Children's home run by Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 1 Registered provider: Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child. Its statement of purpose says that the home provides high-quality care for children who, due to the circumstances of their young lives, require residential accommodation and the support of a trained staff team that can support them through any damage that has been caused by abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager at this home. The post has been vacant since 9 June 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 5 September 2018

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was inspected in September 2018 and judged to be inadequate. At the previous inspection, in June 2018, the home was also judged inadequate. A restriction of Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 2 accommodation notice was issued on 14 September 2018, and three compliance notices were issued on 17 September 2018. A monitoring visit was undertaken on 17 October 2018. The restriction of accommodation notice was being adhered to, but insufficient progress had been made to ensure that the compliance notices were met. The compliance notices were therefore reissued on 25 October 2018. The date for meeting the steps in the compliance notices was extended to 30 November 2018.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The actions taken to meet the steps in the reissued compliance notices were reviewed during this inspection. Compliance with the restriction of accommodation notice, which expires on 6 December 2018, was also examined.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2018 Full Inadequate 13/06/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 3

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(vi))*

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that all children’s known vulnerabilities are risk assessed, that risk assessments are kept updated and that action is taken when a child is known to be at risk of harm. 15/02/2019

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the monitoring and review systems identify in a timely way any weaknesses in the provision of service. 15/02/2019

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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 14(1)(a)) 15/02/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 4 Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that children’s placement plans identify how each child’s needs will be met, and provide staff with clear guidance and strategies for caring for the child.

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must— have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26(7)(b))* 15/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that where staff have identified professional development needs, action is taken to ensure these are effectively addressed. 15/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the designated person in the local authority is consulted promptly when a child makes an allegation against a member of staff. 15/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulations 5(c)). Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate (see paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8) Specifically, ensure that any concerns regarding the practice of another professional are referred to the individual’s line manager for resolution.

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Recommendations

 The policy for the protection of children from abuse or neglect should be available and explained to children and their families as well as to all staff, whatever their role. The registered person must make sure that all staff are familiar with this policy and act in accordance with it, in particular how to use it to report a Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 5 concern. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.21)  As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Specifically, ensure that during recruitment interviews for managers, the

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Recommendations

applicant’s knowledge of the children’s home regulations and quality standards is explored.  Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up-to-date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. Children’s case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of his or her death. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection there was one young person, who was admitted in May 2018, living at the home. Despite the weaknesses in practice at the home, the young person is making steady progress in some areas. This can be attributed to the positive relationships that most staff have built with the young person, which have created some consistency and stability in her life.

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improvement to be good

The standard of care planning has improved in terms of the strategies that are now in place to assist the young person to keep herself safe. However, there are still weaknesses in the overall standard of care planning. The staff have failed to engage with external support agencies that may be able to offer the young person a service. Consequently, the staff have not been able to provide the young person with the information that would assist her in making an informed decision on whether to engage with these services.

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improvement to be good

The care planning process is not yet an effective mechanism for establishing how the young person’s needs will be met. For example, although the young person’s placement plan says that staff will support the young person to secure an apprenticeship, the plan does not include any associated actions that staff will take to achieve this. The lack of specific steps in the care planning process risks there being drift and delay in preparing the young person to move on from the home. Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 6 A review of the system for recording and administering medication has been undertaken by a recognised pharmacy. This has resulted in significant improvements in practice. All the steps specified in the compliance notice relating to medicines, issued on 25 October 2018, have been met. With support and encouragement from the staff, the young person is now engaging positively with healthcare professionals. Staff have also engaged

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improvement to be good

the young person in keywork sessions where sensitive health and personal safety issues have been addressed.

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improvement to be good

The staff have built positive working relationships with the young person’s family members. As a result, family members feel they are being consulted regarding the arrangements for the young person’s care. Family relationships have improved, and contact is generally a positive experience for all those involved.

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improvement to be good

The standard of safeguarding and child protection practice has improved in some areas. However, a compliance notice relating to the protection of children standard was reissued in October 2018 and the steps in this notice have not been met. Consequently, concerns remain regarding the ability of managers to build on the improvements in practice and ensure that these become embedded in practice.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments now contain more detailed strategies for protecting the young person from harm. Some creative approaches have been used. However, the risk assessments are not always updated in a timely way and often they are not signed or dated. Therefore, it cannot be determined when the risk assessment is due to be reviewed and amended if necessary.

