Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC425071 1 SC425071 Registered provider: Ferndearle Child Care Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have complex difficulties. The organisation’s other home is situated close by. Education is available on-site.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. She has been registered with Ofsted since 4 January 2017.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 27 to 28 February 2019

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC425071 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2017 Full Good 21/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/05/2016 Full Good 06/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC425071 3

p.2

Recommendations

 It is crucial that the home works in close partnership with all those who play their role in protecting and caring for the child (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3) In particular, review decisions with regard to when the home informs a parent when their child goes missing, and involve parents in agreeing care plans where appropriate.

p.3

Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, review the purpose of recording a running log of children’s whereabouts while in the children’s presence.

p.3

Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) In particular, ensure that the peer-matching process is individual to each child.

p.3

Recommendations

 Review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location, and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) In particular, ensure that the location risk assessment includes all risks, such as proximity to the sea and cliffs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children experience a positive move into the home. They visit children and ensure that the children visit the home, so they are familiar with staff and the other children prior to moving in. Children who live at the home are well prepared for those moving in; consequently, they are welcoming and friendly towards them. The manager ensures that she gains all the necessary information about children to assess their suitability for the home. However, the peer-matching records do not reflect how children’s behaviour may have an impact on themselves and other children. Inspection report children’s home: SC425071 4 A strength of the home is the consultations with children. Key-time sessions are effective in covering areas that are important to children, as well as each child’s emotional and physical safety. Meetings after school help to develop positive relationships between staff and children. These meetings are a strong mechanism for children to reflect on

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

their school day and prepare for the evening.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children who want to are able to access therapy. In-house therapists provide children with any therapeutic support they need. The therapeutic ways of working are effective in helping children to understand and manage their emotions. One child has matured and is more able to accept boundaries, and another child has reduced the number of incidents he has at school.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have excellent relationships with the children’s schools. Handovers between staff and teaching staff enhance the continued learning for the children. All the children are encouraged to spend time reading every night. A member of the school staff said that the positive relationship between school and care staff, ‘has helped the child understand the boundaries that both settings have and the expectations that we both have too’.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children form close relationships with staff and enjoy spending time with them. They enjoy a range of activities inside and outside of the home. A weekly games night teaches children how to interact positively in a group. However, staff were observed to record a running log of the whereabouts of the children in their presence. This does not demonstrate a nurturing environment.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children usually move on in a planned way because of the progress that they have made. A booklet which includes any worries that children may want to share is effective in helping new carers and professionals to address the children’s concerns. Children make successful moves to their next homes.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Leaders and managers report safeguarding issues to the local authority. They carry out internal investigations after allegations are made and ensure that safety measures are in place. An incident that was not reported immediately in accordance with the organisation’s policy was responded to appropriately. The staff undertook additional training, and any learning was shared with all staff in team meetings and supervisions.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Behaviour management strategies are implemented. The staff use de-escalation techniques to defuse situations. The staff record in detail the behaviour leading up to the need for a physical intervention and the methods used. The manager evaluates the records, identifies any necessary changes to care plans and shares these with the staff team.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children enjoy attending clubs and free time in the community once they have gained staff’s trust. The location risk assessment is compiled to educate social workers, Inspection report children’s home: SC425071 5 parents and children regarding any associated dangers. The registered manager has identified the positive aspects of living near the beach, however she has not considered the risks to children of the proximity to the sea and cliffs.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff ensure that children can use the internet and electronic devices. The staff check children’s mobile devices to ensure that they use these devices safely, in preparation for when they live more independently. Staff are very effective in working with children to educate them about how to keep themselves safe.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Health and safety checks are up to date. Fire safety measures are routinely applied, and when a new child moves in or new staff start to work at the home they are quickly made aware of these measures. The staff ensure that they have regular fire drills, including early morning fire drills.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a strong leader with the necessary qualifications and experience to manage the home. She identifies any additional learning needs for staff, responds by arranging training, and tests staff knowledge. For example, a recent increase in medication errors, although minor, led to competency checks for all staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and supervisions are child-focused. The team around the child includes therapists and education staff. This is effective in providing a strong support system. The registered manager works closely with external professionals and ensures that they are aware of the children’s care needs. A social worker reported, ‘The manager and staff always report any significant incidents and keep their risk assessments up-to-date and forward these to me on a regular basis.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care plans are detailed, with all aspects of children’s care included. These plans are updated regularly to ensure that they remain effective. Children contribute towards a shorter version called ‘My care plan’, which is a child-friendly version. The staff and professionals sign children’s care plans; however, not all parents who could sign agreement to the plan have been given the opportunity to do so.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children rarely go missing from the home. The children are closely supervised until they can manage their time in the community safely. When a child did go missing, staff followed the organisation’s protocol, looked for him and located him after a short time. A decision about not informing the child’s parents when he has gone missing has not been subject to a review.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager shares any lessons learned with the other home in the organisation to ensure continued improvements across both settings. Good quality external and internal monitoring aids the ongoing development of the service. An independent visitor makes clear and relevant recommendations, which the registered person acts on. Inspection report children’s home: SC425071 6

p.5

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.6

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: SC425071 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ferndearle Child Care Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 Biggin Street, Dover, Kent CT16 1BB

p.7

Inspectors

Suzy Lemmy, social care inspector Joe Davys, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC425071 8 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.7

Inspectors

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.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8