Children's Home run by 1848 Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2491059 1

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South West Mental Health Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is currently registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 25 June 2019. As a result of this this monitoring visit, Ofsted has made a new inspection judgement in line with our inspection framework. The children’s home’s new judgement is: requires improvement to be good.

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This monitoring visit

At the previous inspection, widespread shortfalls were identified in how well children are helped and protected, the quality of care provided to children and the administration of medication. Serious incidents were not being notified to Ofsted and the home’s statement of purpose was not being kept up to date. These shortfalls stemmed from poor leadership and a lack of management oversight.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager resigned following the last inspection. An experienced manager was promptly appointed to manage the home. The responsible individual is providing regular management oversight, along with the deputy manager, until the new manager begins work at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are effectively addressing the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection through an effective and comprehensive action plan. Seven requirements are met. Effective action to meet the remaining two requirements is under way but is not yet fully embedded.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers recognise that on some occasions, the staff are inconsistent when they are implementing behaviour management strategies, such as the removal of the young people’s mobile phones at night-time. This inconsistency in staff practice is being addressed through individual supervision and staff training. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2491059 2 The staff are knowledgeable about the contents of each young person’s care plan. However, they do not always sign the plans to confirm that they understand the contents. The plans give the staff clear direction in how to best support the young people and contain the young people’s views, wishes and opinions.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight is improved. A deputy director has been appointed to provide an extensive and rigorous quality assurance role for the home. The home’s statement of purpose now accurately documents the services that the home provides and how the healthcare needs of young people living in the home will be met.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are now benefiting from regular supervision from managers. This helps to ensure that they have the skills and training necessary to meet the identified care needs of the young people.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding incidents are now safely managed and are promptly reported to the relevant safeguarding professionals. Concerning incidents involving the young people are reduced. The use of physical restraint is rare and the young people are not going missing from the home. The young people report that they feel safe living at the home and could name a member of staff they would speak to if they felt worried or unsafe. Any serious incidents are now being notified in a timely manner to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have obtained external guidance from consultants to improve the home’s risk assessment processes. Risk assessments now offer the staff clear guidance and strategies to use when managing identified risks.

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This monitoring visit

All incidents are now being comprehensively evaluated by managers and therapists to identify any learning. This information is now used to inform risk assessments, care plans and behaviour support plans and give the staff strategies to use to effectively and safely support the young people.

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This monitoring visit

The company therapists provide effective strategies for the staff to use when supporting the young people. The young people are now benefiting from regular therapy sessions that are comprehensively recorded and inform care plans.

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This monitoring visit

Placing social workers commented positively about how their young person has made progress. The young people comment that they enjoy living at the home and like the staff. One young person said that they have learned to be more confident since coming to live at the home.

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This monitoring visit

An activity plan is in place. Leaders and managers understand that the young people need structure to their day during the school holidays. This plan is fully informed by the views and wishes of the young people. Visits are taking place to activity centres and the young people are enjoying experiencing new sports such as kayaking. The young people have plans in place for the new school term that meet their educational needs. One young person has recently enjoyed taking part in work Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2491059 3 experience and another is applying for part-time jobs.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are closely monitoring the records for the administration of medication. The young people are now receiving their medication at the right time and this is accurately recorded in medication records. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2491059 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2491059 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with consistent supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix)(x)(xi)) 04/10/2019

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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— 04/10/2019 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2491059 6 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—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the staff team work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(i)(h)) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2491059 7

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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: 2491059 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Mental Health Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: H & H Accountants Ltd, Old Bank Buildings, East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Hayward

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Inspector

Tina Maddison, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2491059 9 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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