Children's Home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Bromley

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183936 1

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Acorn Homes (uk) Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately operated home provides care and accommodation for up to six children. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home offers placements for children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Placements are generally medium to long term.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently without a manager following the suspension of the registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

At the last full inspection of this home, it was judged to be inadequate. Following this inspection, a restriction of accommodation notice was served on the home on 21 May 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was to assess the progress the home has made in meeting the 11 requirements made following the inadequate inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has been suspended and the day- to-day management of the home is currently undertaken by the two deputy managers with additional support provided by the responsible individual. The new management team has made significant progress in meeting the requirements made at the last inspection. Six of the requirements have been fully addressed, with progress being made on the other five.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s case records have been reviewed and updated to comply with regulations. The admissions and discharge register has been updated and amended. All staff have completed or are about to complete appropriate behaviour management training, including a two-day management of actual or potential aggression training course. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183936 2 Team meetings are held weekly and the minutes are signed by all staff. The home’s statement of purpose has been revised and updated. Staff rotas are now produced one month in advance and are displayed on the staff office wall. Any changes are clearly recorded on the rota. The home has an adequate number of staff on shift at any one time relative to the number and needs of the young people.

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This monitoring visit

The six-monthly quality of care review has been completed and forwarded to Ofsted. Staff are now receiving monthly supervision sessions and reported that these were helpful and positive.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are more positive about the home and the progress that has been made since the last inspection. They view the management changes as an improvement and feel that their views are now valued.

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This monitoring visit

The young people are all making progress against their starting points and are happy in the home. They said that they had positive relationships with staff and felt cared for and supported by the staff team. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183936 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2019 Full Inadequate 01/05/2018 Full Good 24/05/2017 Full Good 06/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183936 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 care planning standard is that children–

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure–

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14(1)(a), (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to provide care and support to children in the home that is in line with the home’s statement of purpose. 31/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing–

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20(1)(a)(b), (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the number of staff used to restrain children must be proportionate to any risk of harm. 31/08/2019

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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– 31/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183936 5 manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other.

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Requirement Due date

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)(iv)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must provide young people with levels of supervision as identified in their care plans, and the registered person must ensure that effective strategies are both in place and followed by staff to manage any risks to children in the home. The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who–

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to–

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect. (Regulation 6(1), (2)(a)(b)(iii)) 31/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must undertake such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the registered manager has the skills needed for managing the home. (Regulation 29(4)) 31/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183936 6

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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: 1183936 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (uk) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 424 Margate Road, Ramsgate CT12 6SJ

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Inspector

Patrick Sullivan, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1183936 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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