Children's home run by Bridge Communities Limited in Stroud

Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 1 SC016600 Registered provider: Bridge Communities Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private provider. It is registered for up to five children aged up to 18 who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 2007.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 10 to 11 September 2019

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/08/2018 Full Good 29/11/2017 Full Good 08/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/11/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.3

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.3

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that consent is sought from placing authorities when significant changes occur to a young person’s care plan, and should escalate any concerns they have regarding the drift in education plans for young people or about arrangements for young people frequently spending time away from the home. 04/11/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.3

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 04/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 4 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.3

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 8 (1) and (2) (a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to managers and staff ensuring that young people attend education, training or employment, and that any barriers to education are swiftly resolved. The health and well-being standard is that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.4

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs;

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) and (2)(a)(i)(iii))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, managers and staff need to ensure that young people attend all routine and required health appointments, including statutory health assessments. 04/11/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account 04/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 5 information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers and staff show professional curiosity when young people are away from the home and that all statutory safeguarding processes are followed. 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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to 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 and ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(c)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that internal and external monitoring systems highlight shortfalls in the quality of care and safeguarding practice, and that records for mandatory and specialist training are in place. 04/11/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any gaps in employment history and reasons for leaving are verified. 04/11/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant 04/11/19 Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 6 person without delay if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.6

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.6

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

p.6

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Significant shortfalls in leadership and management and failings in the guidance, protection and care provided to young people have resulted in a judgement of inadequate for this home.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The progress and experience of young people since the previous full inspection have been negatively affected by a lack of managerial oversight and the limited aspirations of staff for young people.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The young people living at this home are not attending education, employment or training. Young people are not being taught about the importance of education. They do not benefit from a consistent routine or experience the positive effects of education. For example, one young person who has been living at the home for almost a year has Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 7 repeatedly refused to attend education. Tutors arriving at the home have been turned away. Staff informed the inspector that the young person often spends most of the day in bed.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff and managers do not ensure that young people’s health needs are met in line with their statutory care plans. Young people repeatedly refuse to attend routine health appointments. For example, four young people have been struck off dental waiting lists for nonattendance. Three young people have refused optician appointments. One young person has not had her eyes checked since 2016. One young person has refused to attend the GP for her required immunisations. Two young people have refused to engage with their statutory health assessments. Consequently, young people are not supported by staff to stay healthy and prioritise their well-being.

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the previous inspection there has been a fire at this home. While staff ensured that all young people were safe from the fire, they did not respond effectively to the situation. The on-call system did not work effectively. Staff lacked proper oversight and support. This resulted in staff taking three young people to their home addresses without the consent of placing authorities. Managers did not complete a lessons learned evaluation to a good standard to highlight shortfalls and prevent the situation happening again.

p.7

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Young people shared with the inspector that they like living at this home. Young people describe staff as kind and friendly. Young people like the food that is prepared for them by staff.

p.7

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

Young people’s safety and welfare are not prioritised. Supervision records and meeting minutes highlight concerns about one young person’s challenging behaviour and the negative impact this has on other young people living at the home. One young person who moved into the home over 18 months ago has only spent a third of her time sleeping at the home. Managers have not called for a review of her care plan or challenged the placing authority about their concerns.

p.7

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

One young person at significant risk of exploitation has spent two nights at hotels with an adult who posed a serious risk of harm to her. Staff knew her whereabouts and did not collect her or report her as missing. Staff failed to safeguard her and ensure her swift return home. Consequently, this lack of professional curiosity placed this young person at risk.

p.7

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

Since the previous inspection, managers have failed to notify Ofsted of serious events within required timescales. For example, two serious incidents were notified to Ofsted a month after they took place. Managers have failed to include significant information about the risks one young person was exposed to.

p.7

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

Since the previous inspection, a staff member failed to use the on-call system and share her concerns about the practice of a fellow staff member. A written referral to the Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 8 designated officer regarding this incident was not made within required timescales. The investigation into the staff member who was facing the allegation, and the disciplinary hearing, were not properly followed through by the responsible individual. Internal and external monitoring processes had not highlighted these serious system errors.

p.7

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

Staff and managers lack professional curiosity and the ability to work robustly with placing authorities to prioritise the welfare of young people. For example, staff do not always know where young people are staying. They do not check young people’s sleeping arrangements or work with social workers to properly assess the potential risk of harm. Staff record young people as experiencing an ‘unauthorised absence’ and facilitate lifts to some addresses. Staff are not protecting young people, providing boundaries or acting as good parents.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management are weak. Managers have failed to review and monitor safeguarding incidents in the home to highlight shortfalls. Effective action has not been taken to ensure that staff prioritise young people’s education and health. The lack of management oversight has had a significant impact on the decline in care in the home.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

One requirement made at the previous inspection has been repeated. Managers are not giving effective challenge or following statutory processes to ensure that young people’s education and health needs are met. Staff are not adequately raising concerns about young people’s missing behaviours or ensuring that they are reported missing in line with procedure. Managers do not ensure that return home interviews are consistently carried out to learn from incidents.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not ensure that safer recruitment processes are robust enough. Reasons for leaving and gaps in employment history have not been properly explained or verified by managers on two staff files sampled during this inspection. Subsequently, young people are at risk of harm if recruitment processes do not ensure the safety of young people from adults caring for them.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

During this inspection, managers could not provide up-to-date records for mandatory and specialist training. It was not possible to evaluate whether staff have received refresher training in fire safety as records were unavailable. Managers are not tracking mandatory staff training to ensure that it is completed in a timely manner, and to highlight shortfalls. Consequently, staff could lack the necessary skills and training to meet the needs of young people in their care.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff shared with the inspector that they enjoy working at this home. They did not raise any concerns or practice issue with regards to safeguarding young people.

p.8

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: SC016600 9 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.

p.8

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: SC016600 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bridge Communities Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sutton Dipple, 8 Wheelwrights Corner, Cossack Square, Nailsworth, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6 0DB

p.10

Inspector

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC016600 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11