Children's home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Thanet

Inspection report children’s home: SC023645 1 SC023645 Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately-operated home is part of a larger organisation which has a number of homes in the area. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children and young people who have social, emotional and/or mental health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 11 January 2016.

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Inspection date: 19 December 2019

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC023645 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 have been a number of children who have moved in to the home since the last inspection. Staff have supported children to build positive relationships with one another. Children told inspectors that they can talk with staff about any worries that they may have and that they feel safe in the home. However, children do not have information about how to access independent advocacy. The children’s guide does not include this, nor is it age-appropriate for the younger children now living in the home. This is a repeat requirement from the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspectors saw recordings of positive direct work having been undertaken with children. This helps them to reflect on behaviours and to make sense of their experiences in care. However, there was an example where the recording for one child was a duplicate of another child’s record. The registered manager addressed this during the inspection to ensure that the correct information was placed on the child’s file.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are supported well by staff to engage in education. There is collaborative work being undertaken with mainstream and in-house educational settings. However, where this is provided through limited tuition in the home there are significant periods where there is no informal learning planned. This means that not all children benefit from engaging in meaningful learning opportunities throughout the school day. This is a repeat requirement from the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff practice in relation to safeguarding children who go missing from home has improved. This has resulted in a reduction in the frequency of children going missing. Children have benefited from more stability in placement as a result. There are additional safeguards to protect the younger children currently living in the home. This includes routinely locking the front door to prevent children leaving the building at night. However, this practice is not included in the statement of purpose. This is necessary in order to obtain informed consent for these additional safeguarding measures because they also restrict children’s liberty.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been significant safeguarding concerns raised in relation to one staff member. The registered manager and responsible individual have worked well with statutory agencies to address these concerns and to ensure safe practice. However, there were missed opportunities to identify or adequately address emerging concerns in relation to the practice of this staff member through individual staff supervision. This resulted in adequate safeguards not being in place during the staff member’s period of employment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The employment checks undertaken in respect of the staff member concerned were not in line with safer recruitment practice. Reference checks were not completed Inspection report children’s home: SC023645 3 prior to the staff member undertaking a trial shift at the home. There was insufficient focus on exploring the staff member’s readiness and suitability to the role. However, when concerns were raised in relation to investigations being undertaken by statutory agencies, the senior leadership team took appropriate disciplinary action. There were no further safeguarding issues identified at the time of this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered individual and registered manager have reflected with the staff team on the learning from recent safeguarding concerns. There is a development plan in place to reduce the likelihood of further incidents. The impact of this plan is yet to be tested and evaluated. The responsible individual has committed to providing an enhanced level of support to the registered manager during this period of change and improvement work. Inspection report children’s home: SC023645 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2019 Full Good 19/02/2019 Full Inadequate 24/01/2018 Full Good 19/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC023645 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to make each child aware of and, if necessary, remind them of each of the matters in sub- paragraph (d)(i) to (iii); to ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about what advocacy support or services are available to the child, how the child may access that support or those services and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy provision. (Regulation 7(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(vii)(d)(iii)) 31/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(v) 31/01/2020

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(v)) 31/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 31/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 31/01/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC023645 6 The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 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, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation

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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: SC023645 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Acorns Homes (UK) Ltd, 424 Margate Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6SJ

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Inspectors

Maria Lonergan, Social Care Inspector Lee Kirwin, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report children’s home: SC023645 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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