Children's home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Thanet

Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 1 SC478616 Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to accommodate up to four children who may display challenging behaviour and experience difficulties in forming and sustaining relationships. The company also has a school, which children may attend.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2018.

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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 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 registered manager’s planned absence from the home on 17 January 2019, two interim management arrangements have been put in place. The current arrangement was made at very short notice and its effectiveness is yet to be tested.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The significant changes to the leadership have disrupted the normal running of the home and have not been planned and notified in the required manner. For the child who moved in during this unsettled period, the circumstances did not support a best possible transition. Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 2 During this inspection period, there has been insufficient improvement in the way staff are supported to provide effective support to the children, through clear, current and accessible plans. The requirements made at the last inspection, in relation to shortfalls in children’s plans that support progress and reduce risk, are therefore repeated. However, there has been significant improvement to the practice around understanding the needs of children before they move in, and the requirement made in this regard has been met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Plans to guide staff in keeping children safe are not being reviewed and updated in response to incidents and changes in their circumstances. This increases the risks for some children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are not always demonstrating sufficient skill and understanding in the way they promote positive behaviour in the home and are not consistently following the home’s policies and procedures in this regard. Regulations are not always being met because of the way that behavioural incidents are recorded. These shortfalls undermine the maintenance of a positive environment in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

During most of this inspection period, the general running of the home has been stable, and the children have become more settled. One child has made a positive and carefully planned transition to more independent care and maintains meaningful contact with his former carers.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The homely atmosphere has improved, and the decoration and maintenance of the home, as well as health and safety checks, remain at a good standard. The outdoor area has been cleared and tidied but remains completely undeveloped for the use and enjoyment of the children.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2018 Full Good 09/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 3

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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 person who is in day-to-day charge of the children’s home proposes to be absent from the home for a continuous period of 28 days or more, the registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI of the proposed absence. Except in the case of an emergency or unforeseen absence, a notice under paragraph (1) must— be given no later than one month before the proposed absence commences, or within such shorter period as may be agreed with HMCI; and specify with respect to the proposed absence— its length or expected length; the reason for it; the arrangements which have been made for running the home during the absence; the address, name and qualifications of the person who will be responsible for the home during the absence; and in the case of the absence of the registered manager, the arrangements that have been, or are proposed to be, made for appointing another person to manage the home during the absence, including the proposed date by which the appointment

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Requirement Due date

is to be made. If the absence arises as a result of an emergency or is unforeseen, the registered person must give notice of the absence— within one week of the beginning of the absence; and specifying the matters in paragraph (2)(b). If the notice required under paragraph (2) or (3) has not been given as required, it must be given without delay. The registered person must notify HMCI of the return to duty of the person in day-to-day charge of the home not later than 7 days after the date of that person’s return. (Regulation 48 (1)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(ii)(iv)(v)(3)(a)(b)(4)(5)) 14/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 14/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 4 In particular, ensure that the recording of plans makes them clear and accessible to all staff.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that assessments are current, clearly recorded and that arrangements for reducing risks are clear and accessible to all staff. 14/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out— how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and

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Requirement Due date

of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; 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; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 14/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 5 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2)(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b) (i)(ii)(c))

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Recommendations

 The registered person must provide a welcoming, nurturing and supportive environment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) In particular, develop the outdoor area to further improve and expand the living area of the home.

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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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 424 Margate Road, Ramsgate CT12 6SJ

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Inspector:

John Pledger, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC478616 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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

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