Children's home run by Northamptonshire County Council in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC035352 1 SC035352 Registered provider: Northamptonshire County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to seven children and young people between the ages of 12 and 17. It provides care for children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2012.

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Inspection date: 4 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC035352 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 sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children continue to make good progress. For example, some children have successfully transitioned back to their family homes. Most of the children are attending school or an alternative provision. Staff support children well to maintain their educational placements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Other children are making some progress but continue to demonstrate risky or challenging behaviour. Staff work tirelessly with them to try and minimise the impact of these behaviours. Staff are using external specialist agencies to work with children who are at risk. However, children’s engagement levels vary.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Difficulties have arisen from the combination of behaviours displayed by two new children. Their placements led to an increase in challenging behaviour and a spike in the use of physical interventions. Staff recognise that, despite their best efforts, they are unable to fully safeguard one child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager appropriately addressed a situation in which staff failed to report the absence of a child. His actions ensured that staff fully understand the importance of following each child’s missing from home protocol carefully.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The team is coming through a difficult period. They are covering additional shifts to cover gaps in the rota. This demonstrates their commitment to ensuring that children are cared for by staff who they know.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a new management team in place. However, consistency has been maintained because the acting managers have worked in the home for several years. Acting managers are using incidents as learning opportunities and taking appropriate steps to improve the home. However, formal systems to review the quality of care are not being applied in line with regulations. Inspection report children’s home: SC035352 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2019 Full Good 27/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2017 Full Good 25/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC035352 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 independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)) 06/05/2020

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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

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

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)) 06/05/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC035352 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: SC035352 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northamptonshire County Council, One Angel Square, 4 Angel Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 1ED

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Inspector

Sonia Hay, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035352 7 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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