Children's Home run by Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited in Cambridgeshire

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home looks after up to six children aged between eight and 17 years old who exhibit social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and has been managing the home since 29 April 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 11 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Sustained effectiveness

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 1274846 2

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The care of children

The children and staff have experienced significant managerial change since the home opened. There have been five responsible individuals and two managers. The current manager has just handed in her notice. These changes have affected the quality and consistency of monitoring of children’s care.

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The care of children

The children were positive about the current atmosphere at the home. However, a child referred to the summer period as having ‘too much drama’. This was a period when some children’s behaviour deteriorated, and some children moved on. All the children who were living at the home when the interim inspection took place have experienced different endings to their original care plans. Although decisions about moves are made with children and their placing authorities, children are witnessing frequent changes at the home. This does not instil a sense of permanence or stability for them.

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The care of children

Educational arrangements for children are mixed. One child spoke of being engaged in education that she would not be in without the home. A professional spoke about the positive educational progress of another child. However, there are gaps in education planning and records for other children.

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The care of children

The staff are building positive relationships with the children. External professionals spoke about the calm and reassuring approaches that they have seen the staff use.

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The care of children

One parent spoke very positively about the support that the staff give her child to see her family. A social worker was positive about the support given to a child who returned to live with their family. The manager and staff work with the children to help them to spend time with friends, who visit them at the home. This support has enabled the children to maintain and develop relationships with people who are important to them.

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The safety of children

There have been relatively few physical interventions. When these occur, they are usually very short in duration. Records have generally improved.

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The safety of children

The managers now ensure that if children are missing from the home at night, the staff try to contact the children. A parent said that the number of times that their child has gone missing has reduced considerably since moving to the home.

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The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments are in place. However, these continue to contain discrepancies. For example, risk assessments for one child refer to another child. The manager has not identified these errors.

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The safety of children

The manager’s monitoring has failed to recognise when records require more depth or greater clarity. For example, the new impact risk assessment tool contained Assurance visit report: 1274846 3 significant omissions of relevant information and how the risks would be mitigated. Such omissions have the potential to lead to poor matching decisions, affecting the atmosphere of the home and safety of the children.

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The safety of children

In one instance, following an investigation in which a member of staff was dismissed, managers failed to liaise with the designated officer or consider whether additional action was necessary. Although no child was harmed in the incident that led to the dismissal, the failure to consult means that children are not safeguarded as far as reasonably practicable.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has overseen some improvements since the interim inspection. Clearer information is available for the staff about children’s contact with their families and friends. A new risk assessment is in place to guide staff on managing incidents if a child goes missing overnight and there is some evidence of attempts to access return home interviews.

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Leaders and managers

The staff team is inexperienced, with only one member of care staff having a relevant level 3 qualification.

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Leaders and managers

Managerial monitoring of the home is not strong enough. Monitoring has not identified issues that need attention. The manager’s monthly audit only results in limited information and no evaluation of the quality of records. As a result, insufficient action has been taken to address some of the shortfalls identified at the interim inspection.

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Leaders and managers

The independent visitor’s reports have not included the views of parents or carers since December 2019. This means that the reports lack these important views to inform improvement.

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Leaders and managers

The staff are positive about their roles. They feel that the manager supports them well. The new responsible individual has visited the home and is known to the staff.

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Leaders and managers

Managers work well with the placing authorities. Feedback from external professionals about the home is positive. Assurance visit report: 1274846 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 30/09/2020

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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— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(v)(vii)) 16/09/2020

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) 31/12/2020 Assurance visit report: 1274846 5 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. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 30/09/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44(1)(2)(a)) 31/12/2020

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Brentano Suite, Solar House, 915 High Road, North Finchley, London N12 8QJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rodrigo Ferreira

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Inspectors

Ashley Hinson, Social Care Inspector Paula Edwards, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1274846 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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