Children's home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Thanet

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023645 1 SC023645

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Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately operated home is part of a larger organisation, which has several homes in the area. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children who have social, emotional and mental health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 11 January 2016.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit follows the last full inspection on 19 February 2019, at which the home was judged inadequate. There were 10 requirements made relating to a number of practice areas. Five requirements related to safeguarding; ensuring that risks to children were understood and acted on by staff; ensuring that effective risk management plans were implemented; that staff responded effectively to child protection concerns; and that staff helped children to keep themselves safe. Other requirements were made in respect of appropriately challenging professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met; ensuring that children can access appropriate health services; ensuring that the quality of care is monitored effectively; that Ofsted is notified of significant events; and that monitoring and surveillance devices do not intrude on children’s privacy.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has reviewed safeguarding practice in the home following the last inspection. He has developed better systems for monitoring staff responses to safeguarding concerns and improved risk management plans to ensure that strategies to minimise risk are clear. This helps staff to respond to risks effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been supported by the registered manager to understand the identified risks for each child. This has been both collectively as a team and individually through the reflective supervision provided by the registered manager. The staff team has been supporting children to understand how to keep themselves safe, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023645 2 through individual key-work sessions. Children have also been supported to engage in online learning, around risks specific to their individual needs. This is being assisted by the provision of a specialist workshop for children which will specifically explore the risks associated with gang involvement.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding training for staff has been reviewed and improved following the last inspection. Staff have undertaken online training including how to respond to concerns in relation to county lines. This is important, in the context of the concerns at the last inspection, in relation to potential drug dealing. Training for staff is being developed through the delivery of a more in-depth safeguarding course. This will support staff’s developing understanding of child criminal exploitation.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has focused on improving safeguarding practice in the staff team. Staff have engaged well in this process overall. The registered manager has supported staff who carry out key work to develop their insight and understanding of the individual children’s needs. There has been one incident, involving one child, where concerns around risk relating to fire safety were identified. Staff ensured that appropriate services, including the local fire service, were sought to support the child to better understand the risks. However, the registered manager could not provide evidence, during this inspection, of direct work undertaken by the staff team to help the child to understand the risk, to prevent a similar incident happening again.

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This monitoring visit

Through reflective supervision and team meetings, the registered manager has fully explored how the team can learn from previous shortfalls in practice. The registered manager has now devised a specific process for escalating concerns. This provides guidance to the staff team on when to escalate concerns and a clear timeframe for doing so. There was an example of this having been put into practice and, following an appropriate challenge by the registered manager, a young person’s transition from the home has now been achieved.

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This monitoring visit

Working with the in-house health and well-being team, the registered manager has introduced a monthly advice session, for children to access individually. This has been devised in consultation with children. Their ideas for topics to cover in the advice sessions are included for discussion in the regular house meetings, which enables their views to shape the session. Physical health needs are supported through children’s engagement in regular activities. Emotional well-being needs are supported by the health and well-being team devising individual support plans with children and staff.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager, together with the responsible individual, undertook a systemic review of the monitoring systems in place. This review has resulted in the registered manager implementing new processes to ensure effective monitoring of the quality of care provided.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has notified Ofsted of significant events. The surveillance camera in the office has been removed. This ensures that children’s privacy is Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023645 3 respected, which is important within the home environment.

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This monitoring visit

The 10 requirements made at the last inspection have all been met. The registered manager, together with the responsible individual, have worked with the staff team to develop new approaches and systems to improve the quality of care provided. Together, these new approaches and systems are supporting changes to staff practice. The registered manager recognises that this will take some time to be fully embedded into practice. The registered manager has shown commitment in ensuring that the requirements were met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/02/2019 Full Inadequate 24/01/2018 Full Good 19/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023645 4

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that effective strategies are put in place when a specific risk has been identified. 31/05/2019

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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.

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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: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 424 Margate Road, Ramsgate CT12 6SJ

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Inspector

Maria Lonergan, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023645 5 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 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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