Children's Home run by Restoration Care & Services Limited in Barking and Dagenham

Inspection report children’s home: 1269966 1 Registered provider: Restoration Care & Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for up to five young people with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Inspection date: 14 January 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1269966 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has addressed the five requirements and one recommendation that resulted from the last inspection. An additional two requirements and one recommendation result from this inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has been on maternity leave since September 2019. She is planning to return to work in February 2020. During her absence, an interim manager was recruited to support the home. He is an experienced manager who was previously registered with Ofsted. He plans to remain in the home as the deputy manager, following the return of the registered manager.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff morale is positive. Staff reported feeling valued and each staff member has had a performance appraisal this year. The staff team is settled, with no use of agency staff and low staff turnover. The former deputy manager is the sole member of staff to leave since the last inspection. The recruitment of the interim manager evidences safer recruitment practice in the home. Managers now undertake a full assessment of past employment history and take up verbal verification of references.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Feedback from a placing social worker was positive. The social worker commented, ‘My young person is happy in the home.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Communication with Ofsted has improved. Ofsted now receives all notifications of significant events. Managers communicate regularly with the allocated inspector, regarding the progress of the young people.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Outcomes for the young people are now recorded more thoroughly. This allows managers to evaluate their achievements and progress more effectively. However, Ofsted has not received the management monitoring report which was due in November 2019.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s guide now contains the contact details for the children’s commissioner. This ensures that the young people are aware of an important source of independent advocacy.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding practice when the young people go missing from the home is stronger. Staff now follow a revised procedure which ensures that they contact all of the young people’s friends and family to verify their whereabouts. Where concerns arise, staff liaise closely with the local police and placing authorities to share information and help to keep the young people safe. Inspection report children’s home: 1269966 3 Not all staff are trained in restraint practice. This presents possible inconsistencies for the young people and an over-dependence on the police to manage behaviour when the young people struggle. Two restraint-trained members of staff recently conducted a restraint in the home. These are the only restraint-trained members of staff. Case records show other members of staff calling police to manage difficult behaviours. Case files show that on several occasions this resulted in the unnecessary criminalisation of young people. It also results in confusion for young

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people, as there are variations in behaviour management from staff.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management training requires improvement. At present, the interim manager is supported by two senior support workers. However, one of the senior workers has not completed any management training, reducing her ability to support the manager. Inspection report children’s home: 1269966 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/07/2019 Full Good 07/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1269966 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.5

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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”).

p.5

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

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their 01/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1269966 6 parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5) The leadership and management standard

p.5

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 fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (2)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the home must ensure that all staff receive physical restraint training, to ensure consistent behaviour management. 01/03/2020

p.6

Recommendations

 Ensure that all managers working in a children’s home have the qualification in regulation 28 (2), within the relevant timescales listed in regulation 28 (3.) (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.12)

p.6

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.

p.6

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: 1269966 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restoration Care & Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 53 Levine Gardens, Barking, Essex IG11 0UH

p.7

Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1269966 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8