Children's Home run by Children of the Mangrove Limited in Merton

Inspection report children’s home: 1235653 1 Registered provider: Children of The Mangrove Limited Interim 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 five children aged 11 to 17. In its statement of purpose, the provider states that care is provided to children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in 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 Inspection report children’s home: 1235653 2

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children 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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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management arrangements have improved, as the home now has a registered manager. However, a deputy has not yet been appointed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have ensured that two of the three requirements made at the last inspection have been met; the third requirement is no longer relevant to the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Fire safety has improved, as all residents are now involved in evacuation drills and staff check the home’s emergency lighting regularly. Staff follow up hazards, such as when children smoke in the building, and try to minimise the risk and encourage children to take online fire safety training.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has reviewed the statement of purpose to make sure that staff run the home in a way which is consistent and in line with this document. However, Ofsted was not provided with the amended document.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made some progress in working towards meeting the six recommendations made at the last inspection. Despite this, five of these recommendations are repeated in this report.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff are trying to improve children’s educational engagement and outcomes, for example by meeting with the virtual school headteacher to explore options for those children who are not in school. However, not all of the children are currently receiving their legal entitlement to full-time education and children’s attendance varies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some staff have left or have had to take time away from work since the last inspection. Only four permanent day staff remain working in the home, supported by sessional staff and agency staff. In addition, four waking night staff and the registered manager are also permanent. These changes have affected children, as they have to get to know new staff, as well as affecting staff morale.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment is ongoing to add new staff to the team. However, at times, more agency staff than the home’s staff are on shift. Furthermore, staff supervision has not occurred at the usual frequency due to the staffing situation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff encourage children to pursue their interests and hobbies. Children benefit from activities both in the home and out in the community. There are some books, games and musical instruments in the home. The virtual school headteacher suggested that further games and more varied reading materials would help children’s educational Inspection report children’s home: 1235653 3 outcomes and encourage them to read for pleasure. Inspection report children’s home: 1235653 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: 1235653 5

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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

The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 29/02/2020

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Recommendations

 Children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The Statement of Purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up-to-date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. Children’s case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of his or her death. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  Staff should understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s Inspection report children’s home: 1235653 6

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Recommendations

relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should: – detail the necessary management and staffing structure, (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s Statement of Purpose; – detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications); – detail the process for managing and improving poor performance; – detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see regulation

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Recommendations

33 (4)(b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home.

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Recommendations

The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  No more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night at the home should be from an external agency. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.17)  The ethos of the home should support each child to learn, emphasising the value of independent study and reading for enjoyment. The home must make available suitable facilities, equipment and resources for learning and ensure that the home’s routines do not form barriers to children wishing to use the home’s resources to study. Staff must support children with home study by encouraging them to learn

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Recommendations

independent study skills and helping them to practise those skills. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1235653 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children of The Mangrove Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Chester House, Fulham Green, 81-83 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JA

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Inspector:

Jacqueline Graves, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1235653 8 to 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:

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

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