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

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 8 January 2020. Following that inspection, a compliance notice under regulation 12: the protection of children standard was issued. A monitoring inspection took place on 18 February 2020 and, subsequently, Ofsted judged that sufficient progress had been made in a number of areas and that the compliance notice under regulation 12 was met.

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This monitoring visit

During the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, Ofsted is not carrying out routine inspections of social care provision. When Ofsted has judged a service to be high risk, we need to determine what activity is needed to mitigate the risk.

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This monitoring visit

This report outlines the steps taken to assess what action has been taken since the last inspection and the current level of risk.

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This monitoring visit

Off-site activity undertaken by the inspector has included a telephone discussion with the registered manager, the electronic sharing of documents and a review of point in time surveys. This monitoring report did not include a visit to the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530801 2 Since the full inspection in January 2020, two children have moved out of the home and no children have moved in. Leaders and managers have reflected on the poor decision-making that led to two children moving into this home when their needs could not be met, resulting in a period of disruptive behaviour. Consequently, the children living here now are more settled as indicated through a reduction in the number and severity of incidents. There has only been one reported incident of physical intervention since 8 January 2020; this involved a staff member appropriately moving a child’s hand to prevent the child from being harmed.

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This monitoring visit

The arrangements to safeguard children have been strengthened through staff training and a review of procedures. Leaders and managers are now more curious and scrutinise incidents of concern. The registered manager has liaised with the designated officer. Recent allegations against members of staff have been identified more promptly and better managed and have been appropriately reported to Ofsted. Although the safeguarding policy has been updated, it continues to include unnecessary repetition and some outdated references.

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This monitoring visit

The number of times children have gone missing from the home have reduced. Each child has a missing from home protocol. Although these documents have improved with some direction for staff, they remain overcomplicated and, at times, confusing. While it is encouraging that children are not going missing as often, the protocols require further improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Since the monitoring visit undertaken on 18 February 2020, leaders and managers have continued to address the failings identified at the first inspection in January 2020. The inspector was advised that a development plan, setting out the provider’s core values, was presented to the staff team on 18 March 2020. Leaders and managers state that they have invited members of staff to share their views and contribute to the development plan to agree how the core values will be implemented. This meeting focused on the changes to documentation to improve care practices and recording.

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This monitoring visit

Consultation with children has improved with regular group meetings and the re- introduction of a key-work system. Children selected their top three choices from the staff team to be their key worker and the manager reports that they are all happy with the allocation. The role of the key worker is described as ensuring that children have a dedicated advocate in the home.

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This monitoring visit

‘Have your say’ meetings have been introduced and involve children meeting with a senior manager and/or the responsible individual. The meetings aim to remove any barriers to communication, enabling children to receive a quicker response to their requests and questions.

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This monitoring visit

Parents, staff and social care professionals have responded positively through the recent Ofsted survey. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530801 3 The provider has invited external professionals to share their knowledge and expertise towards the development of the home. These contributions have been used to provide staff training, to improve the recording systems and scrutiny of practice. Leaders have sought assistance from other providers who have helpfully shared their monitoring system. The implementation of a new management monitoring system has supported the leaders and managers’ ability to quality assure the records and care practices. Monthly oversight by the independent visitor reports improvements in the leadership and management of this home. In March 2020, the regulation 44 reports that leadership has been good for this period and the leadership team has responded well to inspection recommendations and the current

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have responded well in managing the risks and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The children have moved to live together in one house, leaving the other house available for any child who may have symptoms of the virus. The staff team has been rearranged to work continually for 48 hours followed by six to seven days off. This provides continuity of care for children, development of positive relationships and reduces the number of adults present, thereby reducing the risk of infection.

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This monitoring visit

The evidence provided to Ofsted indicates that there are no serious and/or widespread failures that leave children being harmed, at risk of harm, or their welfare not being safeguarded.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/02/2020 Monitoring Compliance met 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 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— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare; treat each child with dignity and respect; 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)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) and (c)(i)(ii)) 13/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 13/02/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530801 5 meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those

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Requirement Due date

expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 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; help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; 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; are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or

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Requirement Due date

potentially violent behaviour by children; understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii) and (b)) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530801 6 12: 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 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure missing from home protocols provide clear guidance for staff, including the action required to safeguard children. 29/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

13: 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 their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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; ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 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; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and

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Requirement Due date

improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(h)) 13/02/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530801 7 20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing— injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home. Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (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 The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b)) 13/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. The registered person must ensure that— 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— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 13/02/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530801 8

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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; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and— a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; 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”)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 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. (Regulation35(1)(a)(b)(2)(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b) (i)(ii) and (c))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this off-site activity 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 9

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Clare Davies, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2530801 10 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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