Children's home run by M.J. Children’s Services Limited

Assurance visit report: SC068991 1 SC068991

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned by a private organisation and provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since 29 June 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 9 December 2019

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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:

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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: SC068991 2

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The care of children

Two children were living at the home during the period of lockdown. At the time of the assurance visit, only one child was living at the home. One child returned home in September 2020 to live with their family as planned. Senior managers know the remaining child well. This enables them to guide new staff effectively to meet the child’s needs.

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The care of children

Children and staff experienced an unsettled time during lockdown. COVID-19 restrictions were not the sole reason for this but have contributed to shortfalls in recruitment of staff and a manager.

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The care of children

There is a high staff turnover. When fully staffed, the home has a team of eight. Since April 2020, 16 staff have left. This includes two managers leaving the post in quick succession. One child has expressed that they are reluctant to invest in relationships with staff and spoke about the impact of staff leaving.

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The care of children

Staff support home schooling and the child’s engagement in learning. The relationship between the staff and the child’s school is positive. The headteacher described excellent communication with the staff at the home. The child benefits from a consistent message about learning at home and school.

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The care of children

Leaders listen to children and act on their feedback. There has been one complaint from a child. A further grumble resulted in a formal investigation. Both were unfounded. Professionals said that the staff help children to participate in meetings and share their views.

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The care of children

Staff help children to stay in touch with their families and managed this well during lockdown. A parent said that they feel well informed about their child’s progress and are involved in decision-making.

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The safety of children

Staff keep children safe. The staff have received recent safeguarding training and know how to raise safeguarding concerns. Managers notify the designated officer and Ofsted as required. This enables a multi-agency oversight and response to incidents at the home.

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The safety of children

The risk assessments do not consistently identify or address risks to individual children. They include some errors and do not always provide clear guidance on the most up-to-date actions to minimise the risks. In one instance, a senior member of staff was unaware of recent changes to a risk assessment, which reduces the safeguards intended.

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The safety of children

The kitchen and the pantry are locked at specified times during the day and night. The justification for this restriction is not evidenced in risk assessments and it is Assurance visit report: SC068991 3 unclear why the child does not have access to the areas that they usually would in a family home.

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The safety of children

Staff recognise positive behaviour and reward the child for this. There has only been one physical restraint, and this was proportionate to keep the staff and the child safe.

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Leaders and managers

The home has not had a registered manager since 29 June 2020, and the post remains vacant. Leaders moved into the home during the initial stages of lockdown to provide continuity of care for the children.

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Leaders and managers

Some staff said that they feel unsupported. Managerial and staff changes have had an impact on staff morale. However, leaders are always based at the home and available to staff through an on-call system. They have introduced a new induction programme to equip new staff for their roles.

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Leaders and managers

Senior managers maintain effective oversight of incidents and practice at the home. The requirements made at the previous inspection have been met. However, further shortfalls have been identified at this visit.

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Leaders and managers

Recruitment processes do not comply with safe recruitment requirements. When staff have worked or lived overseas, a certificate of good conduct is not sought. The home’s policy on recruitment does not consider this issue. In addition, the agency recruitment checks held by the home do not always provide enough information. Overall, these processes fail to provide a thorough level of assurance of the suitability of new staff.

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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

that staff— 13/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC068991 4 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments are accurate, understood by all staff and justify any restrictions on children’s access to areas of the home.

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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

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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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(e)) 30/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(2)(a)(b)) 30/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 6/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC068991 5 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children,

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Requirement Due date

allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that recruitment procedures detail the actions to take when applicants have lived or worked overseas and that all relevant checks are made on and recorded for agency staff.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: M.J. Childrens Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Arbutus House, 4 Loddington Lane, Belton in Rutland LE15 9LA

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Inspectors

Paula Edwards, Social Care Inspector Ashley Hinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC068991 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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