Children's home run by Back on Track Children’s Services SE LTD in Dover

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 1 SC473404 Back on Track Children’s Services SE Ltd.

p.1

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for up to five young people. According to the home’s statement of purpose, care is offered to young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring inspection was to assess the provider’s progress in meeting the steps of the five compliance notices issued on 15 May 2020, following the previous monitoring visit of 30 April 2020.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this monitoring inspection included both on-site and off-site activities. At the start of the on-site period on day one, the responsible individual was provided with a list of required documents to be emailed to the inspector by 3.00pm on the same day. This information was not received until the following day. However, these documents were reviewed by the inspector.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Following the previous monitoring inspection on 30 April 2020, the registered manager and the responsible individual resigned, with notice. The provider dismissed the responsible individual on 27 May 2020 and made a new appointment. On arriving to start this monitoring inspection, the inspector received confirmation of the registered manager having been suspended the previous day.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The inspector established that a newly appointed director, who held a previous administrative role, remains as the responsible individual, with additional support from an independent consultant, who has assisted with the writing and implementation of an improvement plan. This plan was submitted, without details of tasks, responsibilities and timescales shortly after the previous monitoring inspection of 30 April 2020. A revised version was emailed to Ofsted on the morning of 24 June 2020. This 77-page document lacked structure, responsibilities, clarity and success Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 2 criteria. The inspector was told that the deputy manager was now acting as a temporary manager. However, no information was provided to demonstrate how he had been assessed as competent and suitable for this task.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On arriving at the home, the inspector found that two of the young people were missing and their whereabouts unknown. A serious incident had taken place the previous day. This involved a third young person with an established history of violence and aggression towards the other young people and staff bringing a weapon into the home. This was undetected by the staff.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The inspector observed a chaotic scene, demonstrating the absence of structure, routine and direction being provided for the young people. The young person who had brought the weapon into the home was observed to go out unsupervised into the community, without question or challenge by the staff. At the time, this young person was subject to one-to-one staffing, by agreement with the placing authority.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The inspector reviewed all the documents supplied by the provider. It was concluded that none of the five compliances notices were met. The three requirements set from the previous monitoring inspection were also not met.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The inspector found that serious incidents involving the young people’s safety had not been reported to Ofsted and that there had been serious failures to take appropriate steps to keep the young people safe from identified risks and dangers. Planned staffing levels at the time of this monitoring inspection were found to be at the lowest level since the start of 2020.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The unsafe and incompetent leadership arrangements identified at this monitoring inspection resulted in an emergency case review. A notice to suspend the home’s registration was served on 25 June 2020, to protect the young people and give Ofsted the opportunity to consider the next steps.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/11/2018 Full Good 13/12/2017 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 3

p.2

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.3

Information about this inspection

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

p.3

Inspector:

John Pledger, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473404 4 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.3

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.4

Inspector:

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

p.4

Inspector:

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

p.4