Children's home run by Park Lane Residential Home Limited in Brent

Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 1 SC050124 Registered provider: Park Lane Residential Home Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a private children‟s home which provides care and accommodation for up to five young people. The statement of purpose notes that the home provides care to young people with multifaceted needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 3 July 2017.

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 widespread failures that mean that children and young people‟s welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: 29 January 2019

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: Declined in effectiveness

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

A statutory compliance notice dated 12 February 2019 was issued by Ofsted to the registered provider under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. The compliance notice related to the provider‟s failure to evidence robust practices in relation to the recruitment of staff. At the monitoring visit that took place on 19 March 2019, it was concluded that the provider had not met the statutory compliance notice but had taken the right steps to achieve compliance in the near future. Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/01/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 28/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/09/2017 Full Good 23/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 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 ensure that staff— seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children‟s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5(d)) Specifically, this is in relation to consulting with the placing authority regarding any changes to young people‟s care plans. 27/08/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The children‟s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children‟s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to ensure that staff— ascertain and consider each child‟s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child‟s best interests when making decisions about the child‟s care and welfare; help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; help each child to understand how the child‟s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; help each child to understand how the child‟s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be

p.3

Requirement Due date

limited; ensure that each child is given appropriate advocacy support; ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as 27/08/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 4 reasonably practicable after the child‟s arrival about— 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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(b)(i)(iii)(d)(ii)) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to achieve the child‟s education and training targets, as recorded in the child‟s relevant plans; support each child‟s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where

p.3

Requirement Due date

appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8(2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)) Specifically, this applies to supporting young people who are taking exams. 27/08/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— encourage each child to take responsibility for the child‟s behaviour, in accordance with the child‟s age and understanding. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(2)(a)(iii)) Specifically, the home should ensure that young people contribute to the development of their own risk management and behaviour support plans. 27/08/2019

p.4

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 premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‟s health. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(d)) 27/08/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 5 Specifically, the gardens must be kept free from hazards. 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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 13(2)(c)) Specifically, the home must ensure that the staff receive training in behaviour management and physical interventions. 27/08/2019

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— 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)) 27/08/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children‟s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI and make a copy of it available upon request to— a person who works at the home; a child, or a child for whom accommodation in the home is being considered; a parent of a child, or a parent of a child for whom accommodation in the home is being considered; a child‟s placing authority; and 27/08/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 6 in the case of a qualifying school, the Secretary of State. 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. If a home has a website, the registered person must ensure that

p.5

Requirement Due date

a copy of the statement of purpose is published on that website unless the registered person considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children in the home. Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. Nothing in paragraph (5) or regulation 46 (review of premises) requires or authorises the registered person to contravene or not comply with— (a) any other provision of these Regulations; or (b) any conditions in relation to the registration of the registered person under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000. (Regulation 16(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(3)(a)(b)(4)(5)(6))* After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire. (Regulation 25(1)(b)) 07/07/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children‟s home if— there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership; does not satisfy regulation 28; or is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— the name of the person so appointed; and the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27(1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(2)(a)(b))* 07/07/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children‟s safety. The registered person may only— 27/08/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 7 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 requirement is 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)(2)(a)(b)(3)(d)) The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered

p.6

Requirement Due date

person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report"). The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the

p.7

Requirement Due date

parent of a child accommodated in the home. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5)) Specifically, this review must provide a clear evaluation and evidence-based analysis of the events that have happened during the review period. 27/08/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 8 The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children‟s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46(1)(2)) Specifically, the locality risk assessment must make reference to

p.7

Requirement Due date

the risks presented by local gang activity. 27/08/2019

p.8

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.8

Recommendations

 For children‟s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children‟s homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional impression. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  A child‟s bedroom should not generally be entered without their permission, though it may be necessary to establish routines to allow for rooms to be cleaned regularly. Usually, rooms should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child‟s or another person‟s safety or well-being. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, pages 16/17, paragraph 3.20)

p.8

Recommendations

 Staff should take account of information provided by return home interviews following episodes when a child has been missing. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child‟s assessed needs as

p.8

Recommendations

recorded in the child‟s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The Statement of Purpose is an important document in the process of care planning Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 9 as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

