Children's home run by Park Lane Residential Home Limited in Brent

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC050124 1 SC050124

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Park Lane Residential Home Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home which provides care and accommodation for up to five young people. The statement of purpose notes that the home provides care to young people with multifaceted needs.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the effectiveness of the actions that the provider has taken to meet the statutory compliance notice dated 12 February 2019. This compliance notice was issued by Ofsted to the registered provider under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000, following the interim inspection of the home on 29 January 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice related to the provider’s failure to evidence robust practices in relation to the recruitment of staff. The provider was required to ensure that the following regulation is met by 15 March 2019:

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Regulations 2015

The provider was specifically required to ensure that staff files contain all information that is specified in Schedule 2. This included the staff members who were already employed by the provider at the time of the notice being issued.

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Regulations 2015

At this monitoring visit, staff recruitment files for all six staff members who currently work at the home were examined.

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Regulations 2015

This visit concluded that the provider had not met the statutory compliance notice but has taken the right steps to ensure compliance in the near future. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC050124 2 The staff recruitment practices have significantly improved. The provider has audited the staff recruitment files and has taken steps to address any gaps in the information available. The information on the staff files is now more comprehensive and in line with the regulation 32 and Schedule 2. An example of this is that all staff files contain two written references.

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Regulations 2015

The provider was unable to demonstrate that they have obtained an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for one of the long-standing staff members. The provider stated that they had obtained an appropriate DBS when they employed this staff member. As they realised that they were unable to evidence this, they asked this staff member to apply for a new DBS check. The staff member applied for a DBS check on 15 March 2019.

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Regulations 2015

Another staff’s file did not have a recorded explanation of a five-months’ gap of employment prior to their being employed by this home. The provider said that they would easily find out from the staff member what this gap was about and ensure that it is recorded.

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Regulations 2015

Having more robust staff recruitment practices means a safer service for young people. The provider’s compliance with regulation 32 and the other nine breaches of regulations that were identified at the interim inspection and are included in this report will be examined at the next full inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/01/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 28/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/09/2017 Full Good 23/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC050124 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

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; help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that clear and meaningful risk assessments and risk management plans are in place for each young person to guide staff practices. 01/05/2019

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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— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the 01/05/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC050124 4 monitoring or surveillance; so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if— there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership; does not satisfy regulation 28; or

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— the name of the person so appointed; and the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(2)(a)(b)) 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

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; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)) 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 01/05/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC050124 5 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)(b)(c) Schedule 3.14)

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must keep information relating to the care, protection or safety of the child on their file, including the date and circumstances of all incidents where a child goes missing from the home and any information relating to the child’s whereabouts during the period of absence. The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered

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Requirement Due date

person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’). The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this review must relate to the period that has passed and provide a meaningful, coherent and clear analysis of the events that have happened during the review period. 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the 01/05/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC050124 6 purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12 (2)(c) (the protection of children standard). When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2))

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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 in respect to the statutory compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Park Lane Residential Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Brook Avenue, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 8PH

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Inspector:

Seka Graovac, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC050124 7 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.

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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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