Children's Home run by The Drive Care Homes Ltd in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 1 SC063689 Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. Its statement of purpose specifies that it will provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people, aged between eight and 18, who have mild to severe learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2018.

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Inspection date: 12 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 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

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. The adults required training on specific health needs such as peg feeding prior to his arrival at the home. The training was provided by a qualified nurse and equipped the adults to meet the child’s needs. The head of care also sought specific guidance from the GP regarding the medication for this child. As a result, he is receiving well-planned care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Adults report that the children are making progress and learning new skills, and some are developing greater independence. One child wanted to do his laundry independently. He is working on a plan to achieve this and is taking pride in his new skills. Others are using communication tools such as a tablet computer and speech more effectively, which has empowered them and reduced their frustrations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, records are inconsistent. One child is described as having a bedsore in one, and in another a pressure sore. At the time of the inspection, there was no clarity on the matter and no medical attention had been sought for the child. Although this was swiftly dealt with during the inspection, the manager’s own monitoring had not revealed this discrepancy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

External monitoring lacks rigour. None of the shortfalls highlighted in this inspection had been identified through the monthly visits to the home. Reports have lacked detail and fail to provide a useful narrative for the manager to use to bring about improvements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One complaint had been made. Although there was an investigation, the complaint followed a similar theme to previous concerns raised regarding the adults’ practice. This is a recurring theme and has yet to be sufficiently addressed. Leaders and managers have sought specialist training for the adults, however this had not yet taken place and their practice continues to raise concerns from third parties.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are weak. One assessment had a risk stated, however there was no strategy for the adults to follow to reduce the risk. Other examples lacked clear guidance for known behaviours, such as dropping to the floor. When this behaviour occurred, the adults’ response to this behaviour led to a concern being raised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one allegation has been made. Although this was reported to the designated officer, and the child reassured, the internal investigation was not sufficiently detailed or robust. It failed to demonstrate the child’s voice, or to highlight that the adults on duty at the time of the allegation had not followed the home’s own safeguarding procedures in alerting a duty manager. Consequently, Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 3 leaders and managers have yet to take action to address the adults’ failure to immediately alert managers that an allegation had been made. Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2019 Full Good 31/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/09/2017 Full Good 16/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 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 health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(2)(c) 27/03/2020

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 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; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) 27/03/2020

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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— 27/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 6 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— home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(f))

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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: SC063689 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 18 Hatherley Road, SIDCUP, Kent DA14 4BG

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Inspector

Sarah Olliver, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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