Children's home run by Back on Track Children’s Services SE LTD in Dover

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 1 SC473404 Back on Track Children’s Services SE Ltd.

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Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for up to five young people. According to the home’s statement of purpose, care is offered to young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged requires improvement to be good at the full inspection on 30 October 2019. At this monitoring inspection, no judgement is made.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted received information from the police in March 2020 that raised concerns due to the nature and frequency of the police being called to the home by the staff, during the previous three-month period. Despite the significant number of such call- outs, Ofsted was not notified, in accordance with the Children’s homes regulations 2015, of the majority of these incidents.

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This monitoring visit

A report was requested by Ofsted and received from the provider on 13 April 2020. It failed to give Ofsted the necessary reassurance that the children’s safety and well- being were being adequately protected and that the provider was complying with the regulations. Consequently, this monitoring inspection was undertaken to further explore the concerns. Wherever possible, aspects of this inspection were conducted remotely, in accordance with Ofsted’s guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

Onsite activities were limited as far as possible, and a list of relevant documents was requested. These were reviewed by the inspector the following day, and further telephone inquiries were made with leaders and external professionals. The inspector provided feedback by telephone to the registered manager and the responsible individual on 4 May 2020. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 2 The onsite inspection activities included speaking with the children and members of staff, reviewing records and interviews with the registered manager and responsible individual. The findings gave rise to a range of concerns about the staff’s safeguarding practices, the lack of effective leadership and the absence of capturing and acting on the expressed wishes and feelings of the children.

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This monitoring visit

One child moved into the home without his associated risks and needs being adequately assessed. Staff were not prepared to meet this child’s needs. The likely impact of the risks and needs associated with this child on the other children were very poorly considered. Staff reported, and records show, that the poor practice in relation to leaders’ admissions decisions have significantly compromised the safety, progress and well-being of all the children.

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This monitoring visit

Despite a requirement from the previous full inspection, in respect of the shortfalls in the staff’s safeguarding and risk management practices, children are continuing to express their concerns about feeling unsafe and fearful.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are unclear about the plans to manage one child’s high-risk behaviours. A deprivation of liberty safeguards order is ineffective. The care planning guidance and risk management strategies designed by leaders do not reflect the contents of the order. The child’s social worker and the staff give different views and descriptions of this child’s care needs. Consequently, there is a disconnect in working together. Despite the escalating risks and increasingly unsafe behaviours, that include lengthy periods of being missing, the registered manager has failed to consider or review the staff team’s capacity to meet the needs of the current group of children.

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This monitoring visit

There is a lack of structure and planning for the children, particularly when they are not at school. During 2020, staff meetings have been infrequent and poorly attended. Staff are unclear about structures and boundaries to be observed in the home. They have complained to leaders that staffing levels are insufficient to keep all the children constructively engaged to improve their experience, and to combat boredom and frustration. These factors all contribute towards increased risk of friction and conflict between the children.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is failing to lead a culture in the home that helps the children to achieve their potential. The leadership is not delivering outcomes in line with the stated ethos, described in the statement of purpose. Children have been hurt by other children, experienced threats and coercion, have felt wanting of staff attention, and at times have been fearful. Their reasonable wishes also have been ignored. This includes a longstanding request to establish a vegetable garden. These experiences of children stand in strong contrast to the stated approach and ethos of the home.

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This monitoring visit

One of two bathrooms in the home was closed for use by early February 2020 following an incident of damage, leaving only one bathroom for the five children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 3 Staff complained about the difficulties in managing this arrangement, but leaders and managers failed to take effective action. In addition to the increased potential for friction and conflict posed by this inadequate arrangement, COVID-19 risks are increased. The responsible individual, with the registered manager present, confirmed that a decision to close a children’s bathroom was made by the owner, who does not have a direct operational care role. This decision was contrary to the views of leaders and the staff team. This example gives cause for concern about leadership roles and responsibilities and about the ability of the registered persons to make appropriate decisions about the children’s home.

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This monitoring visit

Teamworking and effective staff practice are being undermined by weak leadership that has failed to make decisions in the interests of all the children. The views of staff about key issues, such as staffing levels, have not been considered. Written instructions for the staff about how to manage risks associated with the children are insufficient and unclear, making it difficult for staff to work effectively together as a cohesive team.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring systems in the home and quality of care reviews are ineffective and are not improving the children’s quality of care. The children have expressed significant wishes and feelings about their interests and matters concerning their welfare. These have, however, not been considered in monitoring reports or reviews aimed at improving the quality of their care.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has failed to recognise the seriousness of incidents, including repeated incidents, when considering making notifications to Ofsted. Guidance in this regard has been ignored. This has prevented Ofsted from effectively monitoring the safety of the children and leaders’ compliance with regulations.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/11/2018 Full Good 13/12/2017 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 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

*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; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)) 21/06/2020

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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; 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 (1)(2)(b)(d)) 21/06/2020

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. 21/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 5 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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous

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Requirement Due date

improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

*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 intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report

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Requirement Due date

within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. 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)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(5)) 21/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 21/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 6 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(c)) 21/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare; help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— develop the child’s interests and hobbies; 21/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 7 participate in activities that the child enjoys, and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up concerns expressed to Ofsted by the police about the running of the home and the safety of the children.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: John McDonald-Baker

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Inspector:

John Pledger, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 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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