Children's Home run by Central Bedfordshire Council in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2513339 1

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Central Bedfordshire Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who present with challenging and complex behaviour. The manager was registered with Ofsted in January 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was carried out to monitor the progress that the provider has made towards meeting the compliance notice that was served on 24 May 2019 following the full inspection. The provider has addressed the shortfalls that were identified at the full inspection and the compliance notice is met.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no further admissions to the home. One child has been discharged from the home because the staff were unable to keep the child safe or meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

The environment is calmer and provides a stable home. There have been no behavioural incidents, nor has there been any damage to the house. The previous restrictions to access in some areas of the home are no longer in place. Work has begun to improve the interior decor and generate a homely and welcoming atmosphere.

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This monitoring visit

The children have not gone missing from the home and there have been no further incidents in the local community. The children said that they feel happier. The staff encourage children to return at times that are appropriate to their ages and levels of vulnerability. This provides the children with clear expectations and boundaries.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans guide staff in how to manage incidents. These documents identify triggers and suggest resources to improve the children’s resilience. The actions identified help children to Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2513339 2 make positive choices in situations that may have a negative effect on them. These consistent boundaries help the children to feel safe.

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This monitoring visit

A new training programme supports the staff to manage the children’s behaviour. This programme includes autism awareness, and trauma and loss training. Informative training helps the staff to understand and meet children’s individual needs.

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This monitoring visit

The management team has reflected on practice following Ofsted’s identification of shortfalls at the full inspection. Lessons learned have resulted in clearer procedures. The management structure has now been defined for the staff. The staff are aware of the process to follow if they have any concerns. The staff feel supported in their roles. This helps the staff to develop the resilience that they need to care for children in challenging situations.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are implementing a daily routine more effectively. Children are regularly engaging in key-work sessions, starting to develop their independence skills and engaging in education. This provides children with a structure and purpose each day.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining requirements that were raised at the last full inspection have not been reviewed and will be restated. The provider’s progress in meeting the requirements will be evaluated at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/05/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2513339 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii)) 28/06/2019

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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.

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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

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

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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. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)(viii)) 28/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped 28/06/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2513339 4 to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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 how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour, and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ix)(xi)) 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(c)) 28/06/2019

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 28/06/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2513339 5 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)(a)(c)(f)) No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

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Requirement Due date

any restriction, other than one imposed by a court or in accordance with regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), on—

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Requirement Due date

a child’s contact with parents, relatives or friends. (Regulation 19 (1)(2)(c)(i)) 28/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, send the independent person’s report to Ofsted without delay. 28/06/2019

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2513339 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Central Bedfordshire Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Central Bedfordshire SG17 5TQ

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Inspector

Natalie Burton, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2513339 7 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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