Children's Home run by Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 1 SC444869

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Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to 15 children who have suffered adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours. There is also a school on the same site. This children’s home has two registered managers.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place after Ofsted received information about the quality of care being provided to children, including concerns about behaviour management and the use of physical intervention. During this visit, inspectors found significant shortfalls that compromise children’s safety and welfare. Managers and staff use excessive methods of control in the care of children. For example, staff turn off the electricity to the power sockets in children’s bedrooms during the day and at night. This is to prevent children from using electrical equipment such as televisions, music systems and gaming equipment, and to stop the charging of mobile phones at bedtime, or when a child does not want to take part in a planned activity. A registered manager told inspectors that this practice reduces the need for physical intervention, particularly at bedtime. This behaviour management practice fails to help children understand expectations

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This monitoring visit

for behaviour, limits children’s choices, and fails to support children to take responsibility for their behaviour without the use of external control. Inspectors found that some disciplinary measures used at the home are unreasonable. For example, when some children misbehave, they are required to stand on a moveable ‘spot’, away from other children, for a timed period. The time that children spend on the spot can be extended if they move from the spot before they are allowed. This method of discipline is punitive and potentially humiliating. It lacks child-centredness and does not reflect the therapeutic ethos of the home as detailed in the statement of purpose. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 2 The home environment is not comfortable and homely throughout. For example, children can ask to go, or be taken by staff, to a room called a ‘safe space’ when their behaviour falls

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This monitoring visit

below expectations or becomes challenging. The ‘safe space’ is bare and unfurnished and does not provide a comfortable environment that is conducive to helping children when they are distressed. In addition, this detracts from children living in a typical family environment. Restraint records do not include sufficient information to determine whether restraint is lawful, necessary or proportionate. For example, records do not clearly describe a child’s behaviour leading up to restraint, the location of the restraint, detail about the holds used, or if the child was moved during the restraint. Poor management oversight of staff practices and the recording of physical restraint does not protect children from the risk of harm. Furthermore, it does not help staff to learn from incidents that happen to improve care afforded to children. Managers do not report all significant incidents to key stakeholders. For example, inspectors

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This monitoring visit

found that the designated officer for the local authority was not notified of an allegation by a child that she had been injured by staff during a restraint. In addition, managers failed to notify Ofsted of a serious injury to a child. These shortfalls reduce the external oversight of the care provided by the managers and staff at the home. Managers have not ensured that the statement of purpose is accurate. Consequently, the statement of purpose does not contain clear and up-to-date information about the home’s conditions of registration, changes to the staff team and the arrangements for children’s care. The person appointed to carry out monthly visits to the home is not independent. This reduces external scrutiny, which is required to help to protect children. In addition, despite monthly visits taking place, managers have not made sure that the regulator is always supplied with a copy of the report as required by regulation.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this inspection, two compliance notices have been issued.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2019 Full Outstanding 19/09/2017 Full Outstanding 25/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/06/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 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 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 understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose and ensure that staff understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(c)(i)(ii)) 12/08/19

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard 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 and communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11(2)(a)(iii)(v)) 12/08/19

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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. 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. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(2)(a)) 12/08/19

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 16(3) (a)(b)) 12/08/19

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, 02/08/19 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 4 unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child. (Regulation 19(1))* Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20(2)) 02/08/19

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular— provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located. (Regulation 34(2)(b)) 12/08/19

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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 details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv))* 02/08/19

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 12/08/19

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint, at the registered provider’s expense, a person ("the independent person") to visit and report on the children’s home carried on by the registered provider. Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the registered provider may not appoint the following as an independent person if the registered provider is not a local authority; a person who is employed for payment by the registered provider; a person who has, or has had, a connection with the registered person; a person working at the home; or a child. (Regulation 43(1)(3)(b)(g((i)(ii)(iii)) 12/08/19

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 12/08/19

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 5

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hopedale House, Wall Lane Terrace, Cheddleton, Leek, Staffordshire ST13 7ED

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: Sarah Deaville and Clare Ratcliffe

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Inspectors

Alison Cooper, social care inspector Jo Stephenson, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 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

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