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 (coronavirus) 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 COVID-19 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 off site via telephone calls, emails and emailed documents.

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This monitoring visit

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

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This monitoring visit

The home has complied with the notice, and no further young people have been admitted.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s most recent independent visit occurred on 4 May 2020. This visit was conducted by the independent visitor via a video call. The independent visitor reports are being sent in with some more consistency and indicate a positive picture of what is happening at the home. However, these reports have not included the views of external professionals but have reported on the views of young people. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 2 Staff and young people understand the government guidance regarding COVID-19. The home is attempting to adhere to ‘social distancing’ and has guidance in place to limit visitors to the home and to ensure regular hand washing and cleanliness at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Young people said that they understand the government guidance about staying at home, staying alert and only going out for exercise or essential reasons. Some young people have left the home without permission. One young person was arrested for a criminal offence when away from the home without permission.

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This monitoring visit

Although young people have reduced their episodes of going missing from the home, it is difficult to ascertain whether this is due to the efforts of staff or because of external factors, such as the impact of criminal court orders which include the use of enforced monitoring.

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This monitoring visit

One young person resident in the home has now returned to a school setting. Although the staff at the home stated that the young person attended school every day last week, this level of attendance is not agreed by the school. Attendance remains low despite this being a major part of the young person’s care plan.

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This monitoring visit

One young person was spoken to by the inspector and said that he is OK at the home. The young person confirmed awareness of COVID-19 guidelines and said he is having virtual contact with family members.

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This monitoring visit

A discussion with the registered manager indicated a poor understanding of what the restriction of accommodation notice means and why it is in place. The registered manager was also vague about what needs to change for this notice to be lifted.

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This monitoring visit

Feedback from external professionals provided a mixed picture in respect of young people’s progress.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not yet demonstrated how they will manage future admissions to the home. This is an area of ongoing concern, given that the home admits young people who have a high level of complex needs.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff training has taken place earlier this year. There is a scheduled training programme for staff, but this is on hold due to the COVID-19 situation. As an interim measure staff have attended some online short courses, including safeguarding, Prevent and behaviour that challenges. However, to be able to respond to the young people’s complex and challenging behaviours, the staff team needs appropriate training which supports them to manage this risk. The training schedule devised has not been able to be fulfilled at this stage.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the current COVID-19 situation and the limitations of this inspection, all the requirements are repeated with an extension to the date for completion. 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

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated).

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 31/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 5 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

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’).

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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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.

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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

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

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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

Specifically, this is in relation to the need for the provider to take a robust approach with placing authorities to ensure 31/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 6 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. In addition, this is in relation to understanding the level of risks for children and identifying for staff in written risk assessments.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

Specifically, this is 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. 31/07/2020

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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—

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

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. 31/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 7 Other records

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry.

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Requirement Due date

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. 31/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring that new staff members receive consistent supervision in line with the provider’s statement of purpose. 31/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 31/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 8 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

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

Specifically, this is 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, this is to ensure that any gaps in employment are explored.

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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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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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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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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