Children's Home run by Park Blue Homes Limited in Durham

Assurance visit report: SC453372 1 SC453372

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider. The manager started in the post three days prior to the quality assurance visit. He is in the process of making an application to Ofsted to be registered.

p.1

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).

p.1

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.

p.1

Information about this visit

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

p.1

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.

p.1

Findings from the visit

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit: Assurance visit report: SC453372 2  leaders’ and staff’s responses to safeguarding incidents are inconsistent. They do not always put safe measures in place to protect children and young people  risk assessments read as ambiguous and are difficult to follow. This means that staff have no clear guidance on how to support and protect children and young people  children’s and young people’s care planning is compromised due to ineffective working relationships with all placing local authorities  lack of leadership and management of the service has prevented improvements being made. Several shortfalls were identified during the visit.

p.1

The care of children

Children and young people share their worries and concerns with staff. Staff help them to access support from other agencies when they need it. This helps children and young people to feel listened to and strengthens their relationships with staff.

p.2

The care of children

Children and young people enjoy activities of their choice. Staff are creative and facilitate themed nights, movie night, cookery sessions, and arts and crafts, and play a range of games with the children and young people. During the pandemic period, this was enjoyed by children and young people, and helped to create a sense of normality and fun for them.

p.2

The care of children

Progress for children and young people is mixed. There have been delays in progressing the transition plans for one young person who is ready to move on. Another young person has successfully transitioned to semi-independence, having made progress.

p.2

The care of children

During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff continued to support children’s and young people’s education. This has helped their transition back into formal education, helping them to make progress with their learning.

p.2

The care of children

Children and young people have continued to keep in touch with their families and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff ensured this was supported in line with government guidance.

p.2

The care of children

Staff have helped the children and young people to understand the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This has helped to educate the children and young people on how to reduce the risks of the virus and how to stay healthy.

p.2

The safety of children

The inspector found an isolated incident where a senior leader gave direction to staff in respect of a serious safeguarding incident that showed a lack of knowledge of safeguarding processes. There were delays in notifying all relevant agencies so that Assurance visit report: SC453372 3 action would be taken. This potentially leaves children and young people at risk of harm.

p.2

The safety of children

When there have been concerns about the exploitation of children and young people, staff have responded appropriately to help safeguard them. Key-work sessions have helped children and young people to understand risks associated with exploitation, helping to better protect them.

p.3

The safety of children

The recording in risk assessments is not consistently clear. Some information reads as ambiguous and is not up to date. While children and young people are kept increasingly safe, it is difficult for children and young people to see how they are making progress in relation to their known risks.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff follow protocols to aid the safe return of children and young people when they go missing from the home. However, children and young people are not always given the opportunity to speak to someone who is independent of the home when they return. This means that they are unable to share with someone independent of the home any worries or concerns they might have that are associated with living at the home.

p.3

The safety of children

Not all serious incidents have been reported to Ofsted. This means that there has been no regulatory oversight to ensure that staff and leaders take appropriate steps to safeguard children and young people.

p.3

Leaders and managers

There has been no registered manager in the home since May 2019. The responsible individual has not ensured that there is enough oversight of practice in the home. A lack of monitoring and scrutiny of practice leaves children and young people at risk of potential harm.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Directors, who are not included in the staffing section of the home’s statement of purpose, have been involved in the operation of the home. They make important decisions, including those relating to safeguarding. Failure to outline the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in the home means that parents and carers, commissioners and Ofsted cannot be assured that all individuals working in the home have the required skills, knowledge and experience.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Poor leadership in the home has resulted in children’s and young people’s care plans drifting. Staff and leaders do not always build effective professional relationships with children’s and young people’s placing local authorities. This has resulted in a young person’s transition plan being ineffective at helping her to move on.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Staffing issues have previously been a concern in this home. The provider has recruited new staff to help the core group of experienced staff to deliver care and support to the children and young people.

p.3

Leaders and managers

A requirement made at a monitoring visit in June 2020 has been met. Assurance visit report: SC453372 4

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5(d)) 01/11/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; (Regulation 6 (1)(2)(b)(vi)) 01/11/2020

p.4

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 that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)) 01/11/2020

p.4

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 that staff– assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 01/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC453372 5 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i)) *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)) 01/11/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; that arrangements are in place to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority; (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(iii)) 01/11/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)(5)) 01/11/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

If the registered provider is an individual, the individual must undertake such continuing professional development as is 01/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC453372 6 necessary to ensure that the individual has the skills needed for carrying on the children’s home. If the registered provider is a partnership, the partnership must ensure that one of the partners undertakes such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the partner has the skills needed for carrying on the home. (Regulation 29 (1)(3)) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.5

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. A notification made under this regulation– must include details of— the matter; the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(5)) 01/11/2020

p.6

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.6

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing Assurance visit report: SC453372 7 risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.6

Inspector

Jacqueline Tate, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC453372 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8