Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 1 SC040638

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Surrey County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the home’s response to safeguarding and behaviour management concerns identified through safeguarding notifications in line with regulation 40.

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This monitoring visit

In accordance with Ofsted’s guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions, this inspection was undertaken remotely. The inspection took place on 21, 22 and 23 July 2020. Telephone discussions were held with the responsible individual, two deputy managers and members of staff. The registered manager is currently on secondment. A range of documents were requested by, and sent to, the inspector and these were reviewed as part of the inspection. The inspector was unable to gain feedback from any social workers for the children living in the home. No judgement is made from this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Four children have moved into the home as an emergency response to placing children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two children have subsequently moved on. Managers acknowledge that the group of children would likely not have been living together under different circumstances but feel that the children and staff team are managing well in a difficult situation.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are managing the diverse needs of the group well. They identify and respond to risks, while being sensitive and empathic to children’s presenting needs and Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 2 emotional well-being. Joint working with specialist health professionals, including mental health services, has helped staff to meet children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and managers have plans to move the older children on to more appropriate provisions. There is some ongoing work between the social work team and residential teams in terms of when and how this should happen. Managers have not yet provided sufficient challenge to the local authority so that children can move swiftly and appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are confident in their support of the children. They manage some difficult dynamics and complex needs, both individually and as a group. Staff really valued the time when they were undertaking extended shifts during the full lockdown. They say they were able to do some really targeted work with children, feeling it was positive and that they made some real progress with the children. They recognise that since restrictions have lifted, children have felt more confused and have been struggling without the same structure.

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This monitoring visit

The monthly review of activities for June 2020 shows that staff have engaged children in a wide range of purposeful activities. Activities were planned in such a way that the skills of staff were fully utilised. As a result, children’s engagement has been high. Staff are thoughtful and, once lockdown restrictions started to ease, have taken day trips to fill the day so that children are fully occupied. For example, a trip to Portsmouth included a walk to Gatwick train station instead of using a closer station. This provided a good opportunity for children to take more exercise.

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This monitoring visit

Children are going missing from the home on occasions. Staff are proactive, and often successful, in preventing the children from leaving the area, when they leave the home without permission. Staff are confident in how to respond when children go missing and will often walk with them and pre-empt a child leaving by offering to take them out of the building for a walk, including during the night. Staff are clear on the triggers for when children are likely to leave the home and have spent time creating a structured environment with activities that physically and emotionally stimulate children. Bedtime routines aim to relax and soothe children. Staff recognise that night is a particularly distressing time for some.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are appropriately trained in physical intervention strategies and use these as a last resort. There is concern that a child had a suspected broken arm after an incident that required physical intervention. Leaders and managers can evidence that full consideration has been given to how child came to break their arm. However, what is lacking is a complete and detailed review, as this information has not been pulled together and formalised.

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This monitoring visit

Behaviour support plans are clear and child focused. This includes children’s views on how they feel they could be best supported and what would not help them to feel secure or listened to. Risk assessments are simple to navigate, linking with children’s other plans and including how to best meet the needs of the child. They are Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 3 reviewed at least every three months and include all relevant details. For day-to-day guidance, weekly planners show the most likely risk, or new risks presented for the child. These are fluid and responsive documents with any changes clearly highlighted. This ensures that staff follow up-to-date guidance and provide appropriate care to children.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding notifications to Ofsted, in line with regulation 40, do not contain the detail required. The information was readily available to the inspector through discussion with managers and staff, who answered the concerns and questions which resulted in this inspection activity. Incident reports, plans and notifications are recorded and reflected on to a good standard. However, the use of language in these documents is sometimes colloquial and not specific. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/12/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/10/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 5

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.

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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 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, demonstrate that there is a clear investigation into any incidents where a child has come to harm. 21/08/2020

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and 21/08/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 6 any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter.

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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. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 is currently posing to those it inspects. During this visit, the inspector took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 by the setting. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements.

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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: Surrey County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 7QQ

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040638 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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