Children's Home run by Somerset County Council in Somerset

Inspection report children‟s home: SC030439 1 SC030439 Registered provider: Somerset County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide a permanent home and short-break care for up to six children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities. The home is owned and managed by a local authority. The registered manager resigned from the post on 31 March 2019. An interim manager has been in day-to-day control of the home. A new manager has been appointed and starts in post on 2 December 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, senior leaders have appointed a new manager. He is due to commence employment in December 2019 and the responsible individual will ensure that he applies to register with Ofsted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The three requirements raised at the previous inspection have been met. Leaders and managers now ensure that children and young people are provided with continuity of care and that all agency staff are suitability vetted, qualified and experienced. Inspection report children‟s home: SC030439 2 The three recommendations raised at the previous inspection have also been fully met. Leaders and managers now ensure that all agency and relief staff do not lone work or exceed 50% of the staff on duty. Children’s daily records are now monitored effectively to ensure that they are clear, concise and factual.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

New systems to consult with children have been introduced. Children are now provided with the opportunity to share their views about their short-break stay and the quality of care and support that they receive. These consultation systems are at the early stages of implementation, and their effectiveness has not yet been assessed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, there has been one significant incident resulting in a child being held. Staff took appropriate action that safeguarded the child. However, records relating to this incident do not detail the duration of the intervention and do not confirm whether the child and member of staff involved had an opportunity to discuss how they felt or to explore strategies to prevent a reoccurrence.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2018 Full Inadequate 26/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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

35: Behaviour management policies and records The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made 31/01/2020 Inspection report children‟s home: SC030439 3 which includes— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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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

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. Inspection report children‟s home: SC030439 4 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4DY

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC030439 5 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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