Children's home run by Heathcotes CS Limited

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to five children and young people. It is owned by a private company. At the time of the inspection, the manager had applied for registration with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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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:  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: 1272827 2

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The care of children

From their starting points, children make good progress in many areas of their lives. Staff work with a range of social, health and educational professionals. This means that, over time, most children enjoy improved physical and emotional well-being. Staff support children to take part in their care planning.

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The care of children

Staff persevere to support children with their educational plans. When children struggle to take part in education, staff support home learning. The manager ensures that children have the right school provision to meet their individual needs.

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The care of children

Children have enjoyed a range of activities throughout the period of lockdown. Staff are creative. They ensure that children enjoy individual and group social activities.

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The care of children

Staff have been persistent with healthcare providers and children have their health needs met. Staff collaborate with professionals. This secures the services to meet children’s current and future healthcare.

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The care of children

Stakeholders state that staff respect and genuinely care for the children. Staff nurture children. One child said, ‘They are like my family.’

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The safety of children

The home has cared for children with diverse safeguarding needs. This has been challenging for the staff team. The staff have shown commitment to support children. This means that children can work through complex feelings which underpin their behaviours. Social workers have commended the resilience of the team.

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The safety of children

The behaviour of children has escalated at times. Staff manage negative behaviours through the use of consequences and sanctions. They promote positive behaviour with the use of goals and rewards. This method has been effective with children learning to regulate their behaviours.

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The safety of children

Staff have struggled to prevent children misusing mobile phones and social media. Staff work with children, social workers and the police to manage these behaviours. Children cannot access the internet in the home, but staff need effective strategies to manage these concerns. Children need a telephone in the home to make and receive telephone calls.

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The safety of children

The team works in line with missing-from-care protocols. It is proactive in working in partnership with the police. However, staff need to be more vigilant in respect of preventing children from leaving the home.

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The safety of children

Issues about substance and alcohol misuse have been a recurring theme. Staff ensure that children access specialist services. This enables children to understand the risks and develop strategies towards cessation. Assurance visit report: 1272827 3

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Leaders and managers

This assurance visit did not review all the recommendations from the full inspection. These will be reviewed at a later inspection.

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Leaders and managers

The operation of this home has improved. This is because of the commitment of the responsible individual and manager.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is an accomplished professional. She has a thorough understanding of the needs of children in residential care. She has an in-depth understanding of the challenges of being a residential care worker. This means that she is well placed to support and develop the staff team.

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Leaders and managers

Managers and staff are child focused. They have a detailed understanding about the children, their needs and progress. They advocate on children’s behalf.

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Leaders and managers

Assessment of children’s needs happens before admission. However, the emergency admission of one child did not enable a full assessment of the child’s needs. This had an impact on both the child and other children in the home.

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Leaders and managers

A wide range of professionals report that managers work in partnership. Managers ensure that there is consistent collaboration and communication. This supports effective care and placement planning. One professional said, ‘I wish more homes were like this.’

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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; 22/10/2020 Assurance visit report: 1272827 4 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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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

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)) Subject to paragraph (5) of regulation 22, the registered person must ensure that children are provided at all reasonable times with access to the following facilities which they may use without reference to persons working in the home—

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Requirement Due date

a telephone on which to make and receive telephone calls in private; and

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Requirement Due date

facilities to send and receive post and, if the necessary facilities are provided for the use of children, electronic mail, in private.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered person considers it to be necessary for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of a child, the registered person may impose conditions, prohibitions or restrictions upon a child’s—

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Requirement Due date

contact with parents, friends or relatives; or

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Requirement Due date

access to communications under paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

No measure may be imposed by the registered person under paragraph (5) unless—

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents to the imposition of the measure; or

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Requirement Due date

the measure is imposed in an emergency, and full details are given to the placing authority within 24 hours of its imposition.

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Requirement Due date

This regulation is subject to any requirements imposed by a court in relation to contact between a child and any other person.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 22 (3)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)(6)(a)(b)(7)) 22/10/2020 Assurance visit report: 1272827 5

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Recommendations

 Staff must help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)  As the home will have a day to day understanding of young people’s capabilities and needs, children’s homes staff will have a valuable contribution to make to the pathway planning process. They should actively seek to make the fullest contribution, working with other relevant persons. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 18, paragraph 3.28)  Homes should work closely with health and education professionals to ensure that

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Recommendations

outcomes identified, and progress made by children in building relationships and achieving socially acceptable behaviours can be recorded and measured. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38 paragraph 8.4)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The Statement of Purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  Homes set up for emergency placements as indicated and detailed in their Statement of Purpose will require sufficient staff trained and skilled in the

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Recommendations

admission and care of children, where their full background may not be known. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.6)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 37 Station Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 7BF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Leeson

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Post vacant - registration pending Assurance visit report: 1272827 6

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Inspector

Amanda Ellis, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1272827 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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