Children's home run by Skyline Child Care Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 1 Registered provider: Skyline Child Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It is the only home that this company currently operates. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since December 2019. The current acting manager was appointed on 17 January 2020. He has yet to make an application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 29 January 2020

Date of last inspection: 30 September 2019

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Inspection date: 29 January 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 29 January 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be 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

At the last full inspection, 10 requirements were raised. At this inspection, only two of these requirements are considered to have been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers told the inspector that no action has been taken to address shortfalls found regarding risk assessments. This failure to act demonstrates a failure to prioritise children’s safety. Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 2 Physical intervention practice remains poor. The continued failure by staff and managers to ensure that these incidents are well documented means that records cannot be relied on as an accurate reflection of the event. Some members of staff have been involved in carrying out physical interventions, despite not having the required training. There is still no independent review and debriefing in place when the home’s manager has been involved in carrying out a physical restraint. These significant omissions mean that practice is not subject to the necessary scrutiny and oversight that are required to ensure that children’s safety and well-being are protected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and managers failed to report an allegation raised by a child against a member of staff for seven days. This is despite the incident being documented and reviewed by managers. This demonstrates a failure of the safeguarding procedures at all levels in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have succeeded in obtaining a copy of a child’s health plan. However, they have not used this information to inform the child’s plan in the home. As a result, staff are still without clear information about the child’s health needs and how they can meet these.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have made some improvements to the physical environment to promote children’s privacy. However, elements of the environment remain institutionalised. For example, one child’s wardrobe is locked, despite managers telling the inspector that the child has made improvements in choosing and caring for her own clothes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers continue to rely heavily on agency members of staff to ensure that there are sufficient staff to care for children. This over-reliance on using unfamiliar staff compromises children’s care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have still not received the necessary training to reflect the needs of the children, and supervision remains infrequent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor’s reports are not always accurate and not always sent into Ofsted in a timely manner. The manager’s quality of care report fails to address any of the previous omissions identified at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of continued failure to meet regulation, Ofsted has issued four compliance notices following this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have made improvements to their staff recruitment processes. This ensures that only people who are safe to work with children are employed at the home. Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 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 health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 03/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 03/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 5 meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix))

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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— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 03/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 6 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))*

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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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(d)(e)(g)(ii))* 03/04/2020

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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. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))* 03/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; 03/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 7 the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))*

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 03/04/2020

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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— 03/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 8 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

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)(b)(c)(5))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 1265096 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Skyline Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 29 Old Farm Drive, Codsall, Wolverhampton WV8 1GF

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Inspector

Tracey Coglan Greig, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1265096 10 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 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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