Children's home run by Shyne Together Limited in Rushcliffe

Inspection report children’s home: SC441865 1 SC441865 Registered provider: Shyne Together Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is described by the provider as a therapeutic home. The home is registered to care for up to three children and young people. The registered manager has been in post since January 2019.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 16 October 2018

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the interim inspection on 16 October 2018, Ofsted issued a restriction notice. Requirements were set in respect of the leadership and management of the home and the protection of children. Ofsted issued a cancellation of registration notice on 1 November 2018. The provider appealed the proposal to cancel registration. Ofsted considered the provider’s appeal at a representation panel on 12 December 2018. The decision was made that a notice of Inspection report children’s home: SC441865 2 decision to cancel would not be issued and the provider could continue with its registration. A monitoring visit took place on 29 November 2018 to review the steps taken to address the requirements set regarding the restriction notice. A case review held on 3 December 2018 decided to continue to enforce the restriction notice. A further monitoring visit took place on 14 January 2019. A case review concluded that

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

the steps taken to improve the operation of the home were satisfactory.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/10/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 03/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 03/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC441865 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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare; treat each child with dignity and respect; provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) This specifically refers to ensuring that all relevant plans are in place, staff implement these plans when providing care, that key work is used effectively to meet the child’s needs, appropriate language is used verbally and in reporting, and that

p.3

Requirement Due date

progress and outcomes are recorded. The statement of purpose must be accurate and reflect the level of therapy provided by staff. Managers and staff must understand the difference in roles between therapists and care staff and deliver care accordingly. 31/07/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in 31/07/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC441865 4 the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10(1)(a)(2)(a)(i)) This is in relation to ensuring that relevant health plans are in place, medicals are held as required, and therapy sessions are recorded in a way that enables staff to provide appropriate care consistent with the therapists. 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 staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make

p.3

Requirement Due date

arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 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; 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)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) This specifically relates to staff understanding and implementing behaviour and risk management strategies in a consistent manner. Also, that staff can learn from incidents in order to protect children from future harm. 31/07/2019

p.4

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— 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; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 31/07/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC441865 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

p.4

Requirement Due date

13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(d)(f)) This is with reference to management oversight, review and dissemination of learning from incidents and complaints. It also relates to the recruitment of staff with appropriate qualifications and experience, especially when in a senior role, and ensuring that the quality of training is sufficient to meet the needs of children. The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and

p.5

Requirement Due date

skills for the work that the individual is to perform; full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(b)(d)) This specifically relates to the experience and qualifications of staff and ensuring that references are pursued, including verification, so far as reasonably practicable, of the reason why the employment or position ended. 31/07/2019

p.5

improvement to be good

Currently, one young person lives at this home and he is making some progress, especially in respect of his education, confidence and emotional well-being. However, the shortfalls identified in all inspection areas mean that he is not yet enjoying consistently good experiences. Care planning is poor. The home has chased the placing authority for placement plans, health and education plans. The matter has been escalated appropriately. However, the Inspection report children’s home: SC441865 6 managers and staff have also failed to detail the plans for this young person’s care. The focus is on assessment of risk rather than understanding the young person’s needs and how to care for him. This means that key work cannot be used effectively to address his needs and it is difficult to assess the young person’s progress. Some of the language used in reports, and verbally, is unprofessional, stigmatising and disrespectful.

p.5

improvement to be good

The statement of purpose lacks clarity, especially concerning the therapeutic home environment and the level of therapy provided by staff and therapists. Therapy is provided by directors of the company, who are trained therapists, and through CAMHS. Some staff try to deliver therapeutic interventions when they are not trained to do so. The majority of staff do not hold a residential childcare qualification. Therapy is provided in the home and externally. The recording of these sessions does not routinely identify strategies or learning for staff to improve the daily care they provide for the young person. Despite this, the young person is making some progress in understanding his feelings, behaviour and emotional health. There are improvements in his confidence and self-esteem. He has formed some positive relationships with staff and therapists. He feels cared for, saying that this is the first time he has really felt that

p.6

improvement to be good

people care about him. The young person is doing well in education, having previously been out of school for a significant period. He fully participates in meetings about the home and his future plans. He has recently been involved in interviewing potential new staff.

p.6

improvement to be good

Risk assessments and risk management plans are very detailed and they are updated regularly. They provide clear strategies for staff to follow to help reduce the young person’s risky behaviours. However, the implementation of these strategies is inconsistent. The recording of incidents, and the manager’s review, lack detail. Patterns and trends are not identified or shared, and learning from incidents is not disseminated effectively to all staff. This has resulted in poor safeguarding practice, where incidents have unnecessarily escalated, and some incidents are repeated. Staff recruitment processes have been revised but still lack the necessary checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. References that lack detail are not always explored, or alternatives sought. When a prospective member of staff has previously worked with children, there is no evidence of the manager attempting to

p.6

improvement to be good

verify the reason why the employment ended. Staff have undertaken additional training in safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures. They have a strong relationship with other professionals, including the police, rapid assessment team and sexual exploitation team. All episodes of children going missing from the home are followed up with a return interview provided by an independent person. This helps to keep the young person as safe as possible when he is not in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC441865 7

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager and responsible individual have made some significant changes since the last inspection. Nearly all of the staff are new in post. A new deputy manager has been appointed, and all of the processes, and the infrastructure, have been revised. These changes bring some improvements to the care provided, but also provide additional challenges for leaders and managers. The new staff team brings a wide range of skills and experiences, but many staff lack the appropriate qualifications for, or experience of, working in residential care. With so many staff still in their probationary period, it is difficult for the manager to maintain appropriate staffing levels, particularly regarding the role of senior worker. Staff training and induction processes lack depth. Courses are very brief, and many are delivered ‘in-house’, therefore not drawing on the skills and experience of external providers. This means that training does not always meet the young person’s needs.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

New paperwork, reporting processes and monitoring systems have yet to be embedded. Staff practice falls short, particularly in providing safe care and avoiding preventable incidents. The registered manager’s oversight, review and dissemination of learning from incidents and complaints is inconsistent and requires improvement. During the inspection, a strategy meeting was held concerning the future of the young person’s placement. The registered manager, responsible individual and staff advocated effectively on behalf of the young person, ensuring that his views were heard.

p.7

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 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.7

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: SC441865 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Shyne Together Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Chancel House, East Street, Bingham, Nottinghamshire NG13 8DS

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Charlotte Proctor

p.8

Inspector:

Judith Longden, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC441865 9 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.

p.8

Inspector:

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 http://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.9

Inspector:

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

p.9

Inspector:

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

p.9