Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited in Westminster

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 1 SC022880

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Sherico Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. The home provides care for up to five children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home accommodates children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The last registered manager left her post in August 2017. The new manager applied for registration on 2 December 2019 and this application is in progress.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged declined in effectiveness at the interim inspection on 17 October 2019. On 22 October 2019, a restriction of accommodation notice was issued to prevent the home from admitting any further children. This restriction notice came into effect on 24 October 2019 and was effective until 15 January 2020.

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This monitoring visit

An application to register a new manager was submitted to Ofsted in early December.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was to monitor compliance with the restriction notice. However, the visit also reviewed the progress that the leaders and managers had made to meet the requirements made at the last monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, progress has been made in several areas. The refurbishment of the home continues and nearly all the children’s bedrooms have new furniture fitted and have been decorated. Improvements have continued to the outside window frames and the patio area at the rear of the property. New curtains and window coverings have given the rooms, including the bathroom, a homelier feel and ensured better privacy. The upstairs bathroom and the kitchen await the fitting of new flooring and some of the rooms are waiting for furniture to be installed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 2 Children’s risk assessments had been reviewed and updated. Overall, these documents have improved and now record risk levels appropriately. However, in some areas unnecessary risks were recorded in the wrong section. For example, a child’s friend was required to be checked but this had been recorded as a sexual

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments do not yet have any input from the children or any signatures to say that the children have seen them. Some of the young people are over 16 years of age and their views and input would support better compliance and understanding of why staff are concerned. One child stated, ‘I’m not missing, I’m just out and about with friends.’ Clearer discussion would facilitate better relationships and better understanding of risky behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, there was an improved position regarding monitoring by leadership and management. Monthly monitoring reports completed by an independent visitor have been sent to the regulator at more regular intervals. However, previous reports, although completed, have not yet been submitted. A review of the quality of care report has been completed. This report should review some of the key areas of concern in the preceding six months. However, despite the home having significant numbers of missing-from-care episodes for this period, this is not reported on in any detail nor is there any analysis or action plan to improve this concern.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and visitors appear to be signing in and out of the home as required. This helps to keep the children as safe as possible by identifying who is in the home and the purpose of their business and the time spent on the premises.

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This monitoring visit

Supervision files reviewed on this visit showed more consistent meetings and records. Although meetings are taking place more regularly, records are basic, actions agreed are not followed up and they do not evidence reflective practice.

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This monitoring visit

Recruitment records were not checked on this visit, as no new staff have been employed since the last monitoring visit. Staff skills and experience are an area for ongoing improvement. Feedback from outside professionals and the children continues to indicate that staff do not have the necessary skills and experience to competently meet the needs of all of the children admitted to the home. The provider accepts this and has a training programme scheduled throughout 2020 to improve this.

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This monitoring visit

Mixed feedback was received during this monitoring visit. Children are not making consistent progress at this home. Concerns continue to be raised about the consistency, skills and turnover of the staff employed at the home and their ability to support and help the children living at the home. Despite this, the children can see some improvements and professionals felt that there is a better level of stability since the new manager has been in post.

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This monitoring visit

Ongoing attempts have been made to address the issues raised at the interim inspection and some improvements have been made. The requirements remain with Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 3 an extended completion date to ensure that sustained improvements are made. The home has continued to comply with the restriction notice in full.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/10/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 4

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to the need for the provider to takeensuring that the provider takes a robust approach with placing authorities to ensure that return home interviews are offered when children have been missing and that any information shared is used to help to protect them and keep them safe. It is also in relation to understanding the level of risk for children and identifying it for staff in written risk assessments. 30/06/2020

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring the continuation of repairs and maintenance of the home, including fitting an 30/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 5 upstairs bathroom blind, bedroom furniture, kitchen flooring and refurbishment of the bathrooms. 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring that leaders and managers who have invested in and are committed to running this home have clear oversight of what is happening at the home, to enable children to thrive and meet their potential. 30/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(3)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is to ensure that the experience and skills of the staff match the complexity of needs and the challenging behaviours of the children cared for at this home. In addition, this is to ensure that any gaps in employment are explored. 30/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees ─

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. 30/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 6 (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring that new staff members receive consistent supervision, in line with the provider’s statement of purpose. Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a–c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to ensuring that there is a record of which staff are working and that they have signed in when they come to work and signed out when they leave the home. 30/06/2020

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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

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1)(7)(a–e) 28/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— 30/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 7 the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a–c)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sherico Care Services Limited Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 8 Registered provider address: Sherico Care Homes Ltd, 2–4 Balmoral Road, London E10 5ND

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Inspector

Christine Kennet, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 9 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

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