Setting run by Worcestershire Children First

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548567 1

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Worcestershire Children First

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was previously owned by the local authority. It was re-registered in October 2019 when the local authority moved to be a holding company. It is registered for up to eight children who have suffered adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours, as well as for children who have learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2019 and holds a NVQ level 4 in leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

On 1 and 4 May 2020, Ofsted carried out a remote monitoring inspection of the home. Following this visit, three compliance notices were issued under regulations 12, 13 and 14 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

On 2 and 3 June 2020, Ofsted carried out an on-site inspection to review the progress that had been made in meeting the three compliance notices. Ofsted found significant shortfalls, which resulted in Ofsted making the decision to suspend the home’s registration from 5 June 2020 until 27 August 2020 and to issue a further two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit was conducted on 15 and 16 July 2020 to evaluate whether the provider has complied with the suspension notice and met the two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this inspection remotely. The inspectors gathered evidence by talking to the responsible individual, who provided electronic documents for the inspectors to review. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548567 2 This visit found that the provider has complied with the suspension notice and met the two compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have developed an action plan. This plan is in the early stages of implementation and currently the suspension notice remains in place.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s personal possessions have now been moved from the home and returned to them.

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This monitoring visit

There are plans in place to help to address shortfalls in staff’s knowledge and skills. For example, some members of staff have recently received training to help them understand the needs of children who have a diagnosis of having Pica.

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This monitoring visit

Complaints made by children have been investigated. However, records still do not fully capture the process, including how the outcome is reached, or any learning that has taken place. As a result, the management monitoring system is still not yet effective in making sure that the child’s voice is reflected in the process.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining requirements were not assessed at the monitoring visit and will be reviewed at a future inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548567 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548567 4

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(x)) 12/07/2020

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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

(Regulation (12)(1)(2)(a)(iii)) 12/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 12/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548567 5 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)) 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

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

This is in specific relation to ensuring that recordings of complaints investigations, outcomes and any learning are captured. 21/08/2020

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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

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 (coronavirus) is currently posing to those we inspect. During this visit, the inspectors 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 these have had on staffing arrangements.

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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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548567 6 Unique reference number: 2548567

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Worcestershire Children First

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Worcestershire Children First, County Hall Campus, Spetchley Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR5 2NP

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Inspectors

Louise Battersby, social care inspector Mrs Dawn Bennett, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548567 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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