Children's Home, Residential special school run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258769 1

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Roc Northwest Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of several homes operated by a private provider. The home provides care and accommodation for up to 10 children who have disabilities and/or behavioural needs. Accommodation is provided across nine individual units on the site.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no manager registered for the service since 20 May 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged as requires improvement to be good at the full inspection on 8 and 9 April 2019. Due to breaches in regulations, requirements were made regarding safeguarding, risk management and leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, Ofsted identified a worrying increase in the number of significant notifiable events, several of which had resulted in children being harmed. Due to these concerns, a monitoring inspection was carried out on 21 and 22 August 2019. During this visit, there was further evidence that the provider had breached a number of regulations in relation to safeguarding, risk management and leadership in the home. It was found that there had been a number of adverse incidents at the home, some of which had resulted in further incidents of physical and emotional harm to children. As a result of the significant concerns identified, three compliance notices were served, and a restriction notice limiting the number of children that can be accommodated at the home.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring inspection was carried out on 24 September 2019. The purpose of this visit was to assess whether the provider had taken appropriate action to meet the steps outlined within the compliance notices issued under regulations 12, 13 and 35.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, the inspectors were satisfied that sufficient action had been taken Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258769 2 to meet the steps outlined within the compliance notice served under regulation 35.

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This monitoring visit

Records demonstrate that the number of incidents including physical interventions has reduced. While this is in part due to the significant reduction of children living in the home, examples were available to demonstrate that some remaining children have had fewer incidents. This indicates some improvement in terms of how staff support children when they are in distress.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors did not identify concerns regarding the nature of any physical interventions undertaken since the last inspection. In some examples, records still required some improvement, but managers had identified the shortfalls and were taking steps to address them. Therefore, the compliance notice is met.

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This monitoring visit

However, in relation to regulation 12 inspectors found that staff have been provided with additional training in a number of areas including safeguarding, recording and reporting. In addition, focused one-to-one meetings have taken place with staff to discuss their safeguarding responsibilities. While the provider has taken these steps, evidence was found that some staff and managers are still failing to work in a manner that promotes children’s safety and well-being.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors were advised that all children’s risk assessments had been reviewed and updated. However, factual inaccuracies were identified in some examples. In addition, some risk management plans lacked clear guidance for staff about how to support children safely. One staff member spoken with was unable to clearly describe risk management strategies for a child she had supported in recent days.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors identified significant concerns about the quality and safety of one child’s living accommodation. Within the accommodation, evidence was found of unsafe food hygiene practices and an unsafe living environment. This did not promote the child’s safety or well-being and did not protect him from potential harm.

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This monitoring visit

While adverse incidents have reduced, there is evidence that some staff continue to make poor decisions that have a negative impact on children. For example, a manager made unnecessary, last-minute changes to the staffing arrangements in place for a child’s family visit. The changes caused a significant escalation in the child’s behaviour and as a result, the child’s family visit was disrupted. This resulted in a formal complaint from the child’s parent.

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This monitoring visit

These findings demonstrate that the provider has failed to meet the compliance notice issued in relation to the protection of children, Regulation 12.

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This monitoring visit

Daily manager logs have been implemented to evidence additional management oversight. However, it was evident during the visit that the monitoring of basic safety and quality continues to be ineffective. For example, the significant concerns identified by inspections in relation to one young person’s living accommodation had not been identified or addressed prior to the inspection visit. These ongoing failings demonstrate that the compliance notice issued in relation to leadership and Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258769 3 management, Regulation 13, has not been met.

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This monitoring visit

The findings from this monitoring visit added to the significant concerns identified at previous visits demonstrate that the provider has continued to fail to ensure that children are protected from harm and that risks to children’s safety and well-being are not managed effectively. Furthermore, evidence was found to demonstrate that managers do not have the ability to monitor safety and quality across the homes sufficiently. In addition, the provider has consistently failed to operate the home in accordance with the regulations. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258769 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/01/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258769 5

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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; are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(vii)) 20/09/2019

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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— promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b)(2)(c)(g)(ii)(h)) 20/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258769 6

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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: 1258769 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspectors

Marie Cordingley, social care inspector Mrs Michelle Edge, regulatory inspection manager Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 1258769 8 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 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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