Children's home run by Sherico Care Services Limited in Westminster

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 1 SC022880

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Sherico Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home and provides care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2020.

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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 it regulates. During this visit, the inspector 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 that these measures have had on staffing arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this monitoring visit was undertaken off site at the provider’s head office.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and the responsible individual were spoken to as part of this visit. The visit focused on the leadership and management of the setting and included the admission process, staff training and management oversight of the home.

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This monitoring visit

During the interviews, there were discrepancies in the approach reported by the registered manager and responsible individual, particularly the levels of management oversight at the home and what form this takes. There were also different responses from the registered manager and responsible individual about how often and whether visits to the children’s home were virtual or actual.

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This monitoring visit

Neither the responsible individual or the registered manager could tell the inspector what training staff had undertaken. The registered manager told the inspector that she thought three out of the nine staff employed at the home had completed the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 2 ‘behaviour that challenges’ training. The responsible individual told the inspector that the company’s priority is for all staff to undertake training. However, she was unable to confirm which staff at the home had completed which training and advised that the registered manager keeps an audit of this.

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This monitoring visit

The overall understanding of the matching and admissions process is poor. The responsible individual was unable to describe how a new admission to the home would be undertaken effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The visit also assessed the home’s compliance with a restriction of accommodation notice which was served by Ofsted on 3 July 2020. The home has complied with the notice, and no further young people have been admitted.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s most recent independent visit occurred on 4 May 2020. The independent visitor conducted this visit virtually. The independent visitor’s report stated that the report covered the period of May 2020, however its content related to April 2020. The independent visitor reported that she tried to speak with the young person’s social worker without success, but no other professionals were contacted. A number of recommendations were made and the independent visitor reported, ‘It is difficult to get a true sense of the home (when) doing virtual visits.’

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This monitoring visit

Four of the eight requirements have now been met. Two of the requirements were not considered at this monitoring visit, as records have not been viewed and the dates have therefore been extended. Two other requirements regarding training and fitness of staff have been repeated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/10/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 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 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to the need for the provider to take a robust approach with placing authorities to ensure return home interviews are offered when children have been missing and any information shared is used to help protect them and keep them safe. Also, in relation to understanding the level of risk for children and identifying for staff in written risk assessments. 30/10/2020

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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. 30/10/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 4 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring that leaders and managers who have invested in and are committed to running this home have clear oversight of what is happening at the home, to enable children to thrive and meet their potential. Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to ensuring that there is a record of which staff are working, and that they have signed in when they come to work and signed out when they leave the home. 30/10/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this relates to ensuring that the experience and skills of the staff match the complexity of the needs and the 30/10/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 5 challenging behaviours of the children cared for at this home. In addition to ensuring that any gaps in employment are explored.

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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: Sherico Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sherico Care Homes Ltd, 2-4 Balmoral Road, London E10 5ND

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Inspector

Christine Kennet, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC022880 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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