Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 1 SC040638 Registered provider: Surrey County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by the local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since January 2018. There is currently no named responsible individual. The previous responsible individual resigned in September 2018’

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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

Children have been admitted to the home without due consideration being given to their needs or those of the children already in placement. Wide-ranging changes to the senior staff team within the local authority have led to the home’s management team being directed, via the former responsible individual, to place children in emergency situations without full knowledge of their needs and presenting behaviours. This has led to two unsuccessful placements which also had a significant negative impact on children already living in the home. Impact risk assessments were written for the two children placed in emergency situations, but only after they had been placed, rendering them of little value, because the impact had already been felt by the group. Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 2 On arrival at the home, the inspector noted that a large number of the ground floor windows were boarded up, and that two of the home’s cars had significant damage. This

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

creates a grim impression of the home both within the community and for children living in or coming to live in it. There have been delays of up to four weeks in windows being replaced, due to confusion within the organisation’s estates team over which contractor was to replace the windows, and the cost of doing this. Managers within the home have responded appropriately to secure the immediate safety of children by clearing the broken glass, having the windows made safe with wooden boards and reporting the damage to the relevant team in the organisation. The children who broke the windows and damaged the vehicles no longer live in the home and were emergency, short-term placements. However, those still living in the home are suffering the impact of this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection in May 2018, one young person has moved to his planned residential college; this move took place in September 2018. This was deemed a successful transition, and he has continued to remain in contact with staff in the home. Five children have moved into the home. Two of these moves were relatively unplanned, emergency admissions, and the other three were at short notice. The two emergency placements ended: one child moved to another children’s home out of the area and one abruptly moved home with the offer of outreach. The parents of both children had concerns about their children’s placements in the home. The current manager has responded well to support them. Two children who have lived in the home for a number of years are due to move to their independent placements in the coming weeks. They appear keen to do this: one was extremely pleased that he will remain local to the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a range of safeguarding concerns since the last inspection, all of which have been suitability notified to Ofsted. Actions in response to child protection and safeguarding concerns have been robust and shared with partner agencies as required. Joint working with specialist police in local and other forces has ensured that children are safe, despite a high risk of sexual and criminal exploitation. Planning is continuing so that others who live in the home are also safe from being drawn into the exploitative situation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

It has been a turbulent period within the home and staff have worked tirelessly to promote safety and positive behaviour. They say they have been extremely well supported by the management team and by each other during this period. The changes in management in the home have resulted in uncertainty, but the previous acting manager has moved to a service manager role, and has remained a great support to staff and children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current manager, who has applied to Ofsted to be registered, is experienced in the role and within the organisation, having previously managed two other homes. He has a strong understanding of the concerns within the home and is seeking to improve the service’s approach to care for children, which was started by the acting manager. He has high aspirations for the children living in the home, but also for staff too. He recognises the staff’s skills and plans to provide them with greater autonomy. The manager and the acting deputy manager are acutely aware of the concerns about children being placed Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 3 without appropriate planning and matching, and have been sharing these concerns. It was noted during the inspection that staff and managers have done all they can to support children in an extremely challenging environment.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The line management arrangements have recently changed. The service has yet to formally nominate a responsible individual to replace the previous postholder, who has left the organisation.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/05/2018 Full Good 24/01/2018 Full Inadequate 15/03/2017 Full Good 13/06/2016 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 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)(a)(b)(2)(d)) 10/12/2018

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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; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 10/12/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 4 registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; that arrangements are in place to— ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; manage and review the placement of each child in the home. *(Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)) The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if [there is]— any change to the identity of the responsible individual.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 49(e)(iii)) In particular, complete an SC3 form to formally notify Ofsted of this change. 10/12/2018

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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

Unique reference number: SC040638 Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 5 Provision sub-type: Children’s home

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 7QQ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Post vacant Colin Christensen

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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