Children's home run by Dynamic Childcare Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 1

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Dynamic Childcare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is currently operating without a registered manager. A manager has been recruited to the home. However, they made a decision to withdraw their application for registration at the time of the monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted received a complaint on 1 May 2020. The complaint raised significant concerns about poor safeguarding practice in the home and the lack of effective leadership. An urgent inspection on 6 May 2020 identified that leaders, managers and staff do not appropriately respond to incidents that occur or implement effective strategies to safeguard and protect the children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home is registered for three children, and at the time of the monitoring visit three children were reported to be accommodated at the home. However, the provider could not confirm the whereabouts of two of the children, who were subject to a deprivation of liberty order directed by the courts. Information initially provided by the provider indicated that one child was in a five-star spa hotel with staff. However, it transpired that the child was in a different region with staff in a Premier Inn. This information had not been shared or agreed with the placing authority, and there was no recorded evidence to demonstrate who was with the child, the exact details of the location or the exact reason the child was no longer living at the setting.

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This monitoring visit

The provider failed to support a child who was indicating that they were going to leave the home and not return. Staff took the child who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order for a car ride to a locality where the child has known associates close by and where the child had a history of absconding in the area and was a victim of Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 2 criminal exploitation. The child got out of the car on arrival in the area and went missing from care. This significant failure of the management team and staff to ensure that appropriate safeguarding measures are in place serves to place children at further continuing risk of significant harm.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has failed to provide vital information to all relevant professionals including HMCI about missing from care incidents for children living in the home. One child was missing from the home from 23 March 2020 to 1 May 2020. The lack of reporting and recording meant that safeguarding procedures were not adhered to and strategy meetings were not held to share relevant and important information.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has failed to demonstrate that they only employ staff at the home who are suitably qualified and checked. For example, gaps in employment had not been considered and references were not consistently obtained or verified for some staff. Despite a number of staff having criminal offences, these had not been risk assessed. This does not demonstrate that action is being taken to ensure that only suitable people are working with children.

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This monitoring visit

The review of staff files revealed that the recruitment and selection procedures are inadequate. Contrary to the information provided in the home’s statement of purpose, the majority of staff employed at the home do not have relevant previous experience of working with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Therefore, children with significant vulnerabilities are not cared for by appropriately skilled and experienced staff.

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This monitoring visit

Recording in the home is poor. Records of incidents are unclear and fail to provide an accurate account of what has occurred. Some records are inconsistent or include information that should alert managers to the fact that further enquiry is necessary. However, on several occasions, this information has not been identified. It is unclear what action was taken because of incidents and whether all professionals were notified. This fails to safeguard all involved.

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This monitoring visit

Impact risk assessments for all the children accommodated at the home are poor. Risks that are prevalent in the home are minimised by the staff. For example, impact risk assessments acknowledge that there are issues relating to alcohol and cannabis misuse, missing from home, challenging behaviour and aggression. However, the assessments minimise the concerns by stating that these risk-taking behaviours occur infrequently, which is inaccurate as incidents are much more regular.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not follow the children’s risk assessments, putting children at risk of harm. Risk assessments fail to provide staff with specific and individualised strategies for managing each child’s risks. Likewise, managers do not review the patterns and trends for risk-taking behaviours. As a result, risk assessments are not effectively or regularly revised in order to effectively manage the risks children present with.

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This monitoring visit

The local authority plans stated the staffing levels that children require. For example, one child should be in receipt of three-to-one staffing. However, the provider has Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 3 failed to ensure that sufficient staff are on shift on a regular basis. Despite staff being aware that children are smoking cannabis on a regular basis, no action has been taken to minimise the risk factors. In addition, when staff were aware that illegal drugs were delivered to the home by an unknown male, no action was taken, and this information has not been shared with all relevant professionals including the police. This means that children are not appropriately safeguarded, and their plans are not adhered to.

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This monitoring visit

Social care regulatory inspectors (SCRIs) reviewed the insurance arrangements to transport children using the home’s vehicle and staff’s privately owned cars. The inspectors established that the home’s vehicle is suitably insured for business use and for the drivers employed by the company. However, there is no record of checks being undertaken on individual staff insurance documents for those staff who use their own vehicle to transport children.

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This monitoring visit

In Ofsted’s view, the shortfalls highlighted demonstrate poor leadership and management practice and a lack of ability to take effective action to improve the quality of care in the home. This compromises the safety, experience and progress of the child accommodated in the home. As a result of these findings, Ofsted has taken the decision to place an emergency suspension on the service.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 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—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)) 05/06/2020

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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— 05/06/2020 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 5 mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xi)) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 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.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(e)) 05/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard 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 05/06/2020 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 7 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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(e)(i)(ii)) 32: Fitness of workers The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 05/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers The registered person may permit an individual to start work at the home despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 05/06/2020 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 8 2 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties, pending receipt of any outstanding information on the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 32(7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(8)) 40: Notification of a serious event The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 05/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard 05/06/2020 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 9 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage a home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcome, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the staff work as a team as appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the workforce provides continuity of care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

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)(d)(e)(f)(h)) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 10

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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.

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Inspectors

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Michelle Bacon, social care inspector. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2490784 11 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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