Children's home run by The Percy Hedley Foundation

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 1

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The Percy Hedley Foundation

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private provider. It cares for up to 14 children and young people who may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or sensory impairment. The accommodation consists of a residential unit and a three- bedroomed cottage.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post for more than one year.

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This monitoring visit

An unannounced monitoring inspection was conducted at this home centre on 24 March 2020 following concerns that had been raised with Ofsted in connection with the safeguarding and protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, the inspector found that there had been eight medication errors between September 2019 and February 2020. A further medication error was reported following the visit.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not take effective action to safeguard children and young people. For example, some staff have forgotten to administer the correct medication, or have given children and young people the wrong dose. These factors considerably undermine children and young people’s safety and well-being.

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This monitoring visit

The home has not had a registered manager for over a year. As a result, there has been no consistent day-to-day leadership to ensure that all children and young people are safeguarded and looked after to a high standard.

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This monitoring visit

The lack of a registered manager means that recurring problems, including administration of medication, are not managed strategically. Although individual errors are investigated, there have been no organisational changes to ensure improvement in practice. Therefore, children and young people remain at risk. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 2 The proposed interim management arrangements for the home do not offer the safeguards that children and young people require. For example, the disclosure of a further medication error following this visit confirms ongoing issues. This means that children and young people are at risk because of the potential for further mistakes to be made.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders understand these concerns. They are committed to making the necessary improvements. The regulator will monitor compliance with the requirement made. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/06/2019 Full Inadequate 01/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/05/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 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, the 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if— there is no registered manager in respect of the home. If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— the name of the person so appointed; and the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(2)(a)(b)) 30/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 5

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Information about this inspection

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that Covid-19 is currently posing to those we inspect/regulate. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of Coronavirus by the home. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Percy Hedley Foundation

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Percy Hedley School, Forest Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE12 8YY

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Inspector

Jane Titley: social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 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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