Children's home run by The Good Support Group Limited

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: 1256364 1

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The Good Support Group Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation operates this home on behalf of the host local authority. The home provides residential and respite care and accommodation for up to seven children. The home‟s statement of purpose states that the home supports children who have autism spectrum disorders, profound and multiple physical disabilities, learning disabilities and complex health needs. The home has not had a registered manager since January 2019.

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This monitoring visit

Following a monitoring visit on 25 June 2019, Ofsted commenced urgent enforcement action against the home. On 27 June 2019, Ofsted issued the provider with a notice to suspend the registration of this children‟s home. This means that the home is suspended from operating as a children‟s home and is therefore prohibited from providing care or accommodation for children.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was to check the home‟s compliance with the suspension notice and to assess the progress that the home has made in meeting the requirements that have been set.

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This monitoring visit

The home‟s managing director and manager remain suspended from the service. During this monitoring visit, the inspectors met with the home‟s interim managing director, interim manager and the permanent staff team. No children are currently living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The interim managing director, interim manager and an independent safeguarding consultant have developed a strategic improvement plan, safeguarding action plan and a week-by-week staff action plan to address the concerns highlighted during the last monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

A staff training scheduled is now in place. Training on how to safeguard children has Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: 1256364 2 been prioritised. The designated officer from the local authority and an independent safeguarding consultant have delivered key training to staff. New and existing staff are receiving training in first aid, understanding autism, positive behaviour support, manual handling, the administration of medicines and communicating with children.

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This monitoring visit

Since the home has been suspended, the staff have worked together as a team. Staff have been helped to critically reflect on their roles and responsibilities in the home. Staff have acknowledged the previous safeguarding concerns and have agreed that the service was not meeting the needs of all the children in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The independent safeguarding consultant stated that, „The workforce has worked incredibly hard and is in the process of building in proper systems and structures, which will create a safe and resilient organisation.‟

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This monitoring visit

Staff are actively involved in the management consultation and are reviewing all of the home‟s policies and procedures. The interim managing director is reviewing the organisational structure of the home. This will help to improve senior management‟s and shift leader‟s accountability. A recruitment drive is also planned.

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This monitoring visit

The home is undergoing some refurbishment. A deep clean has taken place and redecoration is planned. Displays in the home are being redesigned and there are plans to redesign the large gardens. New play equipment for the children is being purchased alongside other necessities such as bedroom and kitchen equipment.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit concluded that the home is complying with the notice to suspend the registration of the service and is making progress against the requirements set at the first monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/10/2018 Full Good 06/03/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: 1256364 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 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 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; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‟s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi) (vii)) 16/10/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular— provides for the suspension from work of an employee if necessary in the interests of the safety or welfare of children; and provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. For the purposes of this regulation, “the appropriate person” is the registered person, an officer of HMCI, an officer of the local authority in whose area the home is located or a police officer. (Regulation 33 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)) 16/10/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles 16/10/2019 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: 1256364 4 appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) In particular, the registered person must ensure that agency staff receive formal supervision. The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 16/10/2019

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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.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it;

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Requirement Due date

and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)(b)) 16/10/2019

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 16/10/2019 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: 1256364 5 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

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”).

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

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)(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. Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: 1256364 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Good Support Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 200 Chargeable Lane, London E13 8DW

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Inspectors

Victoria Jones, social care inspector Kevin Whatley, regulatory inspection manager, London Region Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: 1256364 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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