Children's Home run by Consensus Support Services Limited in Suffolk

Assurance visit report: SC386258 1 SC386258

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to six children who have autism spectrum disorders and associated complex conditions.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 4 September 2015.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 26 February 2020

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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. Assurance visit report: SC386258 2

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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.

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The care of children

There are currently six teenage children living at the home. One is a young person aged 18. The staff are working with the placing local authority to plan the young person’s transition to adult services. There has been one admission into the home since 1 April 2020. The home is settled, and children develop warm relationships with the staff.

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The care of children

Staff consider children’s individual needs when communicating with them. The staff are trained in sign language and they sign with a deaf child. The use of pictures and symbols around the home helps the children to understand what is expected of them. Adapting communication according to the children’s needs helps to build trust and a sense of safety.

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The care of children

During the lockdown period, the staff have made sure that the children have regular contact with their families. Face-to-face family visits continue when possible, with staff driving long distances to make sure that children see people who are important to them. A child who was shielding was helped to have a ‘through the window’ contact with his mother before the child went into hospital for an operation. Continuing to maintain contact with family members during an uncertain time helps children to feel secure.

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The care of children

All the children have returned to education this term. Some of the children found a change in routine challenging due to the restrictions of lockdown. The staff made sure that the children were entertained and educated during increased restrictions. A new trampoline in the garden means that children can enjoy exercise while unable to go out. Art and craft materials are available so that the children can be creative on rainy days.

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The care of children

Some children have complex health needs. One child needed major surgery during the lockdown period. The home worked in partnership with the hospital to make sure that this child had staff with him in the hospital for the duration of his treatment. Staff travelled long distances, staying overnight and isolated from their own families. Staff were regularly tested for COVID-19.

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The care of children

An isolation area was created at the home and meticulous cleaning routines introduced. These additional measures meant that the child received the specialist care that he needed and made a good recovery.

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The safety of children

The staff have a sound understanding of the risks that children face and how to protect the children from harm. Face-to-face training was put on hold during the Assurance visit report: SC386258 3 lockdown. Gaps in training for less experienced staff have led to some inconsistencies in practice. Managers are aware of this and have reintroduced training to address these weaknesses.

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The safety of children

Children rarely go missing. Staff did, however, lose sight of a child when out on an activity, but this child was quickly found safe and well. This child’s risk assessment was updated and staffing levels for activities were reviewed following this incident. The staff are aware of the steps that they should take to report a child missing, in line with missing child protocols.

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The safety of children

The children have complex needs and their behaviour can be challenging. Sometimes, the children assault the staff. Although detailed records are kept about incidents, debriefs do not consistently consider learning to inform future practice.

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The safety of children

Sanctions are used to manage the children’s behaviour. Some of these sanctions are not appropriate and do not receive sufficient management oversight. Insufficient management oversight of sanctions does not ensure that their use is fair and subject to regular scrutiny.

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Leaders and managers

The pandemic period has been challenging for the staff and managers. The registered manager has needed to spend periods of time away from the home. The impact of this has been some gaps in managerial oversight of the home.

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Leaders and managers

Agency staff are sometimes used when there are staff shortages. The vetting of these agency staff is not sufficiently robust. Five out of six agency profiles viewed at the assurance visit did not contain a photograph. A lack of robust vetting of agency staff does not ensure that children are protected from unsuitable people coming to work at the home. Managers acknowledged the importance of improving practice in this area during the assurance visit and are putting in place measures to address this shortfall as a priority.

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Leaders and managers

The home has enough staff, but some of the staff are inexperienced. Some newer staff lack guidance in how to meet the children’s specialist care needs. This means that the children have not always received consistency of care.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has recently accessed training in professional boundaries for the staff to reinforce expectations of their roles.

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Leaders and managers

Despite recent challenges, staff receive regular supervision and have faith in the management team. An action plan is in place to address weaknesses. Staff are optimistic about the potential for improvements in leadership.

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Leaders and managers

Managers work in partnership with children’s placing authorities to deliver children’s individual care plans. Regular communication with professionals and families ensures that relevant people are kept up to date with the children’s progress. Assurance visit report: SC386258 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

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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 13/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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

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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)(d)) 13/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC386258 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Consensus Support Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bradbury House, 830 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 9YQ

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Inspector

Angela Weston, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC386258 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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