Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report children‟s home: SC487549 1 SC487549 Registered provider: Radical Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is one of several operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager left the home in August 2018. A new manager is in place and has submitted a registration application to Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: 13 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 required improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three young people currently live in the home. Their views were obtained throughout the inspection process.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, three young people have moved in and out of the home. Transition planning has generally improved. However, on one occasion, because of a lack of information, a full and detailed assessment was not completed. The manager recognised the difficulties encountered in the placement. He is working with the area manager to make improvements to the systems in place.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has suffered a further period of uncertainty and there have been Inspection report children‟s home: SC487549 2 inconsistencies in the staff team. During the inspection, young people and staff talked about the inconsistent approaches being used. Young people said, „Depending on who is on shift will depend on the answer you get, its always different‟, and, „We just wish that they [staff] all said the same, even if it means they say no.‟ Staff confirmed that there are inconsistencies within the staff team. Not all staff were reported to be following the agreed boundaries and routines, which has caused difficulties with young people and, on some occasions, conflict. Although staff reported that this had been discussed with their supervisors, an inconsistent approach towards work with young people is evident.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not yet benefit from consistent, effective boundaries or consequences. As a result, young people do not always learn about the effects of their negative actions. Therefore, some unsafe behaviours continue, such as smoking cannabis.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people were observed throughout the inspection using inappropriate and abusive language towards the adults caring for them. This was left unchallenged. It does not demonstrate that young people are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships that are based on mutual respect and an understanding of acceptable behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education outcomes for young people have improved and staff support all young people to access appropriate education, training and employment. The manager has introduced education plans. However, not all staff are updating these and they do not consistently evidence the work that they are doing in this area.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have supported young people to attend health appointments and access specialist services to support their emotional well-being. However, in the home, staff are not promoting healthy living or supporting all young people to lead healthy lifestyles. The manager accepted the shortfalls in this area. A requirement is made to address these shortfalls.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of young people going missing from the home are reducing in number. Staff follow missing-from-home procedures well. On most occasions, return home interviews are carried out with young people, providing them with an opportunity to talk about the reasons why they went missing and thus preventing reoccurrence.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, improvements have been made in safeguarding practice. Risks are comprehensively assessed and include clear, protective strategies for staff to follow. However, despite the new manager introducing new systems, not all staff have signed or dated the records to indicate that they are aware of and fully understand all risk factors. The manager had identified this as an area for improvement.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the manager and staff are working hard to create a warm, nurturing environment, there is work required in the home and garden areas to improve the general environment. The couches are damaged and need replacing and parts of the environment would benefit from redecoration. Young people‟s bedrooms had clothes strewn across the floor, and dirty plates with the remnants of food. One young person had access to computer games that were not age appropriate. Young people talked to inspectors about their view that the home environment required improvement to be a Inspection report children‟s home: SC487549 3 good home. One young person said, „This is their [the staff‟s] workplace. It‟s not like my home. I keep telling them it should be a nice place to live.‟

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all of the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. Although the manager has identified the relevant areas for development within his new monitoring systems, further time is required to ensure that they are all met and embedded into practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Rotas do not clearly show which staff are on duty, and the times that they are starting and finishing shifts. Additionally, the manager is not consistently recorded on the rota. Although the manager reported that this information is contained in the daily logbook, further scrutiny demonstrated that this information is not recorded consistently. Therefore, records do not consistently demonstrate that there is effective day-to-day management of the home, or that there are staff covering all shifts. A requirement is made to address this shortfall.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Gaps were found in the professional supervision provided for staff, including newly appointed staff. The staff‟s professional development, support and guidance can be strengthened by ensuring that they all receive regular supervision, and that the areas identified for improvement are addressed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has introduced a new monitoring system that is helping him to improve practice and identify areas for development. He has submitted an application to HMCI to become the registered manager.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/05/2017 Full Good 29/03/2017 Interim Improved 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. Inspection report children‟s home: SC487549 4

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10(1)(c)(2)(a)) 12/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)) 12/04/2019

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‟s health. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(d)) 12/04/2019

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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— ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; and ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)) 12/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b)) 12/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child, are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 12/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children‟s home. The registered person must maintain in the home the records in 12/04/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC487549 5 Schedule 4 and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a)(b)). In particular, ensure that a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home includes the manager and a record of the actual rotas worked.

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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: Radical Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rouse House, 2 Wyther Lane, Leeds LS5 3BT

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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, social care inspection manager Catherine Fargin, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC487549 6 Inspection report children‟s home: SC487549 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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