Children's home run by Sunfield Children’s Homes Limited in Bromsgrove

Inspection report children’s home: SC038435 1 SC038435 Registered provider: Sunfield Children’s Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a residential special school. Since May 2017, it has become a subsidiary of the Ruskin Mill Trust. The registered manager is qualified to level 5 in leadership and management and was registered with Ofsted in April 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to 61 children who have severe and complex learning difficulties and behavioural needs, including seven placements for children who require short breaks. There are 12 houses within the grounds of the school. At the time of this inspection, six houses were open and were accommodating 17 children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection, the senior leadership team has met the three previous requirements and addressed two of the three recommendations. The third recommendation is now a requirement. The standard of accommodation varies between the houses on-site. Some of the homes are homely, personalised and well maintained by staff. Other homes are not reflective of a nurturing environment. They have dining rooms, sensory rooms and kitchens that are tired and in need of refurbishment. Some Inspection report children’s home: SC038435 2 rooms have no curtains, or curtains are torn or have not been hung properly. One home has recently been re-opened for a child to move in. But work to ensure a good standard of accommodation was not completed prior to him moving in. His health and safety has been compromised because a window restrictor was not fitted and a radiator cover was broken. His bathroom also does not meet his needs or support staff to help him with his

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of medication errors. The senior leadership team has investigated these incidents in conjunction with the trust’s nurse. A wide range of actions have been taken and, as a result, medication is now appropriately administered. However, the quality of children’s plans, medication and health procedures, records, staff practice, and staff supervision is not consistent between the houses.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Planning for some children is not ensuring that their needs are met. For example, a child has moved into a house that has not been adequately furnished to meet his needs. Staff supporting another child are not clear how to help her to meet her identified targets. Not all children have accurate written medication and health procedures to ensure that staff have clear, detailed information about how to meet their health needs. For example, paperwork is not always updated when children’s medication (or dosage of medication) changes. Guidance to staff on administering a medication with drink or food differs between documents. Records of the use of weighted blankets are not well maintained or monitored to ensure that a child is not using them for longer than their agreed plan. This could cause physical harm to a child. In addition, some staff use institutional language that does not promote a welcoming or homely environment. Some staff are not receiving

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

regular supervision to support them to reflect on and develop their practice.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

In other houses, good-quality planning is taking place and children are making good progress. Staff are well informed of children’s needs and successfully work in partnership with parents and professionals. Records are detailed and cross-reference to other documentation. They ensure that staff are well informed and have access to up-to-date information. Staff feel supported and listened to by managers through induction, training, supervisions and meetings.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/06/2019 Full Good 26/09/2018 Full Good 31/05/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC038435 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

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) This specifically relates to ensuring children’s records give consistent instructions and information to staff. 30/11/2019

p.3

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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from available hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(d)) 31/01/2020

p.3

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 30/11/2019

p.3

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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(2)(a)(x)) 30/11/2019

p.3

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 legislations (alarms, food, hygiene etc); 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC038435 4 15, paragraph 3.9) This specifically relates to staff use of institutional language.  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child.

p.3

Recommendations

(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) This specifically relates to staff recording accurate times a weighted jacket is worn by a child.

p.4

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.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.4

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’.

p.4

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school registered as a children’s home

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sunfield Children’s Homes Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Clent Grove, Clent, Stourbridge, Worcestershire DY9 9PB

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Graeme Cheyne Inspection report children’s home: SC038435 5 Registered manager: Sarah Marshall

p.4

Inspectors

Dawn Bennett, social care inspector Michelle Spruce, social care inspector Matt Hedges, regulatory inspector manager Inspection report children’s home: SC038435 6 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.5

Inspectors

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.6

Inspectors

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

p.6

Inspectors

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

p.6