Children's Home run by Inspire Care (UK) Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report children‟s home: 1271234 1 Registered provider: Inspire Care (UK) Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who have experienced trauma and encounter associated difficulties. The manager was registered to manage the home in August 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 18 to 19 December 2019

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: 1271234 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 12/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: 1271234 3

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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

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 which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person 24/01/2020 Inspection report children‟s home: 1271234 4 or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv)) Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a)(b)) This relates to maintaining the children’s register. 24/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5) 24/01/2020

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Recommendations

Inspection report children‟s home: 1271234 5  The information set out in the Statement of Purpose is an essential part of the process of agreement between the registered person and placing authority that a placement in that home is the right one for that child, and that the home will be able to respond effectively to the child’s s assessed needs. Emergency admissions should not be taken unless the home’s s Statement of Purpose and its capacity and support systems mean that it has the capability to care for children admitted at very short notice while continuing to offer high quality care to children already living in the home. (‘Gu Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality sta ndards’, , page 15, paragraph 3.6)  Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. (‘Gu Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality sta ndards’, , page 35, paragraph

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Recommendations

7.15)  As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Gu Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality sta ndards’, , page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is registered for three children. Since the last inspection, there has been one child living in the home. The overall experience for the child is positive. Staff care about him and meet his needs. Staff are nurturing and communicate with the child openly and respectfully.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. They take the child to and from school and attend all education-related meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff gain the child’s views and opinions daily. This is an inclusive approach to involving the child in planning his care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the child has been living at the home, his doctors have been able to reduce his prescribed medication. However, on at least four occasions, medication was not signed for by two members of staff in line with the organisation’s policy for the safe administration of medicines. These errors compromise systems designed to ensure that medication is administered correctly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been improvements made to how records in the home are maintained. However, the recording of information in the home’s children’s register lacks accuracy. For example, the statutory provision as to why children are accommodated to the home is missing from the record.

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

Inspection report children‟s home: 1271234 6 The child told the inspector that he feels safe living at the home.

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

The manager ensures that safeguarding records are clear and kept up to date. Staff follow safeguarding guidelines and are well trained and equipped for their roles. They understand their responsibilities to safeguard the child and how to promote his well- being. The child has not gone missing from the home since the last inspection.

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

Staff reflect on incidents with the child in meaningful key-working sessions. This reduces the likelihood of incidents happening again in the future.

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

Staff de-escalate difficult and challenging behaviours to good effect. There are times when the staff need to physically intervene to keep everyone safe. These interventions are appropriate and proportionate. However, records made of these interventions require attention. It is difficult to understand what has happened during some incidents. This does not give an accurate account of events.

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

There have been several changes in the staff team since the last inspection. Organisational processes mean that checks are undertaken to mitigate risks around those who can work with children. However, one member of staff had gaps in their employment history. There was a valid reason for this, but this was not recorded anywhere on the member of staff’s recruitment record. This could compromise safeguards around safe employment practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s manager is registered with Ofsted and has the relevant qualifications, skills and experience to manage the home effectively. The manager is supported by a deputy manager. Both are respected by the staff, professionals and the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the home’s management. The child’s care is discussed at regular team meetings and in staff individual supervision sessions. Feedback from a broad range of professionals is consistently positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been improvements to the internal monitoring of the quality of care that the home provides by the registered manager. Feedback from external professionals and analysis of records is used to develop an action plan to drive up standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change in the independent visitor since the last inspection. The monthly reports have improved but there are still some shortfalls. The reports rarely contain the opinions of professionals and do not report on key areas such as bullying. The independent visitor does not assess whether the children are being safeguarded effectively and that their well-being is being promoted. This makes monitoring the home by Ofsted difficult.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose does not give an accurate description of the services and care the home provides. It states that emergency placements are accepted when Inspection report children‟s home: 1271234 7 they are not. It also states that there is internal monitoring in the form of motion sensors. This is confusing for placing authorities and families who are looking for somewhere for a child to live.

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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: 1271234 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Care (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Keystone Chartered Accountants, 263 Nottingham Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG7 7DA

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Inspector

Ricky D’Arcy, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 1271234 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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