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

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC010700 1 SC010700 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 three children, as specified within the home’s statement of purpose.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: not judged

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2018

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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 inadequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection the home was ‘not judged’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

No children are currently living in the home. The last young person was moved by his placing authority in June 2018, following the inadequate inspection judgement and there have not been any further admissions since that time.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were five requirements and two recommendations made at the last inspection. The completion date for the requirements was 31 December 2018. However, it has not been possible to test if these requirements and recommendations are met as the home has not been operational since June 2018.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The appearance and decoration of the home are much improved from last year. There is still no outcome of the local environmental health team’s investigation, although the kitchen is fit for purpose and open. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC010700 2 There are several refurbishment tasks needing to be completed before the home is suitable to provide young people with a homely environment.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has limited furniture and no television, computer, soft furnishings or ornaments. The fence panels in the back garden need repairing or replacing. The net curtains are too short for the windows and the curtains are creased up and need ironing or replacing. The bathroom needs a deep clean to remove grime and dirt which has established in the flooring, walls and behind the radiators. The tiling on the kitchen floor by the sink has lost its grout and is slightly uneven.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Locks have been fitted on the cupboards which store the central heating boiler and other storage facilities, for safety. All the upstairs windows now have safety restrictors fitted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the bedrooms have free-standing wardrobes which could easily be pulled over and cause injury. The provider said that they intend to convert the fourth bedroom into a quiet relaxation or study zone but work to complete this has not yet started.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home does not have a registered manager in place. The last registered manager left her post in April 2017. The potential candidate identified at the last inspection in September 2018 has since left, although the provider said that they have identified another candidate.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has made some progress towards meeting the remaining requirements and the recommendations. However, any such progress remains untested while the home has no registered manager or staff team and no children living at the home. All the requirements and two recommendations are therefore repeated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2018 Interim Not judged 05/06/2018 Full Inadequate 06/12/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/05/2017 Full Good

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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 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC010700 3 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure ─ that staff promote opportunities for each child to learn informally

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, in ensuring proper routines and structure to children’s time. 31/07/2019

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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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Requirement Due date

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

Specifically, in relation to supervision of young people where their care plan determines that this is required to keep them safe. 31/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if ─

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 27(1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 31/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

Employment of staff 31/07/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC010700 4 The registered person must ─

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees ─

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 33(1)(a)(4)(b)) Other records

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, a register of children’s admission and discharge and a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked should be maintained. 31/07/2019

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Recommendations

 As well as longer-term support for children to move on from the home effectively (regulation 6(2)(b)(vi)), the home has an important role in supporting each child leaving the home in the period immediately before their departure. The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned and help each child to prepare for leaving both practically and emotionally. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9)

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Recommendations

Specifically in relation to supporting young people to learn independent living skills in preparation for leaving the home.  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. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC010700 5 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 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC010700 6 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

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