p.8

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home is poorly managed. The widespread failures in leadership and management limit the opportunities for young people to have positive experiences, receive good care, have their welfare promoted and fulfil their potential. The physical environment is not homely and the garden is unkempt. There was little fresh food available in the home on the first day of the inspection. Young people do not feel listened to or cared for in the home. They told inspectors that they think the provider cares about the money more than about them. The use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in the home is disproportionate to need. Young people find the cameras in the communal areas intrusive, but they were worried that they would be asked to leave if they did not sign the consent form for the use of CCTV. Young people‟s confidence in expressing their views in the home is growing. However, they do not feel that they have the power to make even simple choices, such as to have

p.9

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

semi-skimmed milk, or liquid instead of powder for their laundry. Young people were not aware that they could access advocacy services for additional support. The children‟s guide does not include contact information about the children‟s commissioner. Staff check the bedrooms on a weekly basis. However, these are recorded as room searches, when they are primarily carried out to check on health and safety issues. This means that it is not possible to distinguish between a formal room search and a health and safety check. Despite the poor management, young people have made some progress while living at the home. They engage well in education, apprenticeships and work. Considering the young people‟s starting points, they make good progress in their learning. However, the young people do not consistently receive the support that they need to do well in their education. Young people are keen to be independent. Their life skills, such as those relating to

p.9

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

budgeting, cooking and maintaining their environment, have considerably improved since coming to this home. Young people‟s social skills have grown. They enjoy having positive relationships with each other and they have developed friendships with their peers. Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 10

p.9

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

Shortfalls in helping and protecting children are widespread. Young people are not involved in the development of their risk management/behaviour plans, and this lack of engagement limits the effectiveness of these plans. Staff are not trained in behaviour management or in the use of physical intervention. Restraining young people without specific training places both young people and staff at risk. Staff overuse financial sanctions and young people have limited opportunity to reflect meaningfully on their behaviour. Managers and staff do not monitor the provision of independent return home interviews or evaluate the level of missing behaviour effectively. This is a lost opportunity to assess an important area of risk, and to celebrate young people‟s safer behaviours when the frequency of their missing episodes reduces. Managers have not completed an effective risk assessment of the local area. The absence of information about the risk of gang activity in the area limits the accuracy of

p.10

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

risk assessment with regard to potential new admissions to the home. Some easily removable hazards compromise health and safety on the premises. Shards of broken pottery, corroded cars and pieces of metal and wood have been left in the garden. The fire exit route at the back of the house was severely restricted by a sofa bed. Staff recruitment practice remains weak, despite enforcement activity following the previous inspection, and this creates unnecessary risks. References are not verified and they are not always from the correct people or organisation.

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has not had a registered manager for almost two years and there is no clear plan for an application to register a manager to be submitted to Ofsted. The lack of a registered manager severely limits the effective development of the service. In the absence of a registered manager, the responsible individual and a deputy manager are managing the home. The deputy manager is highly motivated but he has limited experience of working in children‟s homes. A lack of knowledge and poor monitoring by managers have resulted in an unrealistic evaluation of the quality of the service provided. The responsible individual and the deputy manager believe that the home meets the expected standards, although the home is not always run in accordance with legislation and good practice. There is no development plan for the home. Shortfalls identified at this inspection have resulted in 13 requirements and six recommendations. Of the 10 requirements made at the last inspection, six have been

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

restated in this inspection report. The restated requirements include a requirement regarding staff recruitment that was subject to an enforcement notice. Three of the four permanent care staff have been newly recruited since the last full Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 11 inspection. Staff receive appropriate induction and regular supervision. However, there is no evaluation of staff training and there is no workforce development plan. The home is not run in accordance with its statement of purpose. According to the statement of purpose, the home does not admit children who require help with personal hygiene, but this specification has been ignored. The statement of purpose also states that each child will have a health plan, but the deputy manager confirmed that this is not the case. Placing authorities provided mixed feedback on working in partnership with the home. In one case, the deputy manager delayed the implementation of an action agreed with the

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

social worker without any further consultation.

p.11

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.11

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: SC050124 12

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Park Lane Residential Home Limited

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Brook Avenue, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 8PH

p.12

Inspectors

Seka Graovac, social care inspector Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC050124 13 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.12

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 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.13

Inspectors

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

p.13

Inspectors

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

p.13