Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Assurance visit report: SC483688 1 SC483688

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. The home provides care and support for up to seven young people who can no longer live at home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in January 2020 but has been in post since May 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 3 October 2019

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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 did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC483688 2

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The care of children

The experiences and outcomes for young people are mixed. Admissions to the home have not always been well considered, which led to a breakdown in placements. Currently, most young people are making steady progress and are settled in the home.

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The care of children

There have been numerous staffing changes in the home, for a variety of reasons, and this has unsettled some young people. As a result, their relationships with staff have not always been positive. Staff are aware that they need to develop a culture of openness and trust so that young people are confident to go to them with any concerns or worries. While this is improving, it has some way to go.

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The care of children

Young people returned to education and this has provided them with stability. Staff worked well with educational providers to help young people to keep up with their studies. One young person is pleased to be attending college and is enjoying their course. Another young person has secured part-time employment and is eagerly awaiting a start date.

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The care of children

Young people said that they have kept in touch with their families through various means during the lockdown period. They are happy that they can now meet with their families and those people who are important to them. A parent was complimentary about the support provided to them and their child during this time.

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The care of children

Young people are provided with a range of self-chosen activities. Some have had to cease during this period, but alternatives are provided. Young people are consulted about what they would like to do, for example, choosing not to have the evening meal and arranging to cook an alternative meal with staff.

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The care of children

Discussions with one young person about their night-time routine have successfully enabled staff to put into place things such as a lavender pillow spray, to aid the young person’s sleep and reduce their nightmares.

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The care of children

Discussions with social workers indicate that they are pleased with the care and support provided to their young people and acknowledge that this has been a difficult period. One social worker said that their young person is a different person since coming to live here.

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The safety of children

Since April 2020 safeguarding practice has not always been effective, in particular, the reporting of safeguarding concerns and protecting the young people’s information. There have been 67 physical interventions since April. A significant incident took place in August 2020, resulting in a monitoring visit by Ofsted to explore the concerns. Following this visit and a subsequent visit, two compliance notices were issued. The home has taken appropriate steps to meet the compliance notices. Assurance visit report: SC483688 3 Safeguarding practice is improving and the registered manager works well with partner agencies to ensure that the young people are safe. Complaints are now investigated fully, and the complainants are provided with a clear explanation of the manager’s findings.

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The safety of children

Staff are aware of the individual risks posed to each young person. Appropriate steps and strategies are in place to support young people and reduce known and emerging risks.

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The safety of children

Several young people have found difficulty with the second lockdown in the home and their behaviours escalated. Records of physical interventions are improving. However, the review of these incidents does not always take into consideration how staff can amend their practice to best meet the needs of the young people.

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Leaders and managers

The leadership and management of the home have not been consistently good. Steps are being taken to address this and there are signs of improvement. The registered manager is being supported by senior managers and there are clear, achievable development plans in place which are facilitating change.

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Leaders and managers

Staff acknowledge that this has been a difficult time, due to lockdown and the number of staffing changes, but can see the improvements being made and feel that they need the time to firmly embed these into practice. Training continues in various formats to help staff meet the individual needs of each young person.

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Leaders and managers

Two young people have recently left the home and there are no plans to fill these vacancies until stability to the home is secured. This is a positive move by the organisation.

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Leaders and managