Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 1 SC037256

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Suffolk County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to seven children aged between 11 and 18. The children may have experienced neglect and emotional abuse or had traumatic experiences that have left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the post on 1 February 2020. There is an acting manager in post who has applied for registration.

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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 we inspect. During this remote visit, the inspector took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 by the manager. This has included the effect that these have had on staffing arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 19 and 20 February 2020. Following this inspection, a compliance notice was served on 24 February 2020. A monitoring visit on 30 April 2020 assessed the progress that the provider had made in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notice. The monitoring visit found that the compliance notice was met.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was undertaken remotely due to the challenges that COVID-19 is currently posing to Ofsted inspecting services.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements that were raised at the last full inspection have not all been reviewed at this monitoring inspection. These will be evaluated at the next full Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 2 inspection. However, it is clear that the provider has continued to make progress in meeting these requirements.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no admissions to the home since the last inspection. Five children live at the home. One child spends most of their time with their family as part of an agreed reunification plan. The reduction in numbers of children to five has significantly improved the dynamics and eliminated the previous bullying concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Substance misuse continues to be a presenting behaviour for some children. Such behaviours generally take place outside the home. The staff have arranged support for those children who regularly misuse substances. However, these agencies cannot presently visit the home.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no incidents of bullying since the last monitoring visit. The staff recognise potential triggers and factors that could result in bullying. The staff are aware of the children’s individual experiences and are vigilant in the prevention of bullying. The reduction in the number of children who live at the home and the use of preventive strategies have protected the children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and staff team have improved the group dynamics. This is despite the challenges, posed by COVID-19, in getting the children to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. The changes to the group of children and the consistent staff responses have reduced the number of serious incidents and the associated risks to children.

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This monitoring visit

The systems to monitor the incidents at the home require further work. The monitoring systems are improving. However, the manager has failed to recognise when incidents require notification to Ofsted. This prevents Ofsted from having clear oversight of events at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team remains stable, and staff who have been redeployed to work at the home are established and promote good continuity of care. Overall, the quality of care continues to improve.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 19/02/2020 Full Inadequate 28/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/09/2018 Full Good 08/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 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 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; and

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(ii)(iv)) 17/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

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— 17/04/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 4 ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(viii)) 17/04/2020

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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.

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 17/04/2020

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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 30/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 5 promotes their welfare.

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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. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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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)) 30/06/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 6

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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: Suffolk County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX

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Inspector

Deirdra Keating, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 7 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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