Kyloe House

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035409 1 SC035409

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Northumberland County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children’s home is operated by a local authority and is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict children and young people’s liberty. The home provides for up to 15 children who are aged between 10 and 17 years and placed by local authorities. Children are accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989. Admission of any child under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

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Information about this children’s home

The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 30 September 2014 and is appropriately qualified for the role.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was in response to a letter received from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner outlining a range of concerns that had been raised by children in the home. Inspectors did not find evidence to support the concerns raised. However, some shortfalls in practice were identified.

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This monitoring visit

During the timescales identified in the letter to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, children have been admitted to the home using the Public Health England guidance in relation to prevention of the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). This change of practice is appropriate in the current circumstances.

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This monitoring visit

When children’s behaviour becomes a danger to themselves and/or others, children are appropriately separated from the group. This method of control should be only Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035409 2 used when certain criteria are fulfilled and for the shortest time possible. Records of two such occasions, which were for extended periods of time, were of poor quality and did not demonstrate that the criteria for the use of such controls were in line with regulations. Failure to keep accurate records on incidents that restrict children’s liberty of movement is a significant shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

Contact between children, their families and those significant to them is managed appropriately. Children are able to stay in touch with family and professionals through private telephone calls. Arrangements for the monitoring of calls are agreed with the placing local authority. Children have access to private calls directly to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Childline and advocacy services if they have any concerns. This enables children to feel listened to and valued.

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This monitoring visit

The police have been appropriately called on three occasions to manage high-risk behaviours that could not be safely managed by staff. The manager notified Ofsted and the placing authorities in line with requirements. This ensures that risk management is monitored by external authorities.

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This monitoring visit

Physical restraint is not consistently recorded in line with regulations. One record was not clear as to whether staff had actually used physical restraint before calling the police to help manage the situation. Another report did not include an injury that had occurred to a child and how this had happened. These recording shortfalls are significant. Monitoring by managers had not identified and addressed these issues to ensure that children were protected. Inspectors also found that information relating to children with similar initials had been mis-identified in monitoring records which does not protect children’s information.

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This monitoring visit

Commissioning and contracting arrangements for dedicated healthcare are insufficient. The assigned nurse is not able to provide direct healthcare to children due to commissioned arrangements. Staff are signposted by the assigned nurse to access appropriate external health services. Where physical intervention has been used, the assigned nurse is not always notified. Due to the limited availability and the commissioned arrangements for the assigned nurse, children do not always have the opportunity to see a registered nurse or medical practitioner, which they should have even if there are no apparent injuries.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/11/2019 Full Good 04/07/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/12/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035409 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, the 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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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)) Specifically, ensure that records are monitored so that they reflect practice and are in line with regulations. 31/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(a)(ii)(iv)(viii)(c)) 17/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035409 4

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ paragraph 14.4, page 62) Specifically, ensure that only information relating to a specific child is kept securely on that child’s file/records.  Children subject to restraint procedures see a health care professional as soon as possible after restraint and any injuries sustained are fully documented. (‘Health care standards for children and young people in secure settings’, paragraph 6.7.3, page 30)  Children in secure settings are confident that health care professionals are focused on addressing their individual health and wellbeing needs, and healthcare staff in secure settings deliver high quality services to support the physical health and wellbeing of the children in their care. (‘Health

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Recommendations

care standards for children and young people in secure settings 2019’, paragraphs 1.1.2 and 1.2, page 12) Specifically, review, with NHS England, the role and responsibilities for nursing provision so that they reflect the ‘Health care standards for children and young people in secure settings 2019’. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035409 5

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Information about this inspection

This monitoring visit was carried out in response to a letter from the Children’s Commissioner for England stating that children had made contact over a period of months, raising concerns about their care at the home.

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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: Northumberland County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 2EF

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Inspectors

Shaun Common, social care inspector Sue Atkinson-Millmoor, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035409 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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