Children's home run by Acorn Children’s Home (Branston) Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 1

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Acorn Children’s Homes (Branston) Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home accommodates up to four children and young people. It is one of two children’s homes run by a small limited company. The home aims to stabilise children and young people and ensure that they feel safe, secure and cared for. There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted an interim inspection on 16 May 2019. The home was judged declined in effectiveness. Ofsted issued two compliance notices in respect of regulation 32, the safe recruitment of staff, and regulation 13, staff training. This visit was to monitor the provider’s compliance with regulation 32, to ensure that the safe recruitment of staff meets regulation. The review of the recruitment files highlighted significant regulatory shortfalls. Some staff have been able to start work at the home before their criminal record checks have been obtained. The provider has failed to show any evidence that these members of staff have been supervised when they have been with young people. This represents a total failure to safeguard young people in the care of the home. Recruitment files are disorganised and lack clarity regarding staff members’ start dates. The whole verification process for references is unsafe and fails to explore with

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This monitoring visit

referees issues raised in an applicant’s application form. For example, the provider has failed to follow up on disclosures made in an applicant’s application that indicates they have previously been dismissed and/or been subject to disciplinary procedures. Inspectors found that some members of staff have been able to start before the provider has verified their references. One member of staff has been employed without a reference being obtained from her most recent employer. Verification of references and interviews do not always explore gaps in employment Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 2 with applicants or verify the reason why some staff left their previous positions when they have worked with children and/or vulnerable adults. Some references are incomplete with dates and signatures missing. When the provider was asked about these omissions, it was unable to provide an email trail to evidence that these

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This monitoring visit

references were authentic. Operational staff have been allowed to have contact with young people in the home, without suitable safeguarding checks being carried out. For example, one member of staff has indicated that he has four years’ experience working with children in residential care. When this was followed up further, it was established that the provider had failed to ascertain the details of this experience prior to appointing the member of staff. Consequently, the provider has not sought verification of the person’s experience to help them to determine his suitability to work with children. Another operational manager has changed jobs within the company without evidence of an application or interview process being completed. The compliance notice in respect of safe recruitment is not met. There is a serious lack of managerial overview which means that staff are not safely recruited. Consequently, young people are placed at risk of being cared for and are spending

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This monitoring visit

time with members of staff who may pose a risk to them. As a result, Ofsted has issued a notice of suspension of the home with immediate effect from 24 May 2019 for 12 weeks until 16 August 2019. The compliance notice for the safe recruitment of staff has been re-issued.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/05/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure 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)) 01/07/2019

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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 young people’s home that promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(b)(2))* 01/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that 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 the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(vii)) 01/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that 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 the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(vii)) 01/07/2019

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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 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 01/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a 01/07/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 4 positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to manage and review the placement of each child in the home (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(ii)) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(3)(d))* 01/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(b)(c)) 01/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c)) 01/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 1276706 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Children’s Homes (Branston) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Claremont House, 223 Branston Road, Burton-on- Trent, Staffordshire DE14 3BT

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Inspectors

Louise Whittle, social care inspector Debbie Bond, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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