Children's Home run by Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 1 SC444869

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Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to 15 children who have suffered adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours. There is also a school on the same site.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home has two registered managers.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted undertook a monitoring inspection at the home in August 2019 to review the progress managers and staff had made to meet two compliance notices and an associated requirement raised at a monitoring inspection on 5 July 2019. The August inspection found that improvements had been made and the compliance notices were met. Inspectors found that some aspects of children’s plans were generic, not child-friendly, and not accessible to children. A further requirement and recommendation were raised in relation to these shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

This inspection examined progress made at the home since the last monitoring inspection. Managers have designed and introduced a number of child-friendly plans. While these are in their infancy, they have the potential to increase the level of children’s participation in their care.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector reviewed recent restraint records. Managers have redesigned the format for recording restraints. Records are clear and in line with regulation. Managers have plans to introduce additional oversight of restraint incidents to identify patterns of behaviour and develop staff practice. In addition, plans are in place to introduce a new positive behaviour support model in the home.

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This monitoring visit

A staff member takes lead responsibility for the management and administration of medication. She demonstrates a strong understanding of each child’s medical needs Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 2 and provides safe and robust systems to safely manage the administration of their medication.

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This monitoring visit

Children told the inspector that they are happy living in their home and raised no concerns about their care. The inspector observed calm, caring and affectionate relationships between staff and children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers continue to ensure that areas used for ‘safe spaces’ are comfortable for children. They state that staff no longer use excessive methods of control to manage children’s behaviour, which included switching off electricity supplies to children’s bedrooms to discourage them from using electrical devices in the evening. However, during the inspection, the electricity supply to one child’s bedroom was switched off. Managers have plans to cover the electric switches to each child’s bedroom. This additional measure will remove any ability to externally control children’s access to their electrical devices and ensure that staff manage this situation by using the positive relationships they have with children to implement clear boundaries.

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This monitoring visit

Not all areas of the home are accessible to children. For example, staff lock a kitchen as they use the area to store personal belongings. This practice is out of step with what was observed to be a nurturing environment. Managers plan to offer staff an alternative area to store their belongings. This will ensure that children can access all areas of their home.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector reviewed the home’s recent independent report on the quality of care children receive. This lacks detail and requires additional scrutiny and independent challenge. Managers plan to address this shortfall by reviewing the format of the report.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have submitted an updated statement of purpose to Ofsted. In addition, they have appointed an independent person to visit the home and report on the quality of care children receive. Furthermore, managers have submitted copies of the independent visitor’s report to Ofsted. As a result, three requirements are met.

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This monitoring visit

When a child made an allegation recently managers did not notify and seek guidance from the designated officer in the local authority without delay. Ofsted recognises that some action was taken to minimise and manage risk and look into what happened. However, not following due process has the potential to undermine any subsequent investigation. In addition, in this instance the provider did not notify Ofsted about the incident in a timely way.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will consider the actions of the service to meet the remaining requirements and recommendation at the next inspection. This will enable managers and staff to fully implement changes to practice and record-keeping, and to show that improvement is being sustained. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/01/2019 Full Outstanding 19/09/2017 Full Outstanding 25/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/06/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(c)(i)(ii)) 12/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 30/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— 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)(iv)) The positive relationships standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11(2)(a)(iii)(v)) 12/08/2019

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(2)(a)) 12/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located. (Regulation 34(2)(a)(b)) 12/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

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)) 12/08/2019

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 6 regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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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: Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hopedale House, Wall Lane Terrace, Cheddleton, LEEK, Staffordshire ST13 7ED

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: Sarah Deaville and Clare Ratcliffe

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Inspector

Gareth Leckey, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC444869 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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