Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children’s home: 1027158 1 Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private organisation. It provides long-term placements for six children who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and may be considered vulnerable. The manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2018

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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 sustained effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the full inspection, three requirements and one recommendation were raised. Two of the requirements and the recommendation have been met. One requirement has not been fully met and is raised again. This requirement relates to impact risk assessments and children’s safety plans.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one admission that quickly resulted in an unplanned ending. The placement was assessed prior to admission. However, the impact risk assessment failed to realistically assess risks to the existing group of children. A second impact assessment that was sampled during the inspection was overly positive and did not present a true picture of the home. In addition, the children’s safety plans are not always updated properly following incidents. One child’s plan was updated minimally without details of the actions that the staff would take and another plan was not updated. This lack of information means that staff are not always clear about risks to Inspection report children’s home: 1027158 2 children and the actions that they should take to reduce these risks. However, the area risk assessment has been reviewed and updated, and includes information on incidents in the local area. This assessment alerts staff to areas that pose a danger to children.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been some superficial damage to the home. Repairs have been completed without delay, although communal room carpets are stained and permanently marked. The hardcourt entrance area has rubbish on it and a broken plant pot spilling out soil, with the plant lying on the ground. This unkempt appearance does not give children a nice impression when arriving at the home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Notifiable incidents have not increased in number. Incidents are notified to Ofsted in a timely way. There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home since the last inspection. Staff occasionally use restrictive physical intervention. Records of these interventions show that their use is proportionate and justified. The records include sufficient detail and include details of debriefings with children. Children and staff are given an opportunity to reflect on and learn from incidents.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Whistle-blowing is highlighted and raised with the staff in supervisions. Staff have revisited the safeguarding policy. Since the last inspection, an allegation has been managed in accordance with the safeguarding policy. The management of this allegation has protected children as intended. There was a serious allegation made by one child about another, which resulted in a strategy meeting and clear plans to ensure that both children were carefully supervised. This safeguards children.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children do not have an education placement or refuse to attend their education. This has been the case since September 2018. Therefore, half of the children have little structure and no education provision, placing them at a disadvantage in comparison with their peers.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been improvements made to external monitoring and there is a new independent visitor. The manager’s review of the quality of care reads well. This review includes the views of parents, professionals and children. The review details actions to be taken in order to improve the quality of care provided.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff feel supported and well led by the manager. Regular supervision is carried out by senior staff and these have improved in quality and depth. Supervision records show the matters discussed and reflective points for staff. This supports and guides staff in their roles.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2018 Full Good 29/09/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 17/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1027158 3 23/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.3

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This is with particular regard to ensuring that impact referral assessments and safety plans are detailed and include all relevant information. 28/01/2019

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that the home meets children’s physical necessities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) In particular, ensure that the patio area is clean and that the carpets are replaced.  When children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

p.3

Information about this inspection

Inspection report children’s home: 1027158 4 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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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’.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: White House Business Centre, The White House, Greenalls Avenue, Warrington WA4 6HL

p.4

Inspector

Deirdra Keating: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1027158 5 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.

p.4

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.5