Children's home run by Fusion College Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 1

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Fusion College Ltd

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 owned and managed by a private organisation. As a previously registered children’s home, it was acquired by this new provider in June 2019 with children living here and an established staff team. This home provides care and accommodation for up to eight girls. The statement of purpose specifies that this home provides medium- to long-term care for children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. The children’s home comprises two separate houses and there is an independent school on the same site. The manager has been registered since June 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as inadequate at the last full inspection on 7 to 9 January 2020. A compliance notice under regulation 12: the protection of children standard was issued. This monitoring visit was undertaken to review the actions taken by the provider to improve and to comply with the notice.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit, Ofsted judges that sufficient progress has been made in a number of areas and that the compliance notice under regulation 12 is met. However, improvements to missing-from-home risk assessments are not yet robust in providing suitable guidance to staff. This element of regulation remains in place as a requirement.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection, two young people have moved out of the home. The environment is described by managers as much calmer and records show fewer incidents are taking place. The provider has been proactive in reviewing and updating policies and records alongside acting to address other concerning matters raised at the full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 2 The manager has reviewed historical safeguarding concerns and addressed shortfalls in notifying relevant professionals. Retroactive investigations have been instigated where needed.

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This monitoring visit

Action taken to improve incident reporting and safeguarding records has been effective. The number of logbooks has been reduced to improve clarity and ease of access to information. Additional support to staff and monitoring by managers is enabling timely and consistent reporting to other agencies.

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This monitoring visit

Following the review and update of policies, a programme of training has been delivered to staff. This training relates to the improvements needed as identified at the previous inspection and particularly includes safeguarding, behaviour management and record-keeping.

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This monitoring visit

Additional feedback opportunities for young people have been introduced. Alongside written feedback, the responsible individual has been proactive in seeking the views and wishes of young people. Residents’ meetings lack clarity of purpose, which compromises the potential for young people to provide effective contributions to developing the home.

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This monitoring visit

The previous inspection has led managers to reflect on the home and review practice. Many improvements have been made. Further developments are needed to sustain improvements and fully embed them into practice.

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This monitoring visit

A further full inspection will be undertaken to review the remaining requirements and impact of the improvements made. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2020 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) and (c)(i)(ii)) 13/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— 13/02/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 5 mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 6 the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix) (x)(xi)(xii)(xiii) and (b)) 12: The protection of children standard

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 13/02/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 7 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(h)) 20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) and (2)) 13/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children 13/02/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 8 The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b)) 35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; 13/02/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 9 the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and—

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation35(1)(a)(b)(2)(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b) (i)(ii) and (c)) 37: Other records

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the register records the statutory provision (if any) under which the child is accommodated. 13/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to,

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Requirement Due date

sexual exploitation; 13/02/2020 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 10 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) and (e)) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 11

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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: 2530801 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rumwell Hall, Rumwell, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1EL

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Inspector

Janice Hawtin, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2530801 13 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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