Children's home run by Cruckton Hall Limited in North Kesteven

Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 1 SC401364 Registered provider: Cruckton Hall Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is also a residential special school and offers an integrated residential education and care package for a maximum of 92 boys, aged between eight and 19 years, who have autistic spectrum disorders. The registered manager assumed her role in March 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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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 requires improvement to be 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

This interim 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

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, inspectors considered the actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspectors found that systems for protecting children from harm are weak. Staff at all levels do not understand or implement their safeguarding roles effectively. For example, managers have not shared important information with relevant professionals when Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 2 safeguarding concerns have arisen. As a result, those professionals are not able to effectively review incidents and make fully informed decisions. This leaves children at potential risk of harm. Furthermore, poor risk management and insufficient staffing to meet children‟s needs safely jeopardise safety for all. Staff and children told inspectors that they do not feel safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are out of date and do not contain enough information about children‟s current needs, such as those that relate to sexual vulnerability, going missing from home and violent and threatening behaviour. Furthermore, a lack of consistent management oversight of serious incidents does not enable managers and staff to effectively review and reassess risk. Improvements are planned, but have not yet been implemented.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ineffective leadership and management have failed to bring about improvement in the quality of care provided for children. For example, the workforce still does not provide children with continuity of care. Almost 50% of the staff recruited since the last inspection have left. There is a heavy reliance on agency staff. Some staff also lack skills in recognising exploitation and supporting children who have needs associated with their mental health, who engage in self-harm and who go missing from home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers do not take prompt action when children raise complaints about their experiences. This means that they do not take account of children‟s feedback to bring about improvement or offer reassurance to help children feel safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some action has been taken to improve children‟s access to health services. However, despite the fact that the home has admitted two children who have needs that relate to their mental health, staff have not received training to develop their skills and knowledge in this area. Furthermore, one child was admitted to the home without a clear plan for continuing his care after he had been discharged from a mental health secure hospital. As a result, staff lacked information and guidance on how to meet the child‟s needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professional staff supervision is more regular for some staff than others and the quality of this supervision is variable. Staff who have been subject to investigation after quality of care concerns still do not get the level of support they require. This is despite the outcome of one investigation recommending a specific support plan for staff. As a result, staff do not get the level of managerial support they need in order to develop or improve their care practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not always restrain children safely or in line with the home‟s behaviour management policy. Low staffing levels do not support safe restraint practice. Staff say it is not safe to work alone with children in some circumstances. However, this does happen. Children and staff have been seriously injured when staff have not been able to manage children‟s behaviour safely.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children do not receive appropriate support after incidents involving harmful or risky behaviour. Consequently, staff do not help children to understand and learn about acceptable behaviour, personal safety or potentially harmful relationships. Three children have moved on from the home earlier than expected, either because staff Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 3 could not meet their needs or the children refused to stay. There has been no analysis of placement disruptions or successes. This is a missed opportunity to improve children‟s placement stability in the future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Weak and incomplete recruitment records for an agency staff member mean that the provider does not hold basic staffing information. As a result, managers were unable to refer information about a safeguarding matter to the relevant people in a timely manner.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some serious incidents, which have involved the police being called to the home, have not been notified to Ofsted. This includes incidents in which children have assaulted other children or there has been antisocial behaviour. Managers do not share all relevant information with the regulator and with placing authorities to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities. As a result, their ability to assess whether appropriate action has been taken in response to serious incidents has been hindered and whether lessons have been learned in order to minimise the risk of the same thing happening again.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

External scrutiny is weak. The independent visitor has not been informed of some significant incidents and complaints that are relevant to children‟s safety and well-being. This means that the independent visitor cannot give a fully informed and confident opinion about the home‟s ability to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Quality of care review reports still do not include consultation with placing authorities, parents or children. Work has begun across the school to improve formal consultation with children and plans are in place to include this in the next reporting cycle.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two important records do not meet regulatory requirements. The children‟s register is not clear about children‟s legal status and staff rosters do not show accurately who works where, and when, or the staff members‟ full names. Poor record keeping does not support good practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are positives. Some young people have moved happily on to new placements. A workforce development plan is under way to make clear the skills and experience of the current workforce. Some staff have demonstrated good practice in building positive relationships with children. Anti-bullying work has developed well. An occupational therapist has been employed, which is a positive addition to the workforce and will help children to improve their health and development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following this inspection, Ofsted has restricted the accommodation so that new children cannot come to live at the home for the period that the restriction of accommodation remains in place. Ofsted has also issued three compliance notices in respect of the protection of children, and leadership and management. Ofsted will monitor progress by carrying out a monitoring inspection in due course. Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/05/2017 Full Good 23/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/06/2016 Full Good

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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 understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child‟s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2(a)(vi)) 07/02/2019

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(vi))* 07/01/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 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 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))* 07/01/2019

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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

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

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;

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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)(iii)(v)(vii)(b)(e)) 07/02/2019

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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—

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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

ensure that the home‟s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(e))* 07/01/2019

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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 07/02/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 6 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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(c)(d)(g)(ii)(h)) The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home. (Regulation 14(1)(b)) In particular, ensure that when new children are admitted to the home the registered person has sufficient information in order to meet their needs effectively. 07/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(b)(3)(d)) 07/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 07/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— 07/02/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 7 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children‟s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35(1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is with respect to management scrutiny to ensure that staff can, and do, practice restraint safely and in line with the behaviour management policy. Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children‟s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the children‟s register and staff rosters contain full and accurate information. 07/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)(e)) 07/01/2019

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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; and to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home‟s records (except for a child‟s case records, unless the child and the child‟s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44(2)(a)(b)(4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must help the visitor focus on incidents, complaints and events relating to children‟s safety and well-being. 07/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— 28/02/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 8 the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(a)(b)(c)(5))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to evidencing outcomes of consultation within the report of the review of the quality of care.

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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

Provision sub-type: Residential special school Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 9 Registered provider: Cruckton Hall Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Vicarage, 61 High Street, Swinderby, Lincoln LN6 9LU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Donna Varley-Turner

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Inspectors

Christy Wannop, social care inspector Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC401364 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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