Children's home run by Slough Children First Limited in Bristol, City of

Inspection report children’s home: 1183479 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 service primarily offers residential short breaks for children who have learning and/or physical disabilities. In exceptional circumstances, the home may provide known children with an extended or full-time care package. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children. The manager registered with Ofsted in December 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 declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has become registered and there has been a series of improvements. All requirements and recommendations have been met and children continue to make some good progress as a result of staying at the home. However, a significant fire safety issue has not been resolved despite clear advice being given by an external fire assessor and the local fire and rescue service. This has the potential to affect children’s safety and is reflected in the judgement of this inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

In November 2018, a fire risk review was completed by an external body. Among the recommendations was to install appropriate seals and fittings on fire doors. The local fire and rescue service visited the home in December 2018 and identified the same issue. A Inspection report children’s home: 1183479 2 notice of deficiencies was sent to the manager following the visit. At the point of inspection, there has been insufficient action to make good the affected areas. This means that children live in a home where their fire safety is negatively affected. The responsible individual took immediate steps during the inspection to organise swift attention from the authority’s maintenance and facilities team. Similarly, Ofsted liaised with the fire and rescue service during the inspection to establish the level of risk to children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A full staff team is now in place and all staff are appropriately trained and supported. Staff recruitment is thorough and agency staff, where used, are subject to the same rigour in their employment checks. There has been good partnership working and relevant concerns are shared appropriately and swiftly. The local authority designated officer commented that, ‘[The staff] have always consulted with me promptly, completed all necessary referral information, proactively sought feedback and completed investigations in a timely manner.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The arrangements for medication are excellent. Clear and effective systems are in place to ensure that all children’s medication is securely stored, audited and administered in line with prescriptions. Staff undergo thorough training, and regular assessments, to ensure that they are competent in administering medicine to children. A community nurse, who trains the staff team, commented that staff ‘are always very organised and responsive to have their training needs met and updated’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been eight restraints since the last inspection. All of these restraints have been used for appropriate reasons and the recording of these are mostly effective. There have been three occasions, the last one being in September 2018, where the views of children have not been recorded as required following a restraint. The manager has identified this shortfall and put in place measures to prevent its reoccurrence. Sanctions are rarely used in the home. There have been no occasions of children going missing. All staff know how to respond should this change.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been some redecoration to the home and the staff team maintains a warm and welcoming environment. Children enjoy spending time on a range of activities, including trips out and, in some cases, holidays. A new system has been implemented to measure and track children’s progress. This is displayed in a child-friendly way and has been specifically designed by a member of staff working in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children know how to complain should they wish to. There are effective systems in place, including augmented communication methods, to support children raising concerns. Parents have positive views about the home and parents reported: ‘The staff are good’ and ‘They understand my child’s needs.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monthly visits to the home take place as required. The responsible individual has been effective in improving the quality of these visits. During the summer of 2018, the reports did not always make explicitly clear the visitor’s opinion about how effectively children are safeguarded. This has since improved. Inspection report children’s home: 1183479 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/08/2017 Full Good 09/08/2016 Full Good 04/02/2016 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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home, paragraph (1) does not apply; and the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))* 24/02/2019*

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than 5 days after the incident of restraint (Regulation 35(3)(c)). Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint. Children should be offered the opportunity to access an advocacy support to help them with this (Regulation 7(2)(b)(iii)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.60) Inspection report children’s home: 1183479 4

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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: 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

Pete Hylton, regulatory inspection manager Inspection report children’s home: 1183479 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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