Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited in Westminster

Inspection report children’s home: SC022880 1 SC022880 Registered provider: Sherico Care Services Limited 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 one of several homes owned by a private organisation. The home provides care and accommodation for up to six children. The home’s Statement of Purpose states that the home cares for children who present with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since August 2017. The current manager sent in an application for registration with Ofsted on 17 January 2019, and this is currently in progress.

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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

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.

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and young people since the most recent 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

Leaders and managers have become more effective at this home. Examples of this are training schedules for staff, regular supervision of staff and team meetings which discuss children’s needs in detail. The current manager is building a stronger team of staff who are working together to understand the children’s complex needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All the nine requirements and one recommendation made at the last full inspection in June 2019 have been met or partly met. This shows better organisation and evidences Inspection report children’s home: SC022880 2 that the current manager and the team can improve the service.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current manager’s review of the quality of care at the home remains an area for improvement. Although this is set out under the framework of the Quality Standards, it requires better analysis of the collated information. It is not yet informed by the feedback of the children, parents and professionals who use the service.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from the home and one has been admitted, and there was a period of three months when both children were living at the home. Both children admitted to the home had a high level of complex needs, and the risk assessments indicate that the matching was not robust enough. Some children’s needs have required solo placements for a period, which the home has facilitated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Considering their starting points, children have made some progress while living at the home. One child, who had experienced several placement breakdowns, had a much more settled period while living at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children experience better organisation and structure to their week. The staff ensure that during school hours children are not allowed to watch television or play games. Children are encouraged to engage in education or an educational activity if they do not have a school placement.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children learn semi-independence skills by helping with shopping, cooking and doing their own laundry. Children are encouraged to attend the local gymnasium and to try other activities outside the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are undertaking regular key-work sessions, which shows that difficult issues and behaviours are being addressed with children. The current manager has updated the behaviour management policy, however this does not yet give clear guidance to staff about acceptable sanctions.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current manager and staff are working collaboratively with agencies to promote children’s safety and well-being. The police are due to come to the home to provide training for staff on the risks of child sexual exploitation. The response to children who go missing from the home is well established and is positive, as are the links with the police, who support the home’s approach. Inspection report children’s home: SC022880 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2017 Full Inadequate 25/07/2017 Full Inadequate 21/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Ensure the registered person is responsible for deciding what each review should focus on, based on the specific circumstances of the home at that particular time and any areas of high risk to the children that the home is designed to care for, such as missing or exploitation. They will also consider what information or data recorded in the home will form part of the evidence base for their analysis and conclusions. There is no expectation that the registered person will review the home against every part of the Quality Standards every six months – registered persons should use their professional judgement to decide which factors to focus on. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.4)  The registered person should ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their

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Recommendations

behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38) Specifically in relation to updating the behaviour management policy, make it explicit that staff cannot withdraw all of a child’s pocket money as a sanction.  Ensure the registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and 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) Inspection report children’s home: SC022880 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 difference 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: Sherico Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2–4 Balmoral Road, London E10 5ND

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Inspector

Christine Kennet, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC022880 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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