Children's home run by Blackpool Borough Council in Blackpool

Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC033432 1 SC033432

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Blackpool Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home. It provides a family environment for local children who are unable to live with their birth families for a variety of reasons. It is registered to care for six young people. There has been no registered manager in the home since 1 April 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 20 June 2019. Following the inspection, Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice, preventing any further young people from being admitted to the home. In addition, two compliance notices were served under Regulation 12 and Regulation 14.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was conducted on 24 July 2019 to monitor the actions taken by the provider to meet the compliance notice served under Regulation 12. While some action had been taken, the notice was re-issued as concerns remained in relation to the decision making by staff to keep young people safe. Following this visit, the provider chose to close the home on a temporary basis and an additional condition of registration was agreed. Consequently, the provider must inform Ofsted of its intention to re-open the home to accommodate children, at least three months in advance. Subsequently, Ofsted removed the restriction of accommodation notice, as it was no longer required.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review any actions taken by the provider to meet the steps required in both compliance notices. The actions taken to meet the other requirements and recommendations made at the full inspection were not assessed as part of this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

While the home is closed, staff have been deployed to other roles within the council’s social care department. This is on a temporary basis, pending the outcome of a review of the council’s residential provision. However, the provider has acted to Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC033432 2 address the poor safeguarding decision making by staff, by ensuring that they have completed recent safeguarding training.

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This monitoring visit

The two young people who were resident in the home at the time of the last inspection were both moved to alternative placements on 26 July 2019. However, there are no clear transition plans for these young people in the home’s records. It is unclear who was responsible for informing relevant parties or what information was shared verbally or in writing with the new provisions. While one young person was afforded three visits to her new home prior to moving, the other young person was only able to have one such visit. In addition, the home’s records indicate that one young person’s relative attempted to contact her at the home following her move, indicating that this important information had not been communicated to her.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, Ofsted held a case review discussion to consider the findings. The review concluded that the compliance notice issued under Regulation 12 was assessed to have been met. However, there was insufficient evidence to conclude similarly for the notice served under Regulation 14, the care planning standard. Ofsted will assess the home’s compliance with this regulation and the other requirements made at the full inspection at any subsequent inspection. A visit will be undertaken to the home prior to its re-opening to ensure that the provider and the premises remain fit for registration.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/06/2019 Full Inadequate 24/07/2018 Full Good 24/10/2017 Full Good 27/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC033432 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 care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; that arrangements are in place to— plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(iii)) 01/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— protect and promote each child’s welfare; and provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(ii)(iv)) 02/08/2019

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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 positive responses to other children and adults. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 02/08/2019

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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 02/08/2019 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC033432 4 their welfare. In particular, the standard requires the registered person to— ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(d)(e)(f)) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and 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)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 02/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 02/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— include the information and documents in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 02/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

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; or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(e)) 02/08/2019 Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC033432 5

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the children’s home is a homely, nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children and that it complies with relevant health and safety legislation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, that the garden fence is repaired, the damage made by young people in the upstairs of the property is made good and that the required detail is logged in relation to fire drills undertaken in the home.  Ensure that care is taken to ensure prescribed medicines are administered as prescribed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15) In particular, that staff record the time that medication is administered.

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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: SC033432 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blackpool Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Municipal Building, PO Box 50, Blackpool FY1 1NF

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Inspector

Mandy Williams, social care inspector Inspection report for children‟s home - monitoring visit: SC033432 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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