Children's Home run by Changing Lives Care Group Ltd in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2490999 1

p.1

Changing Lives Care Group Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a small, private organisation. It is registered with Ofsted to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The registered manager resigned in June 2019. A new manager was appointed and started on 1 July 2019. He has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This home was inspected in December 2019 and found to have declined in effectiveness. A number of shortfalls were identified, particularly in relation to the home’s leadership and management. A compliance notice was issued. This notice set out the steps that are necessary to improve the management of the home. A monitoring visit was carried out on 31 January 2020 to review the actions taken by managers in response to the compliance notice. This visit identified that, although some improvement had been made, insufficient progress had been made in meeting all the steps in the compliance notice. The compliance notice was reissued, and a restriction of accommodation notice was issued. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the actions taken by managers in response to the compliance notice and to ascertain if Ofsted can remove the restriction of accommodation notice.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the last interim inspection, nine statutory requirements and one recommendation were set. The two requirements, relating to the leadership and management standard, which includes a compliance notice, have been addressed. The remaining seven requirements remain in place and have not been considered during this monitoring visit. They will be reviewed in detail at the home’s next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2490999 2 The first step set out in the compliance notice asked the managers to put in place effective systems to monitor, record and review the care in the home, and then act promptly on the shortfalls identified. The weekly audits carried out by the manager are now much more robust. These audits are forwarded to the responsible individual who then visits the home and reviews the manager’s findings. There are improved communication systems with staff when shortfalls have been identified to ensure

p.1

This monitoring visit

that they complete any actions required. This double auditing system is ensuring that young people’s needs are being met and helps to monitor their progress. This step of the compliance notice has been addressed. The second step set out in the compliance notice asked managers to ensure that all staff have the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding of their roles to meet the needs of children. There have been significant improvements in this area. Managers have produced individual staff profiles which detail their experience and qualifications. Additionally, the staff training matrix is now kept up to date. The managers’ weekly audits check to ensure that the matrix is up to date. All staff have now received the mandatory training and further training is planned. During this inspection, it was identified that staff have not received ligature training. The responsible individual informed the inspector shortly after this inspection that the

p.2

This monitoring visit

training has been arranged. This demonstrates a commitment to staff training and development. This also ensures that staff are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet children’s needs. This step of the compliance notice has been addressed. The third step set out in the compliance notice asked managers to ensure that staff receive regular supervision, as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose, and that appropriate records of supervision are kept. There have been improvements to the provision of staff supervision. New staff are now receiving supervision every two weeks and established staff receive supervision every month. The manager is receiving formal supervision from someone with appropriate skills and experience. The manager has planned supervision sessions for all staff for the whole year. Records are kept of all staff supervisions and demonstrate that relevant issues are discussed, and support offered. Staff supervision is also used to check that staff

p.2

This monitoring visit

have addressed any shortfalls identified from the manager’s weekly audits. Additionally, staff training is reviewed to ensure that staff have completed the required training within the given timescale. This step of the compliance notice has been addressed. Ofsted has removed the restriction of accommodation notice.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/12/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 03/04/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2490999 3

p.2

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.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— protect and promote each child’s welfare; ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(2)(b)(ii)(c)(i)(ii)) 08/03/2020

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule1; keep the statement under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of revision. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)(b)) 08/03/2020

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home a record in the form of a register showing in respect of each child: the date of the child’s admission to the children’s home; the date on which the child ceased to be accommodated in the home; 08/03/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2490999 4 the child’s address immediately before being accommodated in the home; the child’s address on leaving the home; the child’s placing authority; and the statutory provision (if any) under which the child is accommodated. (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a) Schedule 4 point 1) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 08/03/2020

p.3

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; and promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(iv)(v)) 08/03/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) This is with specific reference to ensuring that appropriate matching of all children’s needs is carried out and documented as part of the admission process. 08/03/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— 08/03/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2490999 5 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. This includes: obtaining a copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by the child’s placing authority, and of the placement plan; ensuring that children’s care plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they reflect current needs and risks; and ensuring that records are kept of all health appointments including details of the outcome of the appointment. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c)(Schedule 3))

p.4

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangement in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.5

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.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2490999 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 35-37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN

p.6

Inspector

Katarina Djordjevic, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2490999 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.

p.6

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 http://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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7