Children's home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033056 1 SC033056

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Coventry City Council

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 operated by a local authority. It provides a residential short-break service for up to four children or young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, the service has ceased proving overnight stays, but offers a day-care and outreach service for two children each day.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2014 and holds a level 5 diploma in leadership for health, social care and children and young people’s services.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection, conducted on 10 and 11 February 2020. A monitoring visit on 8 April 2020 found that the provider had not taken sufficient action to meet a requirement to safeguard children. Ofsted issued a compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was conducted remotely. The inspector looked at range of children’s records, training records and home records documents provided electronically by the manager. The inspector talked to social workers, health and education professionals and staff by telephone.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found that the provider has now taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

Any concerns, including redness, bruising or marks to a child are now shared with the relevant professionals, including local authority social workers. The social Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033056 2 workers for the two children whose care was previously a concern are now completely satisfied. They see improved awareness of safeguarding. Health and education professionals also have no concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Communication, planning and record-keeping are also effective and now include the placing authority and parents fully. Children’s plans now clearly set out the nature, location and reason for redness or marks that might be considered usual for them. Staff are now recording information about children in a way that is helpful. Parents, professionals in health and education and social workers are now fully involved in care plans before they are finalised. This results in a more complete picture of each child.

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This monitoring visit

All staff and managers are now suitably trained to be able to recognise possible signs of abuse and how to respond to concerns appropriately. Staff are now able to implement their training in the organisation’s safeguarding approach. They demonstrate knowledge about the specific vulnerabilities of children who have a disability, contextual safeguarding or neglect.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are now aware of their responsibility to be alert to indicators of abuse. They are confident to be professionally curious when there is a concern. This will help to protect children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager told Ofsted that the new monitoring and review systems are not yet fully operational. This is because of the limited service currently in operation and the imminent introduction of a new electronic records system. Consequently, the impact of the systems in identifying and evaluating patterns and trends is not yet known.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/02/2020 Full Inadequate 22/01/2019 Full Good 12/02/2018 Full Good 14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033056 3

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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 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 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;

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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

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(f)(h)) 31/08/2020

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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 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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033056 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Coventry City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR

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Inspector

Christy Wannop, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033056 5 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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