Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited in Westminster

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 1 SC022880

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Sherico Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. The home provides care for up to six children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home accommodates children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that Covid-19 is currently posing to those it regulates. During this visit, the inspector 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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This monitoring visit

Due to the Covid-19 situation, this monitoring visit was undertaken in two parts. Some inspection activity was completed via telephone calls, while a brief on-site visit was undertaken to the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit assessed the home’s compliance with a notice issued by Ofsted to restrict accommodation at the home which was served on 10 February 2020.

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This monitoring visit

The home has complied with the notice and one young person remains living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s most recent independent visit occurred on 7 April 2020. The visit was conducted by the independent visitor over the phone. Ofsted has not received a report of this visit.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and young people understand the government guidance regarding Covid-19. The home is attempting to adhere to ‘social distancing’ and prioritises regular handwashing and cleanliness in the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 2 The young person resident in the home is unable to attend school due to government restrictions. Staff are engaging him with a programme of activities which include cooking and completing work set by his college placement. The young person informed the inspector that he was happy in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider was contacted by telephone to gain an update in respect of progress to meet the statutory requirements made at the last inspection. Both the registered manager and the quality assurance manager were also spoken to prior to the on-site visit.

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This monitoring visit

These conversations provided a mixed picture of progress at the home. Not all of the independent visitor reports have been submitted to Ofsted as required.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager was registered by Ofsted in February 2020, having been employed by the home in November last year. The quality assurance manager reported that leadership and management is ‘going in the right direction’. In addition, a new care co-ordinator has been appointed to support monitoring in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home has benefited from a refurbishment programme, the majority of which was completed before the last monitoring visit in February. The quality assurance manager indicated that this is now completed.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is making changes in the home and reiterating to staff the responsibilities they should adhere to. The registered manager said that ensuring that staff complete basic tasks had been a challenge and she has to give staff regular reminders to ensure that these are done.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff struggle to set and reinforce boundaries with the one young person in the home. This is an ongoing area for supervision and development of staff competence and skills.

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This monitoring visit

Despite some improvements at the home, without regular independent visitor reports and with the very limited scope of the on-site inspection it is difficult to verify these improvements. Therefore, the requirements made at the full inspection are all repeated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/10/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 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

Independent person: visits and reports The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— HMCI; upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; the placing authorities of children; the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1)(7a-e)) 30/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

Review of quality of care The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person 30/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 5 intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the

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Requirement Due date

quality of care review report"). The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1)(2a-c)(3)(4a-b)(5)) The protection of children standard 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— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; that staff take effective action whenever there is a serious

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Requirement Due date

concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(iii)(vi)) Specifically, in relation to the need for the provider to take a robust approach with placing authorities to ensure that return home interviews are offered when children have been missing and any information shared is used to help protect them and keep them safe. Also, in relation to understanding the level of risks for children and identifying for staff in written risk assessments. 30/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard 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 premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (2)(d)) 30/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 6 Specifically, in relation to ensuring the continuation of repairs and maintenance of the home, including the fitting of an upstairs bathroom blind, bedroom furniture, kitchen flooring and refurbishment of the bathrooms. The leadership and management standard 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

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Requirement Due date

their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(h)) Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring that leaders and managers who have invested in and are committed to running this home have clear oversight of what is happening at the home, to enable children to thrive and meet their potential. 30/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

Other records Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. The registered person must— maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; ensure that the records are kept up to date; and retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1)(2a-c)) Specifically, this relates to ensuring that there is a record of which staff are working, and that they have signed in when they come to work and signed out when they leave the home. 30/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

Employment of staff The registered person must ensure that all employees— receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 30/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 7 Specifically in relation to ensuring that new staff members receive consistent supervision in line with the provider’s statement of purpose. Fitness of workers The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(3)(b)(d)) Specifically, to ensure that the experience and skills of the staff match the complexity of needs and the challenging behaviours of the children cared for at this home. In addition, to ensure that any gaps in employment are explored. 30/06/2020

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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: SC022880 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sherico Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sherico Care Homes Ltd, 2-4 Balmoral Road, London E10 5ND

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Inspectors

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Christine Kennet, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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