Children's Home run by South West Childcare Services in Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: 2509684 1 Registered provider: South West Childcare Services Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a small organisation based in the south west of England. It is registered to care for up to four children. The experienced registered manager has been in post for a year.

p.1

Inspection date: 27 February 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

p.1

Inspection date: 27 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2509684 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. A monitoring visit took place after that full inspection. Improvements had been made and the home was judged requires improvement.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leadership and management is weak. Some shortfalls identified at the previous two inspections remain. Leaders have not taken enough action to reduce concerns and improve the quality of care.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Arrangements to safeguard children are inadequate. Responses to serious concerns for children are inconsistent and too slow. For example, they have failed to escalate concerns effectively, for one young person.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers do not always identify concerns relating to staff practice. For example, leaders failed to identify that staff had not followed safeguarding processes. This resulted in no action being taken in respect of staff conduct.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders fail to ensure that they have all the required information before a child moves in to the home. There was a failure to consider how children’s needs might impact on each other; the planning was poor. This, coupled with staff inexperience, resulted in staff being unable to manage effectively. Children told the inspector that they did not feel safe during this period. This shortfall was also identified at the previous full inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers do not ensure that staff have clear direction to enable them to provide consistent good care. Children’s records lack detail and do not address all known risks or provide strategies to prevent risks from occurring.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some staff refuse to work with one child. Because of this, the rota meets the needs of the staff rather than those of the children. This obstructs positive relationships being built. As a result, additional pressure is placed on the few experienced staff.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children live in a lovely home with views out over the countryside. Children’s bedrooms reflect their personalities. There are several pets, which the children look after. Improvements could make the environment more inviting. This is especially notable in the bathroom.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are making some progress. For example, one child has started to integrate better and now spends more time outside of their bedroom. Positive steps are being taken to move towards a more independent placement. Inspection report children’s home: 2509684 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2019 25/06/2019 Monitoring visit Full Requires improvement Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 2509684 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.4

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who–

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.4

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.4

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.4

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child that–

p.4

Requirement Due date

relates to the child’s development (within the meaning of section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989) or health; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

is not arranged or provided as part of the health service continued under section 1(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006(a); and 01/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2509684 5 satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3).

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who–

p.5

Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b), (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(d)(i)(ii), (3)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)) 12: The protection of children standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff–

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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)) 01/04/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

p.5

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–

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 01/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2509684 6 promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on–

p.6

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b), (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii))

p.6

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.

p.6

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: 2509684 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 46 Durnford Street, Ground floor flat, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3QN

p.7

Inspector

Tracey Ledder, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2509684 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8