Children's home run by Mutual Care Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2528486 1 Registered provider: Mutual Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately operated children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. At the time of the inspection, only one young person lived in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered by Ofsted for this home in May of last year. She has more than 10 years’ experience of being a registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2528486 2

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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 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b)) In particular:

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Requirement Due date

 ensure that if an allegation is made, safeguarding procedures are adhered to and any follow up action or subsequent decisions are recorded clearly  if physical intervention is used, the manager must specifically record whether it was reasonable and/or effective and the reasons why  ensure that fire extinguishers can be easily accessed by staff in an emergency. 20/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 30/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2528486 3 registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

 ensure that the young person’s placement plan is up to date and contains all the necessary information to show how the young person will be helped to achieve his targets  include information about the young person’s identity and culture in the placement plan.

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Recommendations

 As set out in Regulations 31–33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) In particular, when recruiting staff to a new role, ensure safer recruitment procedures are carried out as appropriate and a rationale provided if not.

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improvement to be good

Young people’s progress and experience are variable. Three young people have lived in the home since it opened, but two young people had to move out in an emergency. The manager reluctantly gave notice to the local authority as staff could not keep young people safe.

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improvement to be good

The young person now living in the home was adversely affected by incidents before another young person moved out. He felt increased anxiety, and, on occasions, he became drawn into situations, for example not going to bed and running away with the other young person on one night. Since the manager made the difficult decision to give notice to the local authority, the remaining young person is more relaxed and has started to blossom. A further period of stability, with well-matched young people, will indicate sustained improvement. Inspection report children’s home: 2528486 4 Staff know much of what they need to do to help the young person. However, a more definitive and concise placement plan, addressing all longstanding and underlying issues, would assist staff further to help the young person reach his potential. Additionally, the plan does not describe the young person’s identity and culture, which would help people understand him more.

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improvement to be good

The staff are positive and caring. They provide the young person with a pleasant, reassuring home life. The young person is encouraged to have structured routines and enjoy interests, such as looking after pet fish and playing pool. Staff work hard to help the young person overcome his anxieties and take part in activities at his own pace. For example, a recent trip away to see a football team was a positive experience. The manager has created an excellent online memory book and staff have added photographs and comments.

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improvement to be good

Social work staff gave some very positive views of the home. Although disappointment was expressed that a young person’s placement was ended abruptly, professionals were unanimous in saying that staff regularly communicated with them. A parent said the team worked in partnership with her and that staff were ‘out of the office and hands on caring for (her son)’. Two parents said that of all the homes their young people have lived in, this home was the best.

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention has been used as a last resort to ensure young people’s safety. Records show in-depth recording and the manager has carefully analysed the triggers that have led to this course of action. However, not all records demonstrate that the effectiveness of restraint action is specifically analysed. Young people are listened to, but a sharper response is needed to ensure that follow up investigations have clear recommended actions or a record made as to why action did not need to be taken. In one instance, a concern raised by a young person was recorded as an accident and not looked into, so safeguarding procedures were not followed.

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improvement to be good

Staff have called the police for help to deal with incidents that have escalated. The manager deemed this course of action necessary on all occasions but one. The home’s ethos is not to pursue charges and young people have not received criminal convictions as a result. There are also good examples of how staff have defused situations. The manager and staff continually review boundaries in place, for example managing the young person’s love of gaming. Staff have attended training on safer internet use and have used this training to improve their responses.

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improvement to be good

When new staff are appointed, the manager ensures that checks are done to ensure the safety of young people. Two staff, who were already working in the home, have been re-recruited to new posts but have not been subject to an interview process.

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improvement to be good

Fire extinguishers are stored in locked rooms or cupboards and are in wrapping, which could hinder staff if they need to use them quickly. Inspection report children’s home: 2528486 5 One medication error has occurred with no impact to the young person. The manager has responded thoroughly and improved procedures since then.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and responsible individual are committed to providing caring support and help for young people. The manager is measured and reflective and has worked hard to set up this new home from scratch. She has taken on board the learning along the way and made changes accordingly. A plan is now being implemented to provide more capacity at management, staff and administrative levels.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place to identify trends and patterns to improve the home. Having reflected with the team on the outcomes for young people who have lived in the home, the manager has reviewed the home’s admission process. She is now carrying out a thorough assessment and introduction plan for a new young person who is moving in soon.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The young person does not receive full-time education and educational assessments and documents are not up to date. Due to managers chasing the missing information and escalating concerns about the lack of suitable education, plans are now progressing and these gaps are being addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supervised effectively and attend team meetings. Several avenues of supervision and support exist for staff, which they are required to engage with. This includes regular input from a clinical psychologist, so that the home’s therapeutic approach to young people is embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is welcoming and homely and is decorated to a high standard. Inspection report children’s home: 2528486 6

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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: 2528486 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Mutual Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Fresh Accountancy Company Limited, Orchard House, Clyst St Mary, Devon EX5 1BR

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Inspector

Sarah Canto, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2528486 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 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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