Children's home run by Slough Children’s Services Trust Limited in Bristol, City of

Inspection report children‟s home: 1183494 1 Registered provider: Slough Children‟s Services Trust Limited (09487106) Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This purpose-built children‟s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children. It aims to provide security and stability for children who have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties. The home has been without a registered manager since 16 December 2016.

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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. The new manager has identified several areas that need improving in the organisation of the home and in recording practice. Improved guidance, support and praise have given staff greater confidence in their roles, in each other and in the home‟s development. Young people spoken to like living in the home. However, staff believe that some young people have lost trust due to frequent changes in the staff team; having formed relationships with staff only to find they have left or have been suspended, often suddenly and with limited explanation, young people are not motivated to engage with those who remain. The manager talked of a „chasm between children and staff‟ that they need to bridge. Young people and staff have concerns about the impact of some permanent workers no

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

longer being on shift. There are sufficient numbers to meet current needs, with the use of regular temporary staff, but it was a challenge when there were more young people Inspection report children‟s home: 1183494 2 living at the home. One staff member said, „I feel like I‟m doing three people‟s roles – but I‟m still going strong.‟ According to the designated officer of the local authority, allegations that led to staff being suspended have been dealt with „seriously and appropriately‟ by managers. The officer noted, however, that when an incident was reopened following new information coming to light, records of the first internal investigation could not be found. In addition, during this inspection, relevant plans for a young person who had left the home could not be located. Some new procedures are working well, such as a new format for impact risk assessments and processes for gathering and recording young people‟s views. Young

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

people know how to raise „grumbles‟ or make a complaint. The most recent complaint is being considered with due attention to proper process and evidencing actions taken. Other systems are not yet operating effectively. Logs for recording incidents in the home have been revised to allow an easier flow of information. This improves documenting and monitoring processes but is flawed by examples of misfiling, insufficient detail (especially in accounts of restraints), not recording when staff have been spoken to about measures of control and no monitoring of those restraints the manager has been involved in. The home has a behaviour management policy and separate guidance for physical intervention. Neither addresses the circumstances in which ground holds are appropriate to use, the need to regularly check the health and welfare of the young person during and after the intervention, or requirements for recording the event. Partly as a result,

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

the record of the sole occasion a ground hold was used in the home is deficient in several areas. Relevant plans do not follow the policy requirement to detail the use of physical interventions appropriate for individual young people, and one plan does not evidence that the behaviour management plan was „formulated between the young person and their key worker‟. This is more than procedural, as one young person had clear views about what works for her and what does not. Placement plans and risk assessments do not include young people‟s contributions, with the notable exception of the placement plan of the most recently admitted young person. Both documents omit significant elements, including meeting young people‟s cultural needs and risk of child sexual and/or criminal exploitation. Nevertheless, staff practice is good in terms of addressing matters such as religious observance and personal care needs. Staff learn from young people and families about

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

how best to meet these needs. They are well aware of how to respond in the case of any particular young person going missing and this practice is underpinned by well- written individual protocols. A new independent person has been appointed, and as a result the quality and timeliness of regulation 44 reports have improved. However, the reports have often not explicitly stated the author‟s view as to whether young people are safeguarded effectively and have their well-being promoted. A review of the care provided by the home has not been received by Ofsted since December 2017; one was produced for the six months to April 2018 but not sent. Inspection report children‟s home: 1183494 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/05/2016 Full Good 09/11/2015 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

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person is required to:

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Requirement Due date

enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children‟s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)) 31/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person is required to:

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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 (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person is required to complete and submit a review of the quality of care provided for children at least every six months. 01/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home and that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in 31/03/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: 1183494 4 relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the policy should give guidance on the use of ground holds, the need to ensure the health and well-being of the young person concerned during and after such an intervention and the essential matters to detail in records of it. 31/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”) has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the conversation should be recorded and demonstrate that timescales have been adhered to. 28/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

Case records must be kept in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (2)(d)) 28/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being. (Regulation 44 (3)(a)(b)) 28/02/2019

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Recommendations

 The registered provider must ensure staff are able to build a positive relationship with each child and help the child develop skills to have positive relationships with others. „Others‟ includes individuals both inside and outside the home, such as other children in the home, staff, family members, siblings, previous carers and friends (in accordance with their relevant plans). („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 38, paragraph 8.6) In particular, ensure sufficient continuity of staff to maintain relationships over time.  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the general principles for behaviour management in children‟s homes are respected. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 46, paragraph 9.36) In particular, when the home‟s manager

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Recommendations

Inspection report children‟s home: 1183494 5 has implemented such a measure a senior manager should monitor its use.

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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. 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. Using the „Social care common inspection framework‟, this inspection was carried out

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Information about this inspection

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: 1183494 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Slough Children‟s Services Trust Limited (09487106)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ground Floor West, St Martin‟s Place, 51 Bath Road, Slough, Buckinghamshire SL1 3UF

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Inspector

Chris Peel, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 1183494 7 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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