Children's home run by Acorn Children’s Home (Branston) Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 1

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Acorn Children’s Home (Branston) 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 accommodates up to four children. It is one of two children’s homes run by a small limited company. The home aims to stabilise children and ensure that they feel safe, secure and cared for.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2019 and holds a level 4 qualification in leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit to the home on 12 May 2020. This visit was undertaken in response to concerns identified in notifications and through a monitoring visit of another home run by the same company where safeguarding concerns were identified.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found that young people are not safe at this home. As a result, Ofsted made the decision to suspend the registration of the children’s home from 14 May 2020 until 5 August 2020. In addition, three compliance notices have been issued.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the inspection, one young person was living in the home. Another young person had recently left the home, after notice was served on her placement.

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This monitoring visit

On 13 March 2020, a young person was admitted to the home in an emergency. At the time of the admission, staff were expressing significant concerns about their capacity to meet the needs of a young person already living in the home. This existing young person was experiencing significant trauma and was physically assaulting staff on a daily basis. The two young people were not a suitable match, and staff did not have the skills and ability to meet their individual needs. As a result of this, when the new young person was moved into the home he was physically assaulted by the existing young person and witnessed assaults on staff, which he Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 2 found distressing. The matching and admissions processes have placed young people at risk. The leadership and management of the home are weak and ineffective. This has an impact on the safety and welfare of young people. In

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This monitoring visit

particular, admissions planning is not well considered.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have failed to ensure that risk assessments are undertaken for all known risks associated with young people’s behaviour. Consequently, staff do not have information about how to reduce and manage risks effectively on a day-to-day basis. The young person is identified to be at risk of exploitation; he has known gang affiliations and is currently on police bail for serious offences. Despite this, staff have not considered monitoring who the young person communicates with when he is online. As a result of this, the extent of the young person’s vulnerabilities is not fully understood, and he is not being adequately safeguarded.

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This monitoring visit

The police attended the home when the young person was missing. They conducted a bedroom search and found empty bottles of lager in the young person’s bedroom. Staff had not been aware of this beforehand. Staff’s failure to independently undertake a room search following the young person going missing demonstrates their lack or professional curiosity and insight into the young person’s vulnerabilities.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff do not learn from such safeguarding incidents. This means that there are missed opportunities to identify and implement strategies to keep young people safe. For example, during the monitoring visit the inspector viewed the young person’s bedroom. The room smelled of smoke, and the inspector found an ashtray and drug paraphernalia in the room. Staff subsequently undertook a further room search and found empty bottles of alcohol in the room. Young people are at risk of harm, as staff do not take effective action to keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

Furthermore, during the inspection of the young person’s bedroom, it was noted that the bedroom was in a poor state. There were dirty plates, cups and utensils in the room. The floor was covered in clothing, and it was impossible to know which items were clean. Staff do not ensure that young people have a safe, clean and appropriate space in which to sleep.

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This monitoring visit

Ineffective staff supervision lacks focus on safeguarding or improving practice after significant incidents. This means that staff have not had the help that they need to improve their practice and deliver safe care to young people. Staff do not receive supervision twice a month as detailed in risk assessments. Risk assessments in respect of staff conduct are not updated following investigations into their practice. Additionally, senior managers have not demonstrated how they have assessed new staff to be suitable for their role. Managers do not ensure that young people are looked after by staff who are safe and appropriate to do so.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not ensure that young people’s health needs are met. Despite the young people being registered with local health providers, the inspector found no evidence that any specialist help for young people where there are concerns about drug use Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 3 has been sought. This failure means that young people are not being actively helped to improve their health.

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This monitoring visit

Young people’s education is not prioritised. The managers and staff have failed to escalate to the placing authority the lack of an education provision for one young person. She was without an education provision for six months.

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This monitoring visit

Absence of managerial review after safeguarding concerns and significant incidents means that the provider misses the opportunity to learn lessons. This approach does not ensure that practice improves or that young people get consistent or safe behavioural support. The managers do not demonstrate understanding about the weaknesses of the home and they have been ineffective in prioritising improvements.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have failed to notify the designated officer about a significant incident in the home. Specifically, this related to the restraint of a young person in which four members of staff used an unauthorised method of restraint. This is a breach of statutory guidance. This shows that managers do not understand their roles and responsibilities to keep young people safe. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/01/2020 Full Good 16/05/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 5

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff 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; and seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (c)(d)) 26/06/2020

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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. 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 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)(2)(b)(c)(i)(ii)) 26/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that the health and well-being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well- being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (a)(b)(c)) 26/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 26/06/2020

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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 17/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 6 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; help each child to understand how to keep safe; 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; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare and 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.

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Requirement Due date

* (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(d)) 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; 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 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)(c)(f)(h)) 17/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 26/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

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 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)(3)d)) 17/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation. The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(b)(4)(b)) 26/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 7 The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)) 26/06/2020

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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 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

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 (coronavirus) is currently posing to those we regulate. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 by the home. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements. 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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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Children’s Home (Branston) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Claremont House, 223 Branston Road, Burton-on- Trent, Staffordshire DE14 3BT

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Inspector

Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1276706 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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