Children's Home run by Orchard Children Homes Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257740 1

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Orchard Children Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have social and/or emotional difficulties. Some of the young people may have an autism spectrum disorder. The home is operated by a private company. The current manager was appointed in September 2019 and has made an application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring inspection was conducted in response to information received by Ofsted that raises concerns about the safety of the young people. Specifically, a safeguarding notification was received by Ofsted in relation to a significant safeguarding incident. The home had recently had a monitoring inspection on 27 February 2020 due to similar concerns. The concerns that were raised during the monitoring visit on 27 February 2020 remain but have not deteriorated any further. During a safeguarding incident that lasted over two days involving a young person, staff responded by doing what they thought was the correct action at the time. The manager’s review of the different stages of the incident are, at times, poor and fail to identify poor decision-making. For example, one member of staff had left a young person unsupervised when previously that day the young person had been in crisis. This decision left the young person highly vulnerable and at risk. Despite this, the

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This monitoring visit

manager’s review of the incident was to record that staff had responded appropriately. On the second day, the manager took appropriate action and guided the staff well. She also made the decision to serve immediate notice on the young person, recognising that staff were unable to keep him safe. This decision has reduced the safeguarding risks in the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257740 2 Compliance notices and requirements raised at the monitoring visit on 27 February 2020 were not reviewed and remain in place. The manager is beginning to show evidence of progress in meeting the requirements. She has booked staff on training, is reviewing and developing risk assessments, and is making sure that the home environment is being kept clean and tidy.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/10/2019 Full Good 22/08/2018 Full Outstanding 09/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257740 3

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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 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; 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— help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(vi)(vii)) 05/04/2020

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 05/04/2020*

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 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)) 05/04/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257740 4 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 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)(c)(h)) 05/04/2020*

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26(7)(b)) 05/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if, having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children, the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28(1)(b)(i)) 05/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments; however, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s home’s regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 1257740 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Orchard Children Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor, 118 Calais Road, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire DE13 0UW

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Inspector

Lisa O’Donovan, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1257740 6 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

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

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