Children's home run by Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited in Epping Forest

Assurance visit report: SC457639 1 SC457639

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for up to seven children, aged from eight to 17 years, who may exhibit social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Ofsted registered the manager in November 2019. She resigned in June 2020 and has now left the organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Ofsted issued a notice of suspension on 25 June 2020 and conducted a monitoring visit on 11 August 2020. The suspension notice remained in place following this visit.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 11 August 2020

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not judged

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:

p.1

Information about this visit

 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. Assurance visit report: SC457639 2 The home is currently subject to a notice suspending registration, that was issued on 25 June 2020.

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:

p.2

Findings from the visit

 Leaders are unable to demonstrate that they have addressed the shortfalls and failures, as set out in the notice to suspend the registration of the home.  Leaders do not demonstrate that sufficient learning has been undertaken from previous recent events, to improve on the safety and quality of the care for children.

p.2

The care of children

There are currently no children living in the home. Consequently, children are not at immediate risk of harm. However, the organisation as a whole has not used the abrupt endings of children’s placements as a learning opportunity, and this does not instil confidence that other children will have positive experiences of care in the future.

p.2

The care of children

The premises are not currently suitable to accommodate children. For example, there are no means to store dangerous cleaning chemicals safely, the kitchen is unhygienic, and some rooms do not have suitable beds. The provider has a plan to improve and redecorate the property to bring it up to the required standard.

p.2

The safety of children

Senior leaders have not reflected on some of the previous issues that have led up to the suspension of the home, for example the risk of county lines, children’s affiliation with drug gangs and drug debt. Consequently, it is unclear if children presenting with similar risks in the future would be safe in the home. Senior leaders have not consulted with other agencies, such as the police, to inform the location risk assessment, given the previous significant safeguarding issues.

p.2

The safety of children

Senior leaders have not considered the decision-making process of strategies to keep children safe at night. They have not thought widely about how the home could be adapted if they do not use waking night staff. Although a minor change has been made to the impact risk assessment process to consider historical arrangements, it is unclear how children who present with high risk behaviour will be kept safe at night.

p.2

Leaders and managers

The provider commissioned an investigation into the previous failings. Although some areas have been identified and an action plan produced, the pertinent issues Assurance visit report: SC457639 3 identified in the suspension notice have not been fully addressed by this investigation. It is of concern that the missing protocol is described in the findings as ‘adequate’. Given the previous serious safeguarding concerns, leaders have failed to thoroughly upgrade the previous poor guidance.

p.2

Leaders and managers

The overall quality of the investigation and its findings are weak. For example, the team’s lack of appropriate qualifications and experience has not been explored, and neither has the impact that staff turnover has had on children. There has not been full consideration of the performance management or support of the registered manager, or of how this has impacted on the previous poor safeguarding culture within the home. Key individuals’ differing accounts of placement decisions have not been addressed. Concerns about organisational culture have not been accepted by the senior leadership. The effectiveness of keeping social workers informed by giving them access to the organisation’s incident software has not been considered in the investigation. The process of carrying out urgent repairs, necessary for safeguarding children, has not been considered in the investigation. The independent investigator

p.3

Leaders and managers

There are currently no care staff. Senior leaders have not finalised the recruitment strategy, and progress has fallen behind the dates set in the organisation’s action plan. A manager has been appointed but has not started work in the home. The action plan states that a workforce development plan will be produced by the new manager when he commences employment.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The statement of purpose has been reviewed in September 2020. It does not reflect the vision for the service that was described by the new responsible individual, for example whether emergency placements will be admitted or what the age range of the children will be. It does not provide for placing social workers a clear understanding of the needs of children who can be accommodated. The organisation’s action plan states that the statement of purpose will be reviewed when the new manager commences employment.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The inability of staff to manage the admission of two children in quick succession was a contributory factor in the breakdown of the service. Discrepancies in accounts by key senior staff of how the placements were agreed did not form part of the investigation. The provider acknowledges that they ‘need to start again’ to develop a clear and concise admissions process. Senior leaders told the inspector that they have commissioned a consultant to support them to complete their approach and ethos for referrals.

p.3

Leaders and managers

A new role has been created, and an appointment made, for a head of quality and compliance. There are plans, that are in their infancy, to develop a quality assurance framework. The reasons for the breakdown in the previous quality monitoring processes are unclear. The action plan states that stakeholder feedback will be obtained, but there is no detail explaining the process to achieve this. Senior leaders have not considered the effectiveness of the automated system in order to notify placing social workers of significant incidents. It is unclear how the placing social workers’ views are to be sought and considered. The role of the head of quality and Assurance visit report: SC457639 4 compliance to act as the organisation’s safeguarding lead is not reflected in the current policy.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The supervision process was not considered in the investigation, nor was the impact that this had on the ability of staff to provide good-quality care. However, senior leaders have plans to improve the supervision process to provide both support and challenge to staff. It is unclear how the recommendation by the independent investigator that ‘the responsible individual receives regular supervision from a suitably experienced individual with a background in monitoring a residential children’s service’ will be met.

p.4

Leaders and managers

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) contingency plan for staff shortages is poor. The proposal to blend homes or close the school to release staff to work in the home is not in accordance with government guidance or with working in ‘bubbles’. There has been no consideration of shift patterns or how handovers are conducted to minimise contact. The use of staff from the organisation’s 16+ provision has been poorly considered. It is unknown if staff from this provision have sufficient training and the relevant qualifications to work within a children’s home.

p.4

Leaders and managers

Ofsted will continue to monitor the home while next steps are considered.

p.4

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)) 13/11/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

p.4

Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2)) 13/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC457639 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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.5

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)(c)(d)(f)(h)) 13/11/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.5

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)) 13/11/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 13/11/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (2)(d)) 13/11/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— 13/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC457639 6 is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)) The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 13/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC457639 7

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Parkview Care (Broadstairs) Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rodrigo Ferreira

p.7

Inspector

Keith Riley, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC457639 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