Children's home run by Semi-independent House Limited in Peterborough

Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 1 SC452107 Registered provider: Semi-Independent House 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 children’s home provides short-, medium- and long-term care for up to three children aged eight to 18 who have experienced neglect and abuse, and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is due to leave the home at the end of January 2020 and a new manager has been appointed.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2018 Full Good 20/11/2017 Full Good 24/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 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 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; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the 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 is of integrity and good character;

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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

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 20/03/2020

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Recommendations

 Many children placed in homes may undergo a difficult transition and what should be simple aspects of their care take on a substantial significance in this context. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 4 In particular, fix the broken tiles and cupboard in the bathroom and maintain a good standard of decoration in children’s bedrooms.  Children’s home staff should take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child’s needs and developmental- stage about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course

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Recommendations

of action. Staff should discuss the decision with the child’s placing authority where appropriate. If a child makes a choice that would place them or another person at significant risk of harm, staff should assist them to understand the risks and manage their risk-taking behaviour to keep themselves and others safe. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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Recommendations

In particular, for children who smoke, have an agreement in place with the child’s social worker on the safe storage of lighters and smoking arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children at this home receive good-quality care and are making good progress from their starting points. The staff take time to listen to the children about what they enjoy doing. Trusted relationships with the staff enable the children to develop a sense of belonging. The children achieve good outcomes and are protected from harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff develop the children’s individual interests and talents. One child has a passion for ice hockey and attends weekly training. The staff help him to take care of his specialist equipment and kit. Encouragement from the staff means that he excels in this sport. He spoke with pride about his skills and techniques. Playing sport has improved this child’s self-esteem and improved his emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff and children take part in a termly football event that raises money for a local charity. Children who have left the home are encouraged to join in. Children maintain a connection with staff and the home after they have left care. This creates a sense of belonging and helps to ease anxieties for children who are moving to independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children voice their views during key-working and residents’ meetings. The staff take time to get to know children well. Feedback from children influences service development. The children have access to an independent advocate, which provides them with additional safeguards and helps them to feel listened to and understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each child has a good-quality photograph album that documents their activities and experiences and provides a record of their childhood. Achievements are celebrated and photographs of the children are displayed on the walls throughout the home. This helps to create a homely environment and shows the children that they are valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children attend education. Relationships between the school and home staff are particularly strong. Good communication means that children’s transition from home to Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 5 school is well managed and regular information-sharing helps the children to be organised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A commitment to joint working between the home and school means that the children benefit from a diverse education programme that meets their individual needs. One child volunteers in a tea shop. This has built his confidence in dealing with the public, and he is a valued member of the catering team. Another child would like to become a personal trainer and the staff support him to do work experience at a local gym.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good support available for children to maintain their relationships with their families. Some parents come to the home to see their children. The staff support the children before, during and following these visits. This enables the children to maintain important connections to their families while living away from home.

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

The staff have a good knowledge of how to keep children safe. The staff team has a good understanding of the potential vulnerabilities of each child and the staff know what action to take to protect the children.

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

The staff have a good understanding of the action that they should take when children go missing from the home. The children receive a warm welcome following incidents of going missing. Return home interviews take place. This enables the home to gain information on how to reduce these episodes and what factors may be influencing a child to go missing.

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

Each child has a detailed risk assessment that provides clear guidance to the staff on the steps that they should take to manage risks to children inside and outside the home.

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

Staff have the skills to manage children’s behaviour without calling the police to the home. Restraint is not used to manage behaviour except in the event of preventing injury to staff or children. Clear guidance from managers means that the staff know how to respond to incidents. Detailed debriefs are documented on case files.

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

The children get along with each other and do not experience bullying. The children are clear about their boundaries and the expectations of behaviour. Relationships between the staff and children are warm. This enables the children to share their feelings with the staff.

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

Some of the children have displayed self-harming behaviours. Other children require intensive intervention to address mental health difficulties. The staff respond quickly and effectively to these needs. Good working relationships with mental health professionals protect the children’s emotional health.

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

One child smokes. The staff have supported this child with key working about the risks to their health and an appointment at a smoking cessation clinic. However, there is no Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 6 agreement in place on storage of smoking materials in the child’s bedroom. This could mean that other children at the home gain access to lighters.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is due to leave her post. A new manager has been appointed and there is a planned and good-quality handover between the registered manager and the new manager. This means that the children have continuity of care and ensures a settled staff team during the period of transition.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a clear vision for the home and a good understanding of the children’s progress and plans. She is a strong advocate for the children. Strong relationships between the manager and other professionals mean that the children quickly receive targeted support to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular supervision and comprehensive training and have the skills to manage the children’s individual needs. The registered manager is visible and approachable and has good relationships with the children and the staff. Opportunities are provided for the staff to reflect on their practice and to have debriefs following incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Complaints from children are rare. Any concern raised by a child is fully investigated and the child is updated on the outcome.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective systems are in place for monitoring the service. Parents and professionals spoke about regular communication and being kept updated on children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is spacious and suitable for the needs of the children. However, some maintenance tasks require attention. Some of the floor tiles in the main bathroom are cracked and require replacing. There were many cigarette ends on the patio at the time of inspection. A cupboard in the downstairs bathroom had a broken door, which left sharp wooden edges that could injure a child. One child’s bedroom requires redecoration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home uses a mix of agency and full-time staff. Some staff recruitment files lack information that ensures safe recruitment. Failure to follow up gaps in employment history or to obtain suitable references could leave children vulnerable to unsuitable people working at the home.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 7 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: SC452107 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Inspector

Angela Weston, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 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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