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 years. 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 by the manager to slow the spread of COVID- 19. This includes 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. Monitoring visits on 30 April and 4 June 2020 assessed the progress that the provider had made in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notice. The monitoring visits found that the steps in the compliance notice were met.

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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. Overall, the provider has continued to make progress in meeting these previous shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no admissions to the home since the last inspection. Four children live at the home; one child has moved back to live with her family and another is preparing to move on to semi-independent living. This will reduce the number of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 2 children further. Since the numbers have reduced, there have been no further incidents of bullying at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The frequency of the children’s substance misuse continues to reduce. This misuse generally takes place outside the home. The staff remain vigilant and follow up on indicators that children have used substances with room searches and one-to-one discussions. The manager has plans for substance misuse support agencies to attend the children’s meetings. This has been delayed by the COVID-19 restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

The number of incidents has fallen radically. There are no further problems with the group dynamics. There has only been one short-duration incident of a child leaving the house without prior agreement.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have worked hard on the house improvements. Children respect and value the fresh decor and homely touches, which include new planters in the garden.

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This monitoring visit

In general, the children have adapted to the social distancing and adhered to the house rules and government guidelines. Some of the children go out, but this is improving as the restrictions ease.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is monitoring the incidents at the home, although there are aspects that require better oversight. Children’s risk assessment plans include most of the recent incidents, but not all. Some information in the risk assessments is historic and fails to reflect children’s current progress. This makes for long assessments, which could be unclear to the staff, and fails to summarise significant risks.

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This monitoring visit

The new structure of shift patterns and hours has been designed to provide better continuity of care and consistency for children. This meant a significant change in hours for some staff and resulted in some staff changes. Despite these changes, the team has settled into the shift patterns. Redeployed staff have returned to substantive roles and the staff team is stable and working well together.

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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;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)) 17/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

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 use reasonable endeavours 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 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 4 educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(viii)) 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.

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Requirement Due date

(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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 17/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

30/08/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 5

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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

Unique reference number: SC037256 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC037256 6 Provision sub-type: Children’s home

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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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