Children's home run by Action for Children Services Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1271380 1 Registered provider: Action For Children Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a short-break service for children run by a national charity. All children have a learning disability and additional complex needs in relation to either emotional or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 15 March 2019.

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Inspection date: 16 January 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1271380 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are serious shortfalls with regards to the fire safety practice of leaders and managers. In response to a fire that occurred on 15 August 2019, a visit was conducted by the fire safety department and a report, dated 17 October 2019, containing recommendations was produced. Leaders failed to meet the recommendations listed in the report. These include completing structural safety measures, a risk assessment relating to the use of extension leads, the installation of escape lighting to the external escape route by a competent person, replacement of a self-closing device fitted to a door, and ensuring that the automatic fire sprinkler system is suitably tested, serviced and maintained.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers were also asked to share fire safety measures with the other occupants of the shared building. This recommendation has been partially met, although joint working arrangements have not yet been secured, so the recommendation is not yet complete. It is of concern that there has been a significant delay in responding to these recommendations. A compliance notice was issued as a result.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition to these serious failings, there were additional concerns found during the inspection relating to staff’s practice. Following the fire, a review of staff’s actions did not identify and/or take action in relation to some shortfalls. Leaders and managers did not review with staff why they failed to take the fire safety bag with them. This had essential information and items in it, such as contact numbers, keys and codes for external gates. When staff left the building, they were unable to leave the garden through a coded gate because the code had changed. Arrangements to check the code on the gate on a daily basis were only implemented during the inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children involved in the evacuation following the fire were not offered an opportunity to communicate their feelings about this experience. A fire evacuation plan is not in place to inform staff of the actions to take in the event of a fire in the future. This was addressed following the inspection. The staff do have regular fire drill practice and there are personal emergency evacuation plans for all of the children. However, night staff have not had an evacuation drill, or a role-play exercise to inform how they would respond if there was a fire during the night. The opportunity to learn from this and to inform the children’s risk assessments has been missed. All staff have had fire safety online training and the majority of staff have undertaken fire warden training. A fire warden is allocated at the beginning of each shift. Inspection report children’s home: 1271380 3 The changes in managers and absence of a registered manager have had an impact

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

on the care provided for the children. The failures in safe practice have not been identified during monitoring processes. The manager investigated a serious incident and identified learning points to improve staff practice. However, he did not record the investigation and outcome in a format that was easily accessible for internal or external scrutiny.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers do not ensure that all staff read the child’s care plans prior to working with them. This does not demonstrate safe practice. Changes to a child’s prescribed medication were not recorded in his care plans. The changes were recorded in medication paperwork.; however, there is a risk that this information could be missed. A senior staff member spoken to was not aware that the child was no longer prescribed the medication.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has undertaken a six-monthly report which includes a review of the service. However, it does not reflect the feedback from parents, staff or social workers. The manager has devised a development plan to improve the service. However, he has not completed a workforce plan to review the knowledge, skills and experience of the staff. Supervisions are now completed regularly, are of a good standard and monitored by senior managers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The organisation provides mandatory and additional training in response to children’s needs. During the last inspection, it was identified that training was needed in autism awareness and Makaton. However, not all staff have had this training. Managers and senior staff who respond to safeguarding concerns have not undertaken the designated safeguarding lead training to enable them to fully understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to keeping children safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s bedrooms are personalised, dependent on the child’s needs. However, one child who is known to tear down his curtains was left without a curtain or privacy screen. This does not demonstrate concern for his dignity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff seek children’s views and ensure that they are able to make choices. Activities are reviewed with children for their effectiveness. The staff have recently started a system of recording children’s feedback to evidence that their views have been listened to and acted on.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff work effectively with school staff. They ensure good communication at the beginning and end of the school day. This ensures consistent care across both settings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Positive interactions between staff and children were observed during the inspection. The children were engaged in activities, and direct supervision of the children was well managed. The inspector observed the staff working well together. Inspection report children’s home: 1271380 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2019 Full Good 06/02/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1271380 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 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.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(a)(b)(2)(c)(h)) 23/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 23/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))* 23/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if— there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 01/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children’s home: 1271380 6

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Recommendations

 The design of the home should include any necessary adaptation to meet the needs of children with disabilities or specific health issues. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 17, paragraph 3.24) In particular, ensure that children’s dignity is protected.

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Recommendations

 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:

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 1271380 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action For Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 The Boulevard Ascot Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 8AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shelagh Frankcom

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1271380 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

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