Children's home run by Heathcotes CS Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 1 Registered provider: Heathcotes Cs Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This five-bedded home aims to provide children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties with a caring and nurturing environment that helps them to reach their potential. At the time of the inspection, there was no registered manager in post.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

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

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate. (Regulation 5 (c)(d))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This refers to knowing when to challenge placing authorities, for example, regarding care planning. It also refers to understanding each other’s roles and responsibilities, and the provider delivering the care as commissioned. 24/06/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who–

p.3

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.3

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support, and

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about– 24/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 4 what advocacy support or services are available to the child, how the child may access that support or those services and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy provision. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(b)(iii)(d)(iii)) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)(vi)(viii)(x)) 24/06/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that–

p.4

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.4

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(c)) 24/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 5 The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)) 24/06/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b)) 28/06/2019

p.5

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–

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)) 24/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 6 The care planning standard is that children–

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if–

p.6

Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(e)(i)) 24/06/2019

p.6

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)) 24/06/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

p.6

Requirement Due date

These Regulations do not prevent a child being deprived of liberty where that deprivation is authorised in accordance with a court order. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c)(3))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to considering whether practices in the home could constitute deprivation of liberty, and taking appropriate action to address this if there is no order in place. 24/06/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the privacy of children is appropriately protected; children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates to children having access to communal areas within their 24/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 7 home and keeping any restrictions under review. 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 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)) 24/06/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This refers to the need for staff to hold the level 3 diploma for residential childcare. If staff have alternative qualifications, the provider is required to identify and address any gaps in the member of staff’s training. The provider should also ensure that any training provided to staff is of a good quality and enables them to provide good quality care. 24/06/2019

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (1)(a)(b)(d)(4)(b)(c)(e)) 24/06/2019

p.7

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 8

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The leadership and management of this home have been weak. This has resulted in widespread safeguarding failings and has had a negative impact on young people. Managers were unable to demonstrate that they understood the impact of care on young people.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

This inspection identified that young people were being deprived of their liberty inappropriately. Young people told inspectors that they were unable to leave the home without staff permission and were under continuous supervision. Staff confirmed this practice. Fences have been made higher to prevent young people from leaving the home without authorisation. The exterior of the home is monitored using closed circuit television. Young people cannot access all areas of the home freely. These combined arrangements are oppressive and do not reflect the operation of a children’s home.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Care provision does not enable young people to fulfil their potential. Arrangements to promote education are not effective. The lack of structure in the home fails to support young people to establish a routine. This does not support young people’s progress and development.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff are not effective in supporting young people with their health and well-being. This includes routine healthcare and specific health issues, such as smoking cessation. Responses to self-harming behaviour are inadequate.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Care planning has not been effective. Managers have admitted to the home young people whose complex needs are greater than staff are able to safely manage. Staff were unable to safeguard one young person, and their placement ended. This lack of care planning also had a negative effect on the welfare and safety of another young person.

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Young people do not have access to independent advocacy. This means that they do not benefit from impartial advice and support.

p.8

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

The day-to-day care within this home fails to ensure that young people are safeguarded. Managers and staff do not demonstrate an adequate knowledge of safeguarding practice.

p.8

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

Staff do not receive appropriate training. They are ill equipped to care for young people with complex needs. This has led to staff using maladapted coping strategies in caring for young people. The care provided does not support young people to manage their behaviour and feelings safely.

p.8

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

The child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) expressed concerns about the Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 9 capacity of the home to safeguard vulnerable young people. They highlighted frequent admissions of young people to the accident and emergency department, staff failing to implement risk management strategies and a reliance on CAMHS’ urgent care service. This has led to health professionals making several complaints about the home to the local authority. Health professionals reported to inspectors that managers and staff demonstrate inadequate safeguarding training and knowledge. They cited a range of failures, including unprofessional conduct and boundaries between staff and young people. These failures mean that young people have been at risk of harm.

p.8

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

Managers have not consistently ensured that the designated safeguarding officer, social workers and the regulator are notified of significant safeguarding incidents. This means that it is difficult to assess if their response to safeguarding incidents is effective.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is currently no registered manager. The responsible individual has recently appointed a suitably experienced senior manager. This manager is currently having an induction to the home, and he will be taking the lead role in overseeing the operation of the home.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Two of the three regulatory breaches identified at the inspection in January 2019 have not been addressed. This inspection has identified further regulatory breaches, including breaches in safeguarding and in the leadership and management of the home.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Concerns from other agencies, as well as from young people and parents, have been shared with Ofsted. Concerns have centred on staff lacking suitable safeguarding knowledge. The failure to address these concerns has led to difficult working relationships with some placing authorities and professionals.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

In addition, the home’s independent visitor has identified multiple shortfalls in practice. Recommendations arising from the independent visitor’s reports have not been addressed. Insufficient action has been taken by managers to improve the care provided. Leaders and managers do not have a firm grasp of the quality of the care provided.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home does not have a core team of adequately trained staff. Most of the care staff do not have the level 3 qualification in working with children and young people. Managers have not adequately mapped the gaps in training for those staff with alternative qualifications. This does not ensure that day-to-day care is provided by suitably knowledgeable, experienced and qualified staff. This does not promote the safety or welfare of young people.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Admission processes and care planning decisions have been poor. This was evident in the response to safeguarding concerns and the lack of urgent planning with one young person’s placing authority.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is not currently being run in a way that is consistent with the offer described Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 10 in the home’s Statement of Purpose.

p.9

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 difference 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.

p.10

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: 1272827 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 37 Station Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 7BF

p.11

Inspectors:

Amanda Ellis, social care inspector Ros Chapman, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1272827 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.11

Inspectors:

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspectors:

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspectors:

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.12