Children's home run by Constant Child Care Limited in Walsall

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC368032 1 SC368032

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Constant Child Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children and young people aged between seven and 17, irrespective of gender, who have social and/oremotional difficulties. The registered manager left the home on 25 June 2019. An interim manager has been in post since 1 July 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged requires improvement to be good at the full inspection on 1 and 2 May 2019. Following this inspection, a monitoring visit was undertaken at the home on 11 July 2019, to ensure that managers had taken necessary action to address the shortfalls identified at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, Ofsted issued the provider with three compliance notices under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. The compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 32, and regulation 34, of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out an unannounced visit to the home on 20 August 2019 to monitor the actions that the provider has taken to comply with the notices issued following the last monitoring visit. At this visit, it was identified that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the required steps identified in two of the compliance notices. The requirements set at the last inspection and the monitoring visit were not monitored during this visit and will be addressed as part of the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken steps to ensure that it now verifies references to prevent unsuitable people from working at the home. However, further gaps were identified in respect of ensuring that agency staff working in the home have had the required checks to ensure that they are safe to work with children. Furthermore, the provider does not sufficiently evaluate information contained in references to ensure that staff Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC368032 2 are suitable for the role. A requirement has been made to address this shortfall and to ensure that the provider complies with schedule 2 checks when recruiting new staff.

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This monitoring visit

In terms of regulation 12, the provider has ensured that young people’s risk assessments contain actions that staff are expected to follow to reduce any known risks. Staff also carry out key-work sessions with young people; however, they do not always seek to gain young people’s views after significant incidents have taken place. A further compliance notice has been issued to address this issue.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has ensured that staff correspond with local authorities and police when there are safeguarding concerns. However, the manager does not always recognise when a notification to Ofsted should be made and does not keep an accurate record of any notifications made.

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This monitoring visit

In respect of regulation 34, the provider has ensured that it follows the risk management plan in place to safeguard children and young people.

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This monitoring visit

A further unannounced inspection will take place to continue to monitor the quality of care provided and the provider’s compliance with the regulations.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/08/2018 Full Inadequate 21/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and 27/09/2019 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC368032 3 positive responses to other children and adults. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)) 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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i))* 27/09/2019

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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— 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 home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; and 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)(c)(h)) 27/09/2019

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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. 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(1)(3)(a)(b)) 27/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— is necessary and proportionate, is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)) 27/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5). The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character. (Regulation 26(1)(5)(a)) 27/09/2019

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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— 27/09/2019 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC368032 4 employ an individual to work at the children’s home; if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are 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)(3)(d)) 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)) 27/09/2019

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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: Constant Child Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Parkside Court, Greenhough Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7FE

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Inspector

Sarah Billett, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC368032 5 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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