Children's home run by Impact For Change Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1264756 1 Registered provider: Impact for Change 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 home is part of a small organisation. The home is registered to care for up to two children. There is currently no registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 18 September 2019

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was judged as inadequate at the previous full inspection in September 2019. This resulted in two compliance notices being issued under regulations 12 and 13. A monitoring visit completed in October 2019 identified that leaders had taken action to address the notices. Inspection report children’s home: 1264756 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/09/2019 Full Inadequate 19/03/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 05/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1264756 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 21/02/2020

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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; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(vi)) 21/02/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1264756 4 13: The leadership and management standard

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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 their full potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of the children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and the use of monitoring and review systems that make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) 21/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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improvement to be good

Staff are developing a better understanding of what is expected of them. Children’s records provide clearer direction. As a result, children’s day-to-day experiences are improving. Inspection report children’s home: 1264756 5 Children receive care from a dedicated staff team. When staff ratios are increased to manage risks, children always have staff with them that they know well. A recent, short- term use of specialist health staff was positive. This arrangement supported a child to receive care at home, rather than remaining in hospital.

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improvement to be good

Children are not always receiving the levels of therapeutic care that they need. Leaders have started to act to address this.

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improvement to be good

Children are not receiving their legal entitlement to education. At best, one child is receiving 14 hours of education which includes one-to-one tutoring and forest school.

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improvement to be good

On two occasions, actions taken to understand and respond to the potential risks to children were lacking in rigour. While this has not had a direct impact on children, the information gained could have improved safety plans and reduced risk.

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improvement to be good

The arrangements in respect of the safekeeping and administration of medication are effective. However, limited homely remedies are available for children. This is because the manager is concerned that staff will not keep accurate records. This could leave children without pain relief if they become unwell during the night.

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improvement to be good

Staff have developed positive relationships with children, which helps to keep the children safe. Children are comfortable with talking to staff if they don’t feel safe, and staff act to help them.

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improvement to be good

Staff manage incidents more consistently. This is because direction is clearer, and staff understand what they need to do. This helps create a calmer environment for the children.

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

The registered manager no longer works at the home. A senior manager is currently in day-to-day control. The current arrangements are not sustainable. A new manager has been appointed. There is a plan for the senior manager and the new manager to have a period of shared responsibility to ensure that improvement continues.

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

Leaders and managers are focused on providing more consistent and safer care for children. This has meant that other areas still need improvement. Weak oversight and analysis are themes identified across several areas. These areas include the arrangements in respect of fire drills, staff rotas and a lack of supervision for senior leaders.

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

Leaders and managers understand children’s needs. Action has been taken to address Inspection report children’s home: 1264756 6 inconsistent and poor practice. Leaders ensure that staff understand changing and emerging needs for children. Children’s records are up to date and are of good quality. Regular staff meetings take place. This supports staff to understand any changes they need to make to meet children’s needs.

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

Leaders and managers support staff well. Most staff receive regular supervision, and all have access to clinical supervision. Senior leaders do not have adequate supervision arrangements in place.

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

Staff have undertaken additional training since the last inspection. Staff said that the training and support they receive have helped them to feel more confident. As a result, they provide better care for children.

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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: 1264756 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Impact for Change Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Great Warham Cottage, Beaford, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8AB

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Inspectors

Tracey Ledder: social care inspector Joy Howick: HMI social care Inspection report children’s home: 1264756 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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