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improvement to be good

A culture of professional curiosity is yet to be established in the home. Consequently, potential risks to the young person’s safety are not always fully explored. Issues relating to self-harm, the acquisition of prescribed medication and adults who potentially pose a risk to young people have not been fully investigated by managers or discussed in team meetings.

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improvement to be good

Where the risks have been clearly identified, staff have been more effective in their response. This has resulted in good multi-agency partnership working and the implementation of strategies to manage and monitor potentially abusive relationships. The home’s deputy manager has been proactive and has taken decisive steps to reduce the risk of the young person coming to harm in relation to potentially unsafe relationships.

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improvement to be good

There has been inconsistency in how child protection and safeguarding matters are reported to external safeguarding professionals. On one occasion, a child protection concern was not reported to the local safeguarding team in a timely way. The matter was reported to the allocated social worker, but this did not result in effective action being taken. On another occasion, the designated officer in the local authority was not Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 7 consulted regarding a complaint made by the young person about the practice of a member of staff. There are indications that this area of practice is improving, as the most recent child protection concern was reported in accordance with agreed procedures.

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improvement to be good

The weaknesses in child protection and safeguarding practice can be partly attributed to: a failure by managers to monitor practice; managers not having a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the staff team; and a failure to learn from mistakes. The steps in the compliance notice that was issued on 25 October 2018 specifically relate to these issues. Had these steps been addressed effectively, then more progress in this area of practice may have been achieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the inspection in September 2018 the home has been managed by the deputy manager, who is a qualified social worker. However, she has no previous experience of residential childcare. The deputy manager has worked hard to improve standards but has not always received appropriate support and guidance from senior managers. A new manager, who was previously a deputy manager at another of the organisation’s homes, began working at the home on 19 November 2018. She was not present during this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Two of the three compliance notices issued on 25 October 2018 have not been met. This is the second time senior managers have failed to ensure that effective action has been taken to meet the steps in the compliance notices. This is a serious failing. The compliance notice that was issued under regulation 26, relating to the fitness of the registered provider, required the director to assess the competence of the new responsible individual and review the workload and responsibilities attached to the role. This was due to issues relating to the previous responsible individual. The failure of the director to effectively address these steps in the compliance notice raises concerns about the capacity of the organisation to sustain continuous improvement in the services being provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Systems for monitoring the quality of care being provided remain weak. The compliance notice issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, required a senior manager to manage and monitor all child protection concerns until the home has a registered manager. This responsibility was delegated to the organisation’s area manager. There is insufficient evidence to confirm that the area manager monitored all serious incidents and all aspects of safeguarding practice. The area manager’s monitoring activities did not identify all of the safeguarding practice shortfalls that were evident at this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The organisation has reviewed the training provided to staff and has made significant changes to the programme. Staff said this has had a positive impact on their learning. However, the professional development of the team is still not given sufficient priority. There have been significant delays in providing some staff with the training or guidance Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 8 that has been identified during supervision meetings as being necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The deputy manager and staff have built good working relationships with some external professionals. When appropriate, staff have made senior managers in their own organisation aware of the concerns they have regarding the practice of other professionals. However, this has not resulted in senior managers making approaches to the relevant authorities in order to ensure that the young person receives an acceptable level of service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been some improvements in the process for recruiting new staff, particularly in relation to the recording of interviews. Despite this, there remain weaknesses in the process. During her interview for the post, the new manager’s knowledge and understanding of the children’s homes regulations and quality standards was not explored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The standard of case recording is an improving area of practice but remains variable. Many documents, plans and risk assessments in the young person’s case file are not signed or dated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The restriction of accommodation notice has been adhered to and will end on 6 December 2018. Due to the failings identified at this inspection the conditions of registration will change, and the home will be registered to accommodate only one child. The compliance notices that have not been met will be reissued with an extended date for meeting the specified steps to improve practice.

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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

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’. Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 56 The Brentano Suite, Solar House, 915 High Road, London N12 8QJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Holland

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Inspector

Stephen Collett, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1256913 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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