Children's home run by South West Childcare Services

Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 1 Registered provider: South West Childcare Services Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home was registered in January 2017 and is part of a small but expanding organisation based in South West England. This home is registered to provide accommodation and care for up to two children. The current manager was registered with Ofsted on 16 August 2017. The home is situated in a residential area on the outskirts of a large city and has access to good amenities and public transport.

p.1

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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 improved effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have left the home have successfully moved on to the next stage in their lives, in accordance with their care plans. The manager is proud of their progress and has kept in contact with the young people since they moved out.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children now live in the home and one child has made significant progress, both socially and educationally. He has broadened his horizons and gets involved with regular activities as well as starting to make friends and enjoying a new school. Both children have made positive relationships with the staff and they feel supported.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are clear about which medication children take and why. The manager ensures that there are regular reviews of medication, so that no child takes medication unnecessarily. Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 2 Medication procedures have improved since the previous inspection, but a recommendation is made to ensure that records are clear about what levels of medication children are prescribed. This is to avoid any potential for confusion.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child goes missing frequently. Staff follow the child and do all that they can to try and find him. Although these episodes do not continue overnight, it is a concern for staff in the home and for other professionals. Multi-agency meetings are held regularly and plans are discussed about how the child can be kept safer.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirements and recommendation made at the previous inspection are now met: staffing ratios meet the needs of children, staff are supervised regularly and staff have the relevant experience to care for children. The manager’s monitoring and oversight of the home’s functions have improved. However, incident recordings should contain more detail to make clearer what actions staff have taken to protect children and why. This would assist the manager further in her analysis.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

When a child raised a concern, the manager investigated but did not respond in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose by recording it and making sufficiently clear to the child what the outcome was.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff work cohesively and enjoy looking after the children. The home environment is welcoming, well cared for and has all the necessary equipment to meet children’s needs.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/10/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 10/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

p.2

Recommendations

 Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. These are fundamentally the same sorts of arrangements as a good parent would make but are subject to additional safeguards. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15) In particular, ensure that any references to medication, including the medication Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 3 forms, accurately reflect prescriptions.  Records must be kept detailing all individual incidents when children go missing from the home (Regulation 36 (schedule 3(14)). Evaluation of missing incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (See paragraph 15.2) (‘Guide to the

p.2

Recommendations

children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31) In particular, ensure that recording of incidents includes all details of action taken and why.  Staff should encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Regulation 39 sets out the requirements on the registered person to have a complaints procedure. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, pages 22–23, paragraph 4.13) In particular, ensure that if a child raises a concern, that it is dealt with in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.3

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.

p.3

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.3

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: 1248071 4

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 46 Durnford Street, First Floor Flat, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3QN

p.4

Inspector

Sarah Canto, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1248071 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 looked after children, 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