Children's Home run by Stanfield Care Services Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children’s home: SC451152 1 SC451152 Registered provider: Stanfield Care Services 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 provides care for up to four children aged between eight and 17 who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The registered manager left the home in October 2018. There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 4 September 2018

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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 sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, four requirements and one recommendation were raised. Two of these requirements are not fully met and have been raised again. The recommendation has not been met and has been escalated to a requirement. Overall, four requirements and one recommendation have been raised at this inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff offer the children some planned activities. The staff try to keep children purposefully engaged and give structure to their day. A lack of regular community activities means that children do not have the chance to pursue their interests or to meet peers outside the home. Helping children to build their interests and to develop hobbies remain in the planning stages. For one child who is new to the home, this is acceptable as she settles in. Another child has been offered to go horse riding but has declined. Therefore, despite some effort by the staff, this shortfall has not been fully addressed. Inspection report children’s home: SC451152 2 Neither of the children are in education or work. One child failed to secure her choice of college course. An alternative course was identified but did not work out. Another child, who is new to the home, has no education provision. Therefore, both children stay at

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

the home during the day. The staff support one child to do educational work at the home and have planned a museum trip. Children are encouraged to seek work and staff support them with this. However, a lack of external education provision is detrimental to children’s learning and development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The incidents of children leaving the home without permission have significantly decreased. There have been occasions when children have left the home for short periods or returned later than agreed times. These have been managed in line with each child’s risk assessment plan and return interviews have been carried out. These interviews determine the individual triggers of children leaving and help staff to reduce the number of incidents.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no incidents of cannabis use at the home for two months. However, there is a smell of tobacco on the first floor, indicating that children smoke in the house. The staff have not challenged the children about this and the staff have not highlighted any concerns, despite previous issues around smoking and cannabis misuse. There is no evidence of smoking cessation work or substance misuse support. Despite this, substance misuse has reduced, although it is unclear whether this is because of staff support and education.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The external monitoring visit reports lack a clear summary from the visitor about whether children are safeguarded effectively and whether their well-being is promoted by the home. There has been no independent visit undertaken in the last two months. This reduces the extra safeguard that such visits afford and does not meet the regulations. This has been addressed, with a visit planned for the end of January 2019.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are several members of staff who have had no supervision in September 2018 and one member of staff who has not had supervision since October 2018. This has not improved, despite being identified as a shortfall at a previous inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite several shortfalls, the home is settled. The staff are organised in providing a routine and structure as best they can without education in place for either child. The children like the staff and engage well with them. Relationships are supportive and help the children, who are a long way from home. The home is increasingly calm. Children feel safe and relaxed. They get on well with one another and can recognise how the home has helped them to reduce their risk-taking behaviours. The staff support children and their families well. Family members who visit the home feel welcomed and comfortable.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Work at the home that involved external contractors, vehicles and machinery has been assessed. The manager has a contractor’s agreement about behaviour, conduct and risks. The development area has been fenced off securely from the home’s grounds. The children have been advised which safe areas can be accessed if necessary and building Inspection report children’s home: SC451152 3 work has temporarily stopped.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new manager has been appointed after a planned departure by the last registered manager who has moved to an operational role. The last registered manager continues to undertake the induction of the new manager and oversees the home. This oversight provides continuity of care for the children and stability for the staff team. The new manager has been in post since November 2018 and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2017 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 enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and 28/02/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC451152 4 make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; and

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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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

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(ii)) 28/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 28/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b)) 28/02/2019

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Recommendations

 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC451152 5 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)

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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

Registered provider: Stanfield Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 57 Newbury Road, Newtown Community Centre, Birmingham B19 2SW

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Inspector

Deirdra Keating, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC451152 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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