Children's Home run by Keys ACE Limited in Bury

Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 1 SC420388 Registered provider: Alliance Care and Education Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to care for up to four children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 25 July 2018. A new manager is in post and has submitted an application to Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 30 April to 1 May 2019

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2018 Full Good 19/09/2017 Full Good 30/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/10/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that staff communicate clearly with partner agencies including schools and health professionals so that the needs of young people can be prioritised. When local authorities or other professionals do not complete actions as agreed, there should be robust and swift challenge to ensure that a satisfactory outcome is achieved. 30/06/2019

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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.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 30/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 4 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(ii)(v)(vi)(vii)) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(d)(e)(f)) 30/06/2019

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The care planning standard is that children—

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receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that all relevant information is obtained prior to a young person’s arrival so that young people only move into the home if staff have the skills and experience to meet their needs and keep them safe. 30/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out— 30/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 5 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 6 Paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to restrain that is planned or provided for as a matter of routine in the child’s EHC plan or statement of special educational needs (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2)(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(4)) The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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children are effectively safeguarded; and

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the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that visits completed by the independent visitor provide a reflective assessment of the quality of care provided to young people. 30/06/2019

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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 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).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must 30/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 7 consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2))

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Recommendations

 Where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some reason, the registered person must ensure that the young person is engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.15)  Ensure that children feel safe and are safe. Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9). In particular, young people should have the opportunity to take part in a night time fire evacuation drill.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two young people have moved into the home and two young people have left. One new young person’s placement lasted for four weeks. This was because the manager had not fully considered the needs of the young person prior to their arrival or ensured that the staff team had the appropriate skill base. This does not demonstrate good care planning.

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improvement to be good

Despite this, another young person who recently came to the home has settled well. The young person has made good progress in the early stages of his placement, engaging with education and participating with the routines of the home. The young person told inspectors that he really likes his large bedroom and thinks that staff are ‘mint’.

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improvement to be good

Staff have variable success in maintaining relationships with the young people. One young person who has lived at the home for several years has become less responsive to staff. As a result, staff are struggling to positively engage with the young person. This is because the young person is frustrated with the change of managers and staff working in the home over the last year.

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improvement to be good

All young people are accessing education. However, feedback from one school was that communication with staff can be poor. For example, staff do not record when the young person has read books as part of his homework. This indicates an inconsistent approach Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 8 to prioritising young people’s education needs.

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improvement to be good

A recent complaint by a community paediatrician highlighted other examples of poor staff communication. Positively, the manager has taken swift steps to address this and to ensure that the young person’s health needs are met.

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improvement to be good

Due to changes implemented by the new manager, young people are increasingly given opportunities to engage in activities out in the community and in the home. This provides young people with opportunities to learn new skills and develop their self- esteem and confidence.

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improvement to be good

Staff are inconsistent in their approach to keeping young people safe. When young people leave the home without permission, staff do not always follow the strategies included in their individual risk assessments. This means that there are delays in welfare calls being made to young people. Despite this, there are other examples of staff having taken appropriate action to locate and return young people to the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff’s insight into one young person’s vulnerability to exploitation and risk of substance use is variable. The failure of one staff member to share information about drug paraphernalia found in a young person’s room means that the manager and other staff have an incomplete picture about the potential risks facing the young person.

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improvement to be good

Although staff have worked with partner agencies to review the young person’s potential exposure to harm, this has lacked the required urgency. This means that there have been delays in the sharing of information.

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improvement to be good

In some instances, young people benefit from advice and guidance from staff on how to keep themselves safe. However, an inconsistent approach to case recording and poor monitoring by the manager result in the delivery of such work being disorganised. Thus, the extent to which staff have supported young people to understand risk, including how to be safe online, is unclear.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not completed night time fire evacuation drills in line with the home’s fire safety policy. This does not demonstrate a strong safeguarding culture. Notwithstanding this, all young people have been involved in regular day time fire evacuation drills, so that they know what to do in the event of an emergency.

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improvement to be good

Staff have achieved some success in promoting positive behaviours, using reward charts and verbal praise. As a result, physical interventions are not needed often.

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improvement to be good

Although there are examples of tailored approaches to behaviour management, these are not always delivered consistently. Specifically, the manager recently identified that using electronic equipment as a reward or sanction for one young person was not Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 9 effective. Although this information was shared with staff, some staff have continued to use this approach. Weaknesses in the manager’s monitoring systems have resulted in this inconsistent practice not being identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has been without a registered manager for nine months. In this time, there have been two changes of manager. This means that the home has experienced a sustained period without stable leadership. This has had a direct impact on the quality of care provided to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The current manager has been in post for two months. The manager has applied to Ofsted to be the registered manager. The new manager is keen and child focused. However, she lacks experience. The manager is still establishing herself in her role. This process has been hindered by the level of experience and skills of her deputy managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Over the last year, there have been several changes in the staff team. Non-permanent staff have been required. This has contributed to the variable quality of care provided to young people. However, this is an improving picture, and a full staff team is now in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A change of ownership of the home has been a further destabilising factor. Staff and managers have had to adapt to different processes and procedures, some of which are still being embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A benefit of the change of ownership is that staff now have access to a greater range of training. However, the manager is still developing a system to track staff training. This means that the manager cannot demonstrate the training that staff have completed. This does not demonstrate effective leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s monitoring systems are not sufficiently embedded to allow her to understand the home’s areas of strength and development. This has been compounded by the quality of independent visitor reports. These reports have failed to identify the shortfalls in the care of the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Notwithstanding this, the manager has begun using team meetings and supervisions to ensure that staff raise their expectations of young people. The manager recognises the importance of delivering reliable and stable care. The manager is still in the early stages of establishing this practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has begun to hold partner agencies, including local authorities, to account. However, this challenge has not been strong enough or undertaken with the required speed. This has had an impact on the care planning for young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 10

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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

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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Alliance Care and Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Second Floor, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen, Worcestershire B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Jo Hornby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC420388 12 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

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