Children's Home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC469396 1 SC469396 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

The home is registered to accommodate four children aged 11 to 17 years old who may have social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties. Placements are medium or long term for children who have suffered abuse or neglect and who may display challenging behaviour due to their emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2019.

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Inspection date: 23 January 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC469396 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.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made good progress in meeting the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. There has been some focused training for staff on gang and county lines activity. The registered manager has also continued to foster effective relationships with the relevant agencies to ensure that staff are aware of any new risks or concerns in the local area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have experienced some challenges in recent months. They continue to offer support to children with very complex needs. One child has been experiencing a particularly difficult time emotionally as he adjusts to changes, including a new child moving in and changes in the staff team. This has led to some incidents of damage to the home. The home environment needs attention. The registered manager is working closely with her maintenance team to bring the home back up to acceptable levels of decor. The environment, although homely and generally suitable, was not maintained to the highest standards in terms of cleanliness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In spite of these challenges, the registered manager and staff remain totally committed to the children in the home. They work with children who have experienced multiple placement breakdowns. They share a commitment not to replicate this pattern for children and are determined to make placements a success.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are making progress. Staff highlighted reductions in negative behaviours, growth in independence skills and, for two of the children, the beginnings of their engagement in therapeutic work. This is helping them to deal with issues that they have not previously wanted to open up about. Staff worked particularly well with one child to help him to understand the impact of negative behaviours. This led to a significant reduction in incidents and helped the child to use more constructive ways to communicate his feelings and needs to staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has left for another home within the group. It was felt that the new home would be a better fit for him, and it has been a positive move. There was little evidence of reflection on placement endings for children. As a result, the organisation has missed an opportunity to learn from the experiences of looking after this child to inform future practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is pleased with the recent recruitment of new staff. She feels that the new team members have really enhanced the skills base in the team. She is feeling very positive about the future development of the service. Staff say that they feel well supported. However, there are some gaps in the frequency of Inspection report children’s home: SC469396 3 supervision and it was not clear that organisational targets for supervisions are being met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child who moved on had been involved in acts of bullying towards peers. Staff tackled this situation proactively. Staff were able to evidence good work with both the victims and perpetrator to reduce this behaviour. Children reported that staff worked hard to ensure their safety at all times.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2019 Full Good 17/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/08/2017 Full Good 19/07/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC469396 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that–

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to–

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6(2)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that high standards of cleanliness and hygiene are maintained in both personal bedrooms, bathrooms and communal areas of the home. 31/03/2020

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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–

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the 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)(a)(b), (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, review placement endings for children and use any learning to improve placements for children in the future. 31/03/2020

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must– 31/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC469396 5 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. (Regulation 45(1), (4)(a))

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Recommendations

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Inspection report children’s home: SC469396 6

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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: SC469396 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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Inspector

Peter Jackson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC469396 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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