Children's home run by Devon County Council

Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 1 Registered provider: Devon County Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: This is the first inspection since this service was registered to Devon County Council in April 2019.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 2

p.1

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.2

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; 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 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 home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as

p.2

Requirement Due date

to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

p.2

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 31/01/2020

p.2

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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 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 31/01/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 3 meet the needs of each child.

p.2

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) Other records

p.3

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. The registered person must— maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the registered person keep—

p.3

Requirement Due date

 a record of every fire drill or fire alarm test conducted, with details of any deficiency in either the procedure or the equipment concerned, together with details of the steps taken to remedy that deficiency.

p.3

improvement to be good

The overall experiences of children are judged to require improvement. This is because oversight by leaders and managers is weak and they have failed to ensure that safeguarding practice is robust. Staff do not always respond effectively to ensure that children are safe.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home environment is not welcoming. Institutionalised aesthetics compound its poor presentation. For example, children’s bedrooms contain locked office like cupboards and wardrobes that dominate their room.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children receive nurturing care from a stable and dedicated team of staff who know them well. Children receive personalised care and support. For example, staff use bespoke communication aids and strategies specific to individual need. This supports children’s ability to process information and reduces stress and anxiety for them.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are making progress. For example, one child is now able to order their own food when eating out; for them, this is remarkable progress. Others continue to make strides forward with personal care. This supports them to be less dependent on their carers.

p.3

improvement to be good

Support provided to children and their families makes a positive difference to their lives. One parent told the inspector that ‘the staff are amazing; the service is amazing’. They went on to say, ‘I would not be able to cope without the support we get from staff.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Policy and procedures in place to safeguard children are not always followed. For example, not all staff respond effectively when children present with injuries. Accountability and responsibility are unclear. This has resulted in inappropriate actions being undertaken by staff. This approach could obstruct child protection enquiries or criminal processes.

p.4

improvement to be good

Regular fire drills take place and include all the children and staff. Records lack analysis and oversight from the registered manager. This means that any deficiencies are not understood well.

p.4

improvement to be good

The arrangements for medication are effective. Good practice established in other homes has been adopted at this home. This has supported better oversight of medication.

p.4

improvement to be good

Processes to ensure safer recruitment are effective. There is good evidence that steps are taken to reduce the risk of employing unsuitable adults.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management oversight, in respect of safeguarding concerns for children, is weak. In one investigation, the registered manager failed to identify significant practice concerns. As a result, the shortfalls have not been robustly addressed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The quality of supervision provided to staff is variable. Not all practice concerns are discussed in supervision. Therefore, staff are not supported and monitored effectively. Some supervision lacks depth and fails to agree action points.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has been in post for several years and is a registered nurse. She is reflective, considered in her practice, and creative in her thinking. The children are at the centre of her practice and she holds high expectations and aspirations for them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager regularly completes reflective accounts on practice. At times, this has had a positive impact on the care of the children. In addition, it enables staff to reflect and consider how they can improve further.

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 Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 5 the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Devon County Council, Chief Executive’s Directorate, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 4QD

p.6

Inspector

Tracey Ledder, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2530021 7 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.6

Inspector

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7