Children's Home run by Investing in Children CIC in Sunderland

Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 1 Registered provider: Investing in Children CIC Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and/or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural issues. The home was registered in May 2019. There is a manager in post, but they are not yet registered. The home is operated by a private provider.

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Inspection date: 10 February 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the initial inspection, a restriction of accommodation and three compliance notices were served due to concerns regarding the management and leadership arrangements for the home. A monitoring visit was conducted on 1 October 2019 and it was agreed that the provider had not taken sufficient action to allow Ofsted to remove the restriction of accommodation. Following this inspection, two compliance notices were served under regulations 28 and 32. Following a further monitoring visit, which took place on 19 November 2019, the restriction of accommodation was lifted, and it was agreed that the two compliance notices were met. Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 2

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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

Children and young people live in a home in which the communal areas are well decorated and nicely maintained. However, one bedroom is in a poor condition. Poor and chaotic living conditions are damaging to children and young people’s self- worth.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Damage has been caused to bedrooms when children and young people have been left to manage their emotions without the intervention of staff. This lack of involvement by staff, and a lack of knowledge that damage has occurred, demonstrate that children and young people are not always supported effectively during times of anxiety or distress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When there have been safeguarding concerns, the manager has responded appropriately. The manager shared information effectively with partner agencies, pursuing their involvement so that the needs of children and young people can be understood and met. The manager has developed and implemented safety plans for children and young people that effectively reduce risk and provide protection during the time they spend out in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people who engage in risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing from home, do not have risk assessments in place that effectively identify what actions and strategies the staff should take to meet their individual needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are exposed to risk as staff do not respond appropriately or quickly to information that is available to them. When risks are identified, such as drug paraphernalia in children and young people’s bedrooms, staff have not responded swiftly to address and manage this. This leaves children and young people exposed to risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people’s care plans do not identify suitable contingency arrangements for them when they spend extended periods of time with their family. This is despite there being known and identified risks for children and young people during these times, which leaves them vulnerable to risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people are cared for by staff who have received a range of training. However, not all staff have undertaken the specific training needed to meet each child or young person’s individual needs. Induction of staff into the home is a brief process. Both of these shortfalls limit the possibility of children and young people being supported appropriately. Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 3 The views of children and young people are not considered during significant changes such as staff joining the care team. This contributes to children and young people being denied a sense of control over important matters that affect their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s oversight of the home is poor. Members of staff make decisions and have put strategies in place that the manager is not aware of. The members of the team do not work cohesively and, as a result, children and young people receive inconsistent care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ineffective monitoring systems, both internal and external, have led to a decline in the quality of the care and support delivered to children and young people. This has had a negative impact on children and young people’s experience, progress and development. Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff— protect and promote each child’s welfare; provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(ii)(vii)) 22/03/2020

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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. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 22/03/2020

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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— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 22/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 6 that staff— meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. 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)(ix)) *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—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— 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; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi)(b)(d)) 22/03/2020

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 22/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 7 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(c)(f)(h)) 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; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that arrangements are in place to— manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(ii)) 22/03/2020

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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)) 22/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)) 22/03/2020

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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. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. 22/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 8 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’).

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 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 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. 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)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2522240 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Investing in Children CIC

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sjovoll Centre, Front Street, Pity Me, Durham DH1 5BZ

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Inspector

Paula Kelly, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2522240 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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