Children's home run by Atlas Healthcare Ltd in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC429778 1 SC429778

p.1

Atlas Healthcare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home offers full-time care and accommodation for up to ten children and young people who have learning disabilities, and short breaks for up to five children and young people who have learning disabilities. The registered manager has been in her current role since November 2015.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Two inspectors carried out this monitoring visit to investigate three separate safeguarding incidents. The inspectors found significant failings in how the registered person and the staff protect the children and young people.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Consequently, two compliance notices and three requirements have been issued to ensure that the registered person make immediate improvements to keep the children and young people safe.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Records show that there have been occasions where the staff have not followed the home’s child protection procedure, such as when they have not immediately reported to a leader or manager that a child or children may be at risk of significant harm or abuse. This unsafe practice compromises the children’s and young people’s welfare.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Failures in the risk management of potential hazards and the home’s monitoring have contributed to the inspectors’ concerns about the operation of the home. For example, there was a failure to carry out a risk assessment on a staff member who was returning to work, and significant risks that staff recorded in the children’s and young people’s case files were not identified and addressed. This lack of oversight is potentially neglectful.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has not adequately assessed the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications of all the agency staff who have been employed to Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC429778 2 cover staff absence. As a result, some of the agency staff employed by the home have not previously supported children and young people with complex needs; some do not have a relevant social care level 3 diploma; and some have not previously worked in a children’s home. This means that the children and young people are not being cared for by staff who can adequately meet their needs.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The inspectors found weaknesses in home’s administration and document management. The staff duty rosters are illegible, and there has been occasions where the registered manager has failed to notify Ofsted of a significant event in a timely manner. These shortfalls could potentially compromise any future safeguarding investigations.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/08/2018 Full Good 06/06/2018 Full Inadequate 24/07/2017 Full Good 28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC429778 3

p.2

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.

p.3

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—

p.3

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.3

Requirement Due date

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;

p.3

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.3

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

p.3

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(e)) 19/05/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 19/05/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC429778 4 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

use the monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(f)(h)) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that the individual is of integrity and good character. (Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(3)(a)) 19/05/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in schedule 4 and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(2)(a)(b); schedule 4(3))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. 19/05/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 19/05/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.4

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC429778 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Atlas Healthcare Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Norcliffe House, Station Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 1BU

p.5

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Maureen Richardson

p.5

Inspector

Michael Dack, social care inspector Deborah White, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC429778 6 to 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.

p.5

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 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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6