Children's home run by Cherished and Devoted Care

Inspection report children's home: 2484696 1 Registered provider: Cherished And Devoted Care Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and/or social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There is currently no registered manager for this home.

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 the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is currently no registered manager for the home. The home is being managed by an interim manager.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current standards of care and support provided at this home mean that children’s safety, health and emotional well-being needs are not met. The lack of coordinated placement planning to effectively support children is placing them at significant risk.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager does not sufficiently influence decision-making when serious Inspection report children's home: 2484696 2 incidents occur. It is concerning that during the inspection the manager was unable to give an accurate account of a safeguarding incident that had occurred at the home. Managers had failed to recognise the severity of risk associated to the incident or the need to minimise the risk to the children living in the home.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff are unable to identify, manage or minimise risks to children. Poor- quality risk assessments prevent the staff from having a clear understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities, including the consideration of their previous known risks. In addition, the assessments and linked risk management plans do not provide staff with effective strategies to help them to keep children safe. For example, these working documents are not updated swiftly to ensure that all staff are aware of changes to assessed risk following incidents of self-harm. This not only fails to ensure that risks are managed consistently but also that children are supported appropriately.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contrary to the home’s admissions policy and procedures, not all children have benefited from a detailed impact risk assessment or a thorough appraisal of their needs. Since the last inspection, the service has admitted children with needs that it cannot meet. Challenging and disruptive behaviour by some children has been unsettling for other children, problematic for staff to manage, and has required police assistance at times. This has contributed to children’s progress being hindered and their experiences being of a poor quality. A social worker commented, ‘staff’s inability to manage my young person’s behaviour has led to him being charged and facing an upcoming court case. The use of police to manage behaviour is disheartening as the provider stated at the point of referral that they understood and could support my young person’s challenging behaviour, they couldn’t, and this has led to another broken down placement.’

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The arrangements for the administration of medication to children are poor. There have been errors in both the administration and recording of medication. Consequently, children have not received medication in line with their prescriptions. This contradicts the home’s own policies and procedures for the handling, recording, safe keeping and safe administration of medicines and potentially places children at serious risk of harm. Identified health needs of children are poorly managed, and risks relating to health are unassessed. For example, there has been a delay in accessing therapeutic interventions for children in relation to their needs that were identified at their point of referral to the home. Furthermore, when staff had concerns regarding a child’s eating habits, they were advised to seek advice from the child’s general practitioner, but this did not happen. These shortfalls highlight significant gaps by staff in identifying the health

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

needs or managing the known health risks of children in this home. This can seriously affect children’s well-being. Records do not provide an insight into the children’s lives. For example, the records of key worker sessions are very limited in detail. They only reflect informal discussions, rather than offering a more comprehensive account of what the objective of the planned session was and how this links to the wider support to meet each child’s individual needs. This means that there is limited information to measure the children’s progress or identify the effectiveness of the support being provided. Furthermore, some care- Inspection report children's home: 2484696 3 planning documents are incomplete, and some do not have staff signatures or dates completed.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The managers fail to scrutinise information about staff to ensure that they only employ suitable people to work in the home. For example, gaps in employment had not been considered, references were not requested or verified for some staff and criminal convictions were not carefully considered. This does not demonstrate that action is being taken to ensure that only suitable people are working with children.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The physical environment of the home is not maintained to a high standard. For example, one child’s bedroom floor was strewn with dirty clothing, discarded drinks cartons and cigarette butts. The child’s duvet did not have a cover and was engrained in dirt. The front garden of the house has overgrown vegetation and is unsightly. Furthermore, doors to the living room and kitchen were routinely locked, restricting access to communal rooms for the children living in the home. This is not conducive to a caring and comforting environment for children and may possibly be a risk to their health and safety.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager has failed to provide staff with regular supervision. This lack of effective supervision does not provide staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice and identify any further training that they may need. Nor does it provide an opportunity to ensure that staff are promoting better outcomes for the children in their care.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal quality monitoring does not take place and, as a result, the quality and standard of care have fallen to an unacceptable level. The manager has not reviewed records in the home or evaluated incidents that have occurred. Shortfalls in staff practice have not therefore been identified and the opportunity to highlight patterns, and trends in shortfalls has been missed. Subsequently, areas for development are not clearly highlighted, and there is no meaningful development plan to address areas of concern. This means that leaders and managers are not acting to improve the experiences, care and safety of children. Furthermore, the standard of external monitoring and quality assurance is not rigorous. This is evident in the number of shortfalls identified during this inspection.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager and registered provider do not ensure that the statement of purpose, which describes the service, is adhered to or that it covers the issues required by regulation. Information relating to the ethos of the home and staffing is missing or inaccurate. This means that social workers and other readers do not have a full and accurate picture of the service.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The lack of rigour by the registered manager has not helped the home to sufficiently protect children and maintain good enough standards of care. More effective systems are needed to ensure that the safety and well-being of the children is always promoted.

p.3

Recent inspection history

Inspection report children's home: 2484696 4

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that the health and well- being needs of children are met;

p.4

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(c)) 13/12/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff

p.4

Requirement Due date

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; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to 13/12/2019 Inspection report children's home: 2484696 5 protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. 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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))(d) * 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 their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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; ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 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; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h)) * 13/12/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children

p.5

Requirement Due date

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement ('the statement of purpose') which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it and notify HMCI of any revision and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the 13/12/2019 Inspection report children's home: 2484696 6 revision. The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)(b)(5)) The registered person must ensure that the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

p.6

Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children's home's premises; and any limitation placed on a child's privacy or access to any area of the home's premises

p.6

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv)) 13/12/2019

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children's home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership; does not satisfy regulation 28; or is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of the name of the person so appointed; and the date on which the appointment takes effect.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(2)(a)(b)) 13/12/2019

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children's home; or

p.6

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 13/12/2019 Inspection report children's home: 2484696 7 requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

The requirements are that the individual is of integrity and good character; the individual has the appropriate experience, qualifications 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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ('case records') for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being

p.7

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.7

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. Inspection report children's home: 2484696 8 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.7

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.8

Children's home details

Registered provider: Cherished And Devoted Care

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 102 Mill Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L8 5UD

p.8

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Phillips

p.8

Inspectors

Elaine Allison, social care inspector Michelle Edge, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2484696 9 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.8

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.9

Inspectors

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

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9