Children's home run by Cascade (Banks House) Limited

Information about this children’s home

The home provides individually tailored care for young people who have autism spectrum conditions and learning disabilities. The home can care for up to six young people aged between 13 and 18.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager resigned from his post on 23 August 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 7 January 2020

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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: 2532131 2

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The care of children

Some placing authorities have moved their children from the home due to concerns about the children’s placements. As a result, the staff did not have adequate time to prepare the children fully to leave the home. This is unsettling for children and fails to prepare them for their onward placements.

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The care of children

The staff made sure that the children were fully informed about COVID-19. The staff used a variety of ways to increase children’s understanding of the impact of the pandemic. Although activities were restricted, the staff were creative in their use of the home, and the time permitted to leave the home, while in lockdown. These activities kept the children engaged and entertained.

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The care of children

During lockdown, the children were provided with education. Children have worked towards and gained qualifications during this time. This is commendable, as many children did not have access to formal education during lockdown. One child is currently attending a local specialist school. This is supported well by the staff team.

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The care of children

Staff ensured that the children kept in touch with people who are important to them during lockdown. As the restrictions of COVID-19 eased, the staff supported face-to- face time between children and their families, while maintaining social distancing. The staff understand the importance of children maintaining contact with people who are important to them.

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The care of children

Some children have made progress at the home, and this is recognised by staff and parents. Examples of children’s progress are improvements in self-care, independence, health and communication. One parent said, ‘I have never heard him say a sentence until he moved to the home.’ The highly individualised care provided enables children to make progress in a relatively short period of time.

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The safety of children

Inspectors were aware during this assurance visit that alleged, serious, incidents had occurred at the setting since the last inspection. These are under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the home in response to the incidents were considered, when appropriate, alongside other evidence available at the time of the visit. This informed the inspector’s judgement.

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The safety of children

Robust arrangements have been introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures have kept children and staff safe. Managers from the wider organisation have created detailed COVID-19 policies and procedures, which have been frequently revised to ensure that the home is operating in line with government guidance. Managers created health files for each child in case of hospital admission. These documents referred to the holistic needs of the child, which would have made their hospital admission a far more positive experience should it have been required. This was an exceptional piece of work. Assurance visit report: 2532131 3 Risk management plans are highly individualised and identify the children’s known and emerging risks. Staff understand these risks well and use a variety of strategies to promote children’s safety.

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The safety of children

Managers have failed to record all the information required in regulation relating to the issuing of sanctions. This prevents appropriate oversight and review to ensure that sanctions imposed are proportionate and fair.

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The safety of children

Managers have not provided staff with debriefs after their involvement in restrictive interventions. This prevents staff from reflecting on their practice. Managers have missed opportunities to provide guidance and direction to staff after the use of restraint.

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Leaders and managers

The manager resigned from his post on 23 August 2020. Management arrangements have been weak and inconsistent. There have been numerous allegations against staff which have led to disciplinary procedures. Consequently, children have not benefited from a stable staff team to care for them. A recruitment drive has led to the appointment of a manager, pending safer recruitment checks.

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Leaders and managers

Senior managers from within the organisation have worked at the home to support the staff team. These senior managers have started to effect positive change. Staff said that there have been several recent improvements which been introduced by the senior managers. These improvements have enabled the staff to work with the children in a more consistent way that is directly tailored to each child’s needs.

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Leaders and managers

External professionals said that they have established positive professional relationships with the senior managers. The responsible individual is consistently reported to be child centred, open and transparent in all his dealings with other professionals. This includes matters that have related to disciplinary proceedings.

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Leaders and managers

The three requirements made at the last inspection have been met.

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Leaders and managers

Managers have failed to provide agency staff with supervision. This prevents agency staff from receiving the support that they require. Opportunities have been missed to discuss agency staff practice. This reduces managerial oversight of the support needs that agency staff may have.

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Leaders and managers

Managers have failed to ensure that the home’s use of agency staff does not exceed more than half the staff team during night time shifts. This prevents children from having consistent support from staff who are well known to them and understand how to best meet their needs.

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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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, provide agency staff with supervision. 15/10/2020

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record 15/10/2020 Assurance visit report: 2532131 5 confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35(3)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Recommendations

 No more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night, at the home should be from an external agency. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.17)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cascade (Banks House) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Therm Road, Hull, Yorkshire HU8 7BF

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Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2532131 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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