Children's home run by Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited in Epping Forest

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457639 1 SC457639

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Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This a privately owned children’s home, which provides care for children who may have experienced exploitation, loss and trauma or may self-harm.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager since 10 October 2018.

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This monitoring visit

The home was last inspected on 18 July 2018 and received an overall judgement of requires improvement to be good. Four requirements were made in relation to the positive relationship standard, leadership and management, the statement of purpose and children’s access to communal areas of the home. Four recommendations were also made in respect of the quality of care review, independent visitor reports, the condition of the garden and the use of sanctions.

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This monitoring visit

During April 2019, Ofsted received information from more than one source which indicated that the home may not be consistently operating within the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to establish whether the information received by Ofsted could be verified and whether the home is operating within the legislative framework.

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This monitoring visit

All aspects of the information shared with Ofsted were examined during this monitoring visit. No grounds for some of the concerns could be established. However, there have been shortfalls in the quality of care and standard of practice being delivered in recent months.

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This monitoring visit

The home has not had a registered manager since October 2018. Since this time, two managers have been appointed and subsequently left their posts before becoming registered with Ofsted. The current manager took up her post in April Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457639 2 2019 and is in the process of submitting her application to become registered. This frequent change of leadership has had a de-stabilising impact. The staff have experienced differing management styles and expectations, and the children have not always received consistency in the care provided.

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This monitoring visit

This inconsistency has affected practice to the point at which staff have not always been clear about the expectations placed on them. This is particularly evident in the recording and administration of prescribed medication. On one occasion, a staff member may have destroyed medication administration records. A management investigation failed to clarify exactly what had happened, and a senior manager who has recently begun working for the organisation acknowledged, during this inspection, that the associated investigation report fails to reach a conclusion. This highlights weaknesses in the home’s systems for monitoring and reviewing the standard of care being provided.

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This monitoring visit

The medication administration records reviewed during this inspection highlighted that for one child the running total on the administration record did not correspond to the amount of medication that had been administered. In addition, there was no evidence to show that staff had taken medical advice when the child chose to stop taking the prescribed medication. Weaknesses in practice relating to medication are widespread. During this inspection, the inspectors observed a partially used pack of over-the-counter medication located openly on top of administrative documents.

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This monitoring visit

The staff spoken to during this inspection were positive about the support and guidance they receive from the new manager and the recently appointed service manager. However, grievance and staff disciplinary processes have been instigated on more than one occasion in recent months, and this is indicative of an unstable staff team. The report for one grievance hearing did not provide clarification or the rationale for not upholding the member of staff’s complaints. Grievance and disciplinary investigations that have taken place recently have been more analytical and have given clear reasons for the decisions taken. This is an improving area of practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not inspired a culture where professional curiosity contributes towards the ongoing safety and well-being of children in the home. The behaviour of two children who were said to be in a relationship was not sufficiently analysed to determine whether the relationship was appropriate, and whether either child was putting themselves at risk of harm. The strategies for supporting the two children to maintain an appropriate relationship failed to address the health needs and emotional development of the two children. The associated risk management plan was not updated in a timely way when significant new information came to light.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors reviewed the three most recent physical intervention reports. Two of these reports did not provide any evidence to show that staff had spoken with the child regarding the use of physical restraint. Therefore, there is no record or analysis Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457639 3 of the impact this intervention had on the child. This is a missed opportunity for learning from a serious incident and adapting the child’s care plan accordingly.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s complaints process is being effectively implemented. However, the policy underpinning the process lacks clarity and is therefore open to misinterpretation. The wording of the policy could result in staff believing that they should deter children from using the complaints system. Reference is made in the policy to formal and informal complaints, but does not differentiate between the two, or explain the route that should be taken according to the type of complaint being made.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s whistle blowing policy also lacks clarity and fails to provide staff with clear guidance on the support they can expect to receive if there is a need to instigate the process.

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This monitoring visit

The three children currently living at the home are settled and were positive about the care and support they receive, when discussing this with the inspectors. The children generally keep their bedroom doors locked, but they do not have keys to their rooms. Consequently, they have to ask a member of staff to let them into their bedrooms. This restricts their free movement around the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s confidential case files are not always stored securely. The inspectors observed case files placed in cardboard boxes and stored in a wooden cupboard with no lock on the door.

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This monitoring visit

During this monitoring visit, the new manager and service manager acknowledged that recent practice has not been consistently good. They had begun to identify some of the shortfalls found at this inspection. These two managers demonstrated a commitment to improving the standard of care and providing children with some consistency in their lives.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/08/2017 Full Good 23/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/07/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457639 4

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to managing risk and ensuring that effective action is taken to promote healthy relationships between children. 26/07/2019

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out 26/07/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457639 5 in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(a)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is stable and consistent management of the home and that investigations into poor practice are thorough and conclusive.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that ─ children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises ─ is necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 21(b)(c)(ii)

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to children not having keys to their bedroom doors. 26/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that— a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23(1)(2)(c)) 26/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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(3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff overseeing the recording and administration of medication and staff who conduct staff grievance investigations are competent to do so. 26/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered 26/07/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457639 6 person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(c)

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to incidents when staff physically restrain a child.

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Requirement Due date

Case records must be kept ─ securely in the children’s home during the period when the child to whom the case records relate is accommodated there; and in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36(2)(c)(d)) 26/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children. (Regulation 39(1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the children’s complaints policy clearly defines the complaints process and the way in which staff should respond to children wishing to make a complaint. 26/07/2019

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Recommendations

 As part of the policies for protection of children, the registered person should include information about whistle blowing, with clear procedures for how a staff member should report to an appropriate authority any concern they have about a child within the home being either at risk of, or already experiencing significant harm. The policy should reflect the principles set out in the Francis review ‘Freedom to speak up’ (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.15). Specifically, ensure that the home’s whistle blowing policy is reviewed and is fit for purpose.

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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: SC457639 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 56, The Brentano Suite, Solar House, 915 High Road, London N12 8QJ

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Inspectors

Stephen Collett, social care inspector Keith Riley, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC457639 8 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

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