Setting run by Makks Services Ltd

Information about this children’s home

This newly registered home provides care and accommodation for one young person. The home cares for a young person who has emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Visit dates: 30 September to 1 October 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not applicable

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not applicable

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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 identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit:  A lack of clarity around risk management strategies could lead to inconsistent practice and put young people at risk of harm. Assurance visit report: 2585927 2  A lack of communication with the social worker means that key people in the young person’s life do not have all the information required to keep the young person safe.  Staff do not fully recognise and do not respond effectively to risks associated with social media.  The manager’s response to a complaint about staff practice made by a child was poor. The concern was not investigated, and safeguards were not put in place.

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The care of children

Serious safeguarding shortfalls mean that the quality of care provided to the young person is poor. The young person has been exposed to potential harm because staff have not recognised risks pertaining to social media and failed to respond appropriately to a complaint made by the young person that a member of staff fell asleep on duty.

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The care of children

The young person said that she likes living in the home and likes the staff. She said that staff listen to her and support her. Current high staffing levels are appropriate to the needs of the child.

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The care of children

The young person enjoys a range of activities including horse riding, cooking and trips to theme parks. Engaging in a good range of activities has helped the young person to settle into the home and build relationships with staff.

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The care of children

Staff support the young person to attend school. The young person currently struggles to get to school on time but engages well with her online lessons.

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The safety of children

Staff practice does not always keep the young person safe or promote her welfare. The expectation from the young person’s social worker and mental health practitioner is that the young person’s phone is checked regularly because of her vulnerability to exploitation. The young person’s phone has not been checked at all since she was admitted to the home. Therefore, staff are not protecting the young person.

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The safety of children

Staff do not know who the young person’s friends are on social media or monitor her interactions. This means that she could be communicating with someone who presents a risk to her.

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The safety of children

The young person has told staff that she has formed a relationship via social media. Staff have not taken action to investigate the appropriateness of this relationship. They have not reported it to the young person’s social worker, and no follow-up work has been completed about safe use of social media. Assurance visit report: 2585927 3 Risk management strategies lack clarity. This is because risk assessments are not in line with the safety plan written by the mental health practitioner. The manager and responsible individual believe that this is because the social worker has given them different instructions, but they have not sought to clarify expectations, leaving contradictory advice to staff in the young person’s working file.

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The safety of children

There has been a poor management response to a concern raised by the young person that a member of staff had fallen asleep on duty:  The member of staff has been believed rather than the young person.  The supervision record, completed on the day of the concern, is poor because the content is inaccurate. In addition, the document is not signed.  The log book does not support the worker’s version of events.  No investigation has taken place.  There has been no response to the young person.  The member of staff continued to work with the young person without any monitoring of their practice.  The practice concern was not reported to the designated officer, despite potential safeguarding implications.  The practice concern was not notified to Ofsted.

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The safety of children

The night care worker is the only member of staff who works the night duty. As a result of this, she has worked 12 nights without a day off. The safeguarding risks associated with staff, particularly night care staff, working excessive hours have not been recognised or addressed by managers.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager and deputy manager have resigned their posts and no longer work at the home. An acting manager is now in charge of the home. The acting manager is experienced but has made basic mistakes when managing risk and complaints. The responsible individual has also not safely managed the complaint made by the young person. The responsible individual said that she is recruiting a new manager who is qualified and experienced.

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Leaders and managers

The current manager only works in the home for three days a week, leaving inexperienced staff in charge of the home for significant periods. However, the responsible individual also carries out regular visits and has taken on some management responsibilities.

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Leaders and managers

Staff are caring and well intentioned. They want the best possible outcomes for the young person in their care. They have received training that has included training about child sexual exploitation. This has helped them have a better understanding of the child in their care but has failed to help them to identify key risks. Assurance visit report: 2585927 4

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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

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

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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)) 16/11/2020

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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 the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b)) 16/11/2020

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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

promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13 (1)(b)) 16/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance visit report: 2585927 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Cross Street, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2NX

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Inspector

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2585927 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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