Children's Home run by T-Junction Children’s Services in Leicestershire

Inspection report children‘s home: 2495951 1 Registered provider: T-Junction Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people, aged between seven and 18 years. The children and young people have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties. The manager was registered by Ofsted in August 2018. The manager has obtained the required qualification in leadership and management. This is the home’s first inspection since it opened in August 2018.

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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 failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‘s home: 2495951 2

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff, seek to involve each child‘s placing authority effectively in the child‘s care, in accordance with the child‘s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)) 25/11/2019

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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 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‘s welfare; 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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(vi) and (d)) 25/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 48 hours of the use of a measure of restraint, 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)(b)(i)(ii) and (c)) 25/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children‘s home: 2495951 3

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation. However in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should have a workforce development plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of Regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should: - detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualification of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s Statement of

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Recommendations

Purpose; - detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications); - detail the process for managing and improving poor performance; - detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see Regulation 33 (4)(b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s

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Recommendations

care. Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability. Each home must have clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home is inadequate because there has been poor physical restraint practice by staff. Staff and managers have failed to take effective action to protect children who are subject to restraint. Inspection report children‘s home: 2495951 4 In some areas, the home is not well decorated. The bathroom used by children is in poor condition. This detracts from what is otherwise a comfortable and homely environment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The manager has not ensured that the care plan for one child is up to date and accurate. The manager has failed to challenge the local authority and to request the updating of the plan to reflect the needs and circumstances of the child. This hampers staff in being clear about what is expected of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children make good progress in their education. Children have previously experienced significant disruption to their education but are now doing well. One child is attending school daily and enjoying his education. Other children have good education plans that have supported improved attendance and better participation in school life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children take part in many new and enriching activities. One child has developed a keen interest in horse riding. Staff have helped him to develop this interest further through regular riding opportunities. Another child is supported by staff to participate in regular sporting activities. This has improved his confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The children voice their opinions, views and ideas through regular meetings with staff. Children are encouraged to raise any concerns they might have. Children understand the complaints procedure and have used this effectively to raise concerns.

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

Children have been placed at risk of harm during physical restraints. There have been two incidents of poor restraint practice. In the first incident, staff used unauthorised restraint techniques and displayed unacceptable behaviour towards children. Other staff involved failed to intervene to prevent the poor practice. They also failed to report their concerns to senior managers in a timely manner. Senior managers first became aware of the poor practice when a child complained. In the second incident, a child was restrained by a member of staff who had not received training in physical intervention. Another member of staff expressed concerns that this restraint was not necessary. However, the manager failed to share these concerns with safeguarding agencies so that investigations could be carried out.

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

The manager has not ensured that staff have removed potentially hazardous objects from children. One child had a cigarette lighter in her room. Safe storage arrangements for potentially hazardous cleaning materials are not adhered to.

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

Children’s behaviour has improved over time. There have been fewer incidents of concern and children report that they feel safe. The development of more socially acceptable behaviour improves children’s life chances. Inspection report children‘s home: 2495951 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has failed to ensure that restraint practice is safe. She has also not adhered to safeguarding procedures because concerns have not been reported to investigatory agencies in a timely manner. In addition, the manager has not taken sufficient action when faced with concerns about staff conduct.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not clear about the arrangements for management cover in the absence of the registered manager. Staff uncertainty about who they can turn to for advice and guidance when the manager is away can lead to delays in reporting concerns. This has the potential to leave staff and children vulnerable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training and development is a priority for the manager. Consequently, staff undertake regular training and development. However, most staff are unqualified, with some shifts being led by unqualified staff. The home’s workforce development plan is not yet used effectively to track staff development and to identify gaps in learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is experienced and qualified. Staff report that they feel well supported by the manager, deputy manager and senior staff. They have regular supervision and feel that their views are listened to. Senior managers meet with staff regularly to hear their views on the overall functioning of the home. This approach empowers staff to share their ideas and suggestions.

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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 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: 2495951 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: T-Junction Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Field Leys Way, Birstall, Leicester, Leicestershire LE4 3EL

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Inspector(s)

Phillip Morris: social care inspector Simon Hunter: social care inspector Inspection report children‘s home: 2495951 7 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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