inaccuracy. Another version of the internet risk assessment was located by the manager. Although this did not contain the factually inaccurate statement, it did not provide realistic or achievable risk management strategies. Nor did the risk assessment consider predictable risks. Other risk assessments have similar shortfalls. A sexualised behaviour risk assessment offers Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 2 little clarity about triggers for behaviour, risks to staff and the support that should be

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This monitoring visit

provided to the child. A child’s individual knife risk assessment does not explore what may have motivated the child to carry a knife and what may be done about these motivations. Nor does the assessment consider the need for any multi-agency interventions. The location risk assessment had not been updated at the time of this visit. Consequently, the risk assessments are not consistently accurate, do not consistently identify predictable risks and do not provide staff with realistic strategies to manage risks.

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This monitoring visit

The management team has updated missing-from-care risk assessments. However, these assessments have not been agreed with the placing authorities. The management team and staff continue to lack a clear understanding of the action that staff are to take if a child goes missing. In addition, the home’s linked policy continues to refer to a 2013 government consultation document rather than the most recent statutory guidance. Failure to ensure that staff understand the action to take in the event that a child goes missing has the potential to put children at risk.

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This monitoring visit

The management team has spoken to staff to ensure that they understand the process for referring concerns to the designated officer. The incident identified at the last inspection that had not been referred has since been referred.

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This monitoring visit

The management team has improved the recruitment checks on new staff. The recruitment file reviewed at this visit included satisfactory efforts to verify why staff have left previous posts that involved working with children or vulnerable adults.

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This monitoring visit

Although progress has been made in meeting some of the steps identified in the compliance notice in respect of the protection of children, there remain significant shortfalls, which mean that the notice is not met.

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This monitoring visit

The management team has ensured that there is now a first aid trained member of staff on each shift. Of the records of shifts that were sampled during this visit, there were none that consisted solely of agency workers. Furthermore, there were no shifts that consisted of more agency than permanent staff. However, in one instance, one overnight shift was staffed only by a member of staff who was on probation and an agency member of staff. No formal risk assessment had been undertaken to assess the suitability of this arrangement.

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This monitoring visit

Very recently, the manager has been supported by two consultants. This has provided the manager with additional guidance and coaching. Senior managers have been more visible at the home. This has contributed to some of the improvements noted at this visit. However, management monitoring needs to improve further because monitoring had not, for example, picked up the existence of old, out-of- date risk assessments on a child’s file. In addition, the manager had not sought proof of the training records of a bank member of staff. Although this information was gathered during the monitoring visit, this was the first time that the manager had seen the proof of training. Lack of proactive oversight of training records does not enable the manager to ensure that staffing arrangements are sufficient to meet Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 3 children’s needs and ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The evidence showed that three of the 14 requirements made at the last inspection have been met. The rota now shows who has worked at the home, shifts now include at least one first aid trained member of staff and recruitment checks now explore why prospective employees have left previous employment with children or vulnerable adults. The other statutory requirements that were raised at the full inspection have not been monitored at this visit. They will be reviewed at the next inspection and so are restated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/11/2018 Full Inadequate 06/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)) 02/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(vi)) 02/01/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 5 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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) *

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Requirement Due date

Urgent action must be taken to ensure that all risk assessments are reviewed and updated to reflect the presenting risks for each child and that the actions to take are clear, understood and implemented by the staff.

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Requirement Due date

Urgent action must be taken to ensure that clear and accurate missing-from-care protocols are in place and detail what action staff should take if a child goes or attempts to go missing, and that these actions are understood and 02/01/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 6 implemented for each child. The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(c)(f)(h)) *

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Requirement Due date

Urgent action must be taken to ensure that the management team provides effective internal and external monitoring that identifies shortfalls and generates plans to improve the quality of care.

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Requirement Due date

Urgent action must be taken to ensure that the registered manager has clearly defined support to carry out the role effectively. 02/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 31/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the missing child policy") setting out— 02/01/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 7 the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent.

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Requirement Due date

Before implementing, or making an amendment which the registered person considers to be substantive to, the missing child policy, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person; and

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Requirement Due date

have regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children. (Regulation 34 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of restraint in relation to a child in the home that a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure, and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)) 02/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. 02/01/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 8 (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 02/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)) 31/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

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 02/01/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 9 regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2))

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Greenwood House, Greenwood Court, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7GY

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Inspector

Ashley Hinson: social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC443009 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 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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