Children's home run by Soteria House Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 1 Registered provider: Soteria House 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

The home provides care and accommodation for up to 17 children and young people. This includes the provision of short breaks for up to three children and young people. The home supports children and young people who have a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since December 2018.

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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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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 18 September 2018

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/09/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 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 procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular -

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describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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The registered person must ensure that all employees -

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undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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The registered person must ensure that -

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at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification.

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The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular -

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provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted.

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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. 10/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure -

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4.

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This particularly refers to the need for details of the child’s placing authority to be recorded. 10/06/2019

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The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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The registered person must ensure that -

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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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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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The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular - 10/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 5 provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about past abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the alleged abuse or neglect occurred.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the need to specify the age range of children for whom it is intended that accommodation is to be provided. 10/06/2019

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

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seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs.

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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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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;

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use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 10/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 6 (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(f)(h))

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The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the following requirements -

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the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills;

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full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of the matters in Schedule 2.

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(Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(3)(b)(d)) 10/06/19

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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.

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

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that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Recommendations

 Children should be able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home and any modifications to the environment of the home must only be made where this is intended to safeguard a child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 7 15, paragraph 3.10)  Children should be provided with appropriate furniture to securely store personal items. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.19)  The registered person should ensure that all children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home and are encouraged to participate

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Recommendations

in those activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)  Children should be supported to express themselves as individuals and should be given an appropriate degree of freedom and choice in relation to day to day arrangements for their care. This is in relation to both activities and personal items such as clothing, technology and leisure items. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.21)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments, maintaining a domestic impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to

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Recommendations

the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children do not receive consistent or safe care from all staff at all times. Staff have failed to protect children from actual or potential harm on several occasions. During the inspection, the registered manager ended one child’s placement. The registered manager admitted that they could not safely care for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child was recently supported by staff to make a complaint to the registered manager. The registered manager failed to respond to this in an appropriate manner. The concerns raised by the child were of a safeguarding nature. The response of the registered manager potentially placed this child at risk of further harm. The registered manager did not record the actions taken or decisions made in relation to the complaint. This does not provide children with a clear or positive sense that their concerns or issues will be responded to. It places children at risk of further harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Not all children are supported to make choices. This includes not being able to choose the clothing they wish to wear each day. The storage of personal items and clothing is inadequate. One child’s bedroom was exceptionally sparse and only provided a bed for their use. The same child was not allowed to use their en-suite bathroom/toilet. This decision had not been agreed with the placing authority and had not been set out in Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 8 relevant plans or risk assessments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Physical conditions in some areas of the home are of concern. This include:  paint spilled/thrown on walls and doors in one area of the home  damage to a bedroom wall  a vacant bedroom piled high with furniture and other items, posing a fire hazard  a bathroom with damaged panels on the bath.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

It is not clear what social activities or experiences have been provided for children. Weekly planners do not state whether planned activities took place for each child or the impact of such activities. Not all activity planners are dated. This does not demonstrate how children make progress or have positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some children have specific aids and equipment. These are not routinely being used by staff. There is a lack of clarity as to how staff should support some children who display challenging and potentially harmful behaviours. This places not only children, but also staff at risk of harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Managers have purchased personal protective equipment (PPE) in some of the houses. Not all staff have access to PPE. Some staff refuse to wear it. This has resulted in staff regularly being injured. There is a lack of management oversight and action to address this most concerning issue.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are not routinely treated with dignity and respect. Recent allegations relating to one child indicate potential serious emotional and physical abuse by staff. This is extremely concerning, particularly for children who have already experienced abuse and/or trauma.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child displays extremely challenging behaviours and regularly assaults staff. The manager has failed to challenge the placing authority or request funding for additional staffing for this child. Staff have also failed to record all relevant serious incidents. They have further failed to share the details of all incidents with the placing authority. The registered manager does not have robust or safe oversight of the home. He has failed to identify or address such serious concerns.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff and managers have failed to report historic abuse to relevant agencies. Recorded information from one child has not routinely been shared with social workers, police or the designated officer. This failure potentially places this child and others at risk of continued harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

