Children's home run by Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited in West Suffolk

Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 1 SC427652 Registered provider: Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 17 to 18 September 2019

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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Inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected Inadequate

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Inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Inadequate

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Inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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Inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection on 12 August 2019. The provider had failed to ensure good enough managerial oversight of the home. This failure directly contributed to the most serious shortfalls that were found during that full inspection. Ofsted served a compliance notice in respect of the leadership and management of the home. The provider has not met all the steps that were set out in the compliance notice and is, therefore, likely to be subject to further enforcement action. Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/08/2019 Full Inadequate 31/10/2018 Full Good 14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 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; are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(d)(e) 29/10/2019

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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— 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 31/10/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 4 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; 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; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(f)(h))* The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. In particular the registered person must ensure that— medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23(1)(2)(b)(c)) 29/10/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24(1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) In particular, ensure that risk assessments record the need for all of the monitoring devices used at the home and that written consent is provided by each child’s placing authority for the use of door alarms. 29/10/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if— there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and the registered provider— 31/10/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 5 is an organisation or a partnership; does not satisfy regulation 28; or is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— the name of the person so appointed; and the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27(1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(2)(a)(b)) 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— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 6

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The full inspection in August 2019 identified that inadequate support from senior managers directly contributed to the widespread shortfalls. Consequently, children were not adequately protected, and their welfare was not sufficiently promoted. Although some improvement has been made, there has been insufficient progress to address the widespread management and safeguarding issues. As a result, the risks to children remain. The provider has not met the steps that were set out in the compliance notice that Ofsted served following the full inspection in August 2019. Managers have ensured that the fire doors work. However, they have not ensured that the wider environment is safe. At the time of the inspection, an unused hot tub in the garden was full of stagnant water. The unsecured cover appeared to be covered in mould. Failure to ensure that the grounds are safe presents a clear hazard to the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Managers have updated children’s care plans and removed inaccurate information. However, recent changes in children’s behaviour have not been included in the care plans. Consequently, the plans are again out of date and inaccurate. This does not provide the staff with enough clarity to support the children consistently. Staffing levels have improved. The number of staff on each shift now consistently reflects the staffing numbers required by children’s risk assessments and commissioned by local placing authorities. Children continue to make progress with their education. Since arriving at the home, children’s behaviour has improved and they develop their independence. Feedback from families and professionals was positive. They said that children are increasingly engaging in community activities. The staff help children to spend quality time with their families.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The management team has again failed to comply with statutory safeguarding guidance. There has been a lack of understanding, action and record-keeping. This clearly has the potential to compromise the children’s safety. At the last inspection, an allegation had not been shared with the designated officer. Managers took action during that inspection to address the shortfall. However, the details of allegation were sent to an incorrect email address and had not therefore been received by the designated officer. Although the member of staff has not worked at the home since the allegation was made, it is unclear if they have worked elsewhere. Records relating to the incident were incomplete. At the last inspection, a safeguarding concern that did not relate to staff but concerned the children was under police investigation. Although this investigation has ended with Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 7

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

no further action, there is no clear record of the incident or any subsequent actions. Staff and managers lack the understanding of and curiosity about what has happened. The lack of knowledge regarding this safeguarding concern means that any efforts to mitigate risk are limited. Risk assessments do not reflect current, escalating risks. As a result, staff are unsure about what is expected of them. Consequently, risks to children are not reduced. The quality of restraint records is not good enough. The absence of clear records means that it is unclear whether the restraints are proportionate. This significantly impairs managers’ reviews and evaluation of incidents. Consequently, opportunities to identify any practice concerns and reduce the likelihood of unnecessary and ineffective restraints are significantly limited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Daily management arrangements are weak. Managerial monitoring is ineffective. There is no appointed manager. Senior managers have not ensured that necessary progress has been made to address the previous shortfalls. Insufficient management support means that some serious shortfalls have persisted. Ineffective management oversight means that managers do not know the weaknesses of the home. Managers have not been effective in making the necessary improvements. A new manager was appointed. After two weeks in post, the responsible individual concluded that her experience does not meet the regulatory requirements. The post therefore remains vacant. A senior manager from within the organisation has supported the home. She manages another of the provider’s homes that was recently judged inadequate. This management support has been ineffective. Arrangements relating to medication are not strong enough. Managers have failed to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

ensure that all staff who administer medication are competent to do so. Ineffective monitoring means that errors in medication records have not been identified. The management team has not ensured that staff follow the medication policy. These shortfalls may place children at serious risk of harm. At the last two inspections, it was identified that agreements were not in place with placing local authorities and the children on the use of monitoring devices. At this inspection, there was no evidence to show that these agreements had subsequently been gained. The culmination of these repeated shortfalls has resulted in a second inspection judgement of inadequate.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 8 of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Greenwood House, Greenwood Court, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7GY

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Inspectors

Ashley Hinson, social care inspector Lianne Bradford, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC427652 10 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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