Children's home run by Shropshire Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 1 SC370982

p.1

Shropshire Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority-run home offers support, education and care for five young people who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma which has left them vulnerable. The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in March 2009 and holds the relevant level 5 qualification.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to follow up on concerns that Ofsted received about the home and to monitor progress made since the home was last inspected in July 2019. The inspection was undertaken remotely. Staff, children and professionals were spoken to via telephone, a video tour of the home was conducted, and the inspector reviewed a range of records, documents and policies.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There has been a low number of safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. Staff receive training in safeguarding young people. However, they are unclear about their responsibilities. The home’s management, including the responsible individual, did not follow an agreed procedure following a recent allegation from a young person against a member of staff. This allowed the member of staff to continue working at the home, which caused the young person anxiety. Failure to adhere to safeguarding protocols compromises the safety of staff and young people.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has not considered risks posed by local business and facilities such as shops, a church and a local park within the home’s location risk assessment. More worryingly, she does not consider risks posed by a nearby road on which there is a 60mph limit. Recently, one of the young people left the home and walked along this road at night. Staff had to physically intervene to return the young person to the home. This means that existing mitigation of local risks is ineffective. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 2 Young people living at the home can display challenging behaviours, including violence and self-harm. Instances when staff have had to physically intervene to keep people safe are infrequent. However, on several occasions, the behaviour management policy has not been followed appropriately. This has resulted in young people being physically prevented from leaving the building or moved between

p.1

This monitoring visit

rooms and, in one instance, a young person being restrained on their bed. The registered manager identified this when she spoke to staff and young people following these incidents. The register manager updated the young person’s behaviour management plan to ensure that such practice does not occur in the future.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Nearly all the staff team members are qualified to the suitable level, and those who are not are enrolled on the relevant course. However, one member of staff has gone beyond the allowed timescale for completion of the level 3 diploma. This means that staff may not have the knowledge for their role.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Monthly external visits by an independent person take place. The manager completed the home’s most recent internal review of the quality of care provided in a timely manner. However, feedback from young people, their families and placing authorities was not included in the report and, therefore, in developing the quality of care provided for young people. This also affects Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home effectively.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Despite these significant shortfalls, there are also many positives. All the young people are in some form of education or training.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Relationships between staff and young people are positive. Staff specialise in providing long-term placements for young people and prepare them well for when they leave the home and go onto semi-independent or independent living.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Young people are encouraged to engage in a broad range of activities and to join local clubs. This adds to their feelings of worth and keeps them physically active. Staff have been creative since COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions have been enforced. Young people are kept active but also participate in a wide range of activities in the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff understand the importance of multi-agency working in the interests of young people. Feedback from professionals was positive. One young person’s social worker said, ‘This a good placement for her and she is settled. I think the staff have good relationships with the young people. Communication with the staff is really good. They advocate well on behalf of the young people and have their best interests in mind.’ Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/07/2019 Full Good 11/03/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/08/2017 Full Good 07/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(c)) * 26/07/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

An individual who works in the home in a care role has the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The relevant date is the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)) 25/09/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— 26/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 5 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)) * 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.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.5

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.5

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”).

p.5

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

p.5

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.

p.5

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. (Regulation 45 (1)(2) (a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5)) 25/09/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.6

Information about this inspection

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 is currently posing to those we inspect. 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.

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6ND

p.6

Inspector

Ricky D’Arcy, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7