One staff member failed to report recent safeguarding concerns to managers in a timely manner. This involved the alleged verbal and physical abuse of one child by two other Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 9 staff members. The delay in reporting such concerns could have placed the child and others at risk of further harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The registered manager failed to take necessary and immediate disciplinary action in relation to this. He failed to act in accordance with the home’s whistle-blowing policy and procedure. No immediate action to consider the suspension of the involved staff member was taken.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not routinely report any safeguarding concerns they may have to managers. Some staff have reported concerns anonymously to other agencies. One staff member did not report their observations of alleged abuse of a child by other staff. They only did so when they were asked by a senior manager to provide an account. Staff are not working as a team to ensure the continuous safety and well-being of children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Several staff members have been suspended as a result of recent abuse allegations. There has been an increase in the use of agency staff. Not all agency staff have received training in the restraint practices used by the home. This does not provide consistency of care and potentially places children and agency staff at risk.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There have been numerous incidents of staff being physically harmed by children in the home. One staff member remains absent from work, following a serious blow to the head from a child. The registered manager failed to complete an accident form for this incident. Managers further failed to report this incident to the necessary government body. This does not provide protection for staff. There is a lack of management oversight and awareness of their responsibilities in relation to health and safety matters.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff recruitment procedures and practices are not robust or consistent. Managers have failed to ensure the following:  that any gaps in employment histories are known and explained  that verification of references is detailed and considers any potential concerns about a candidate  that in relation to agency staff, clear details of training/qualifications are sought and known.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager was registered in December 2018. He has worked in the setting and in other similar settings with children with learning disabilities for a number of years.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

One child recently moved to be cared for in another area of the home. This followed extremely serious allegations of abuse by staff towards this child. Staff in the new area of the home failed to record any daily journals for this child for three days, at what was a crucial time for this child. The registered manager was not aware of this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The statement of purpose does not specify an age range of children/young people for Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 10 whom accommodation will be provided. There have been two recent admissions of children under the age of 10 years. One child was admitted as an emergency. There is a lack of robust pre-admission assessment and placement planning to inform matching. Younger children are potentially placed at risk of harm from older children, some of whom have severely challenging behaviours and aggressive tendencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has failed to utilise effective monitoring systems to review the quality of care being provided to children. High numbers of permanent staff have been suspended recently, following allegations of abuse. There has been an increase in the use of agency staff and less experienced staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager, responsible individual and human resources manager have been working shifts to ensure the safety and well-being of children. The registered manager admits to not knowing which staff can be trusted to safely care for children at this time. He further admits to not having a clear strategy in place to address current concerns and ensure the safety of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Agency staff used are not routinely trained to use the same physical intervention techniques as permanent staff. There is a high use of physical intervention, but not all are being recorded. There is insufficient evidence of evaluation, reflection or learning by the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not receiving regular supervision. One staff member was meant to have increased supervision following an allegation being made against them. Records show that this did not take place. This does not provide staff with an opportunity to receive support and an opportunity to reflect on their practice. It does not demonstrate how children will be kept safe from potential or actual harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all staff have a current first-aid qualification. Given the high levels of aggression from children towards staff, it is particularly important that there is always at least one first aider on shift.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Given recent issues of staff not reporting serious safeguarding concerns, there is a need to consider relevant refresher training. Management accepts that there is a need to fully consider the current and future training needs of staff, including agency staff used.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Some staff continue to work at the home following an allegation being made about them. Risk assessments for staff who are subject to an allegation have not been reviewed or updated appropriately. This potentially places children at risk of further harm. This shortfall was identified at the last inspection and has been reset.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 11 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: 1270503 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Soteria House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 7, The Quadrant, Upper Culham Farm, Upper Culham Road, Upper Culham, Reading, Berkshire RG10 8NR

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Inspectors

Tracy Murty, social care inspector Bev Allison, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1270503 13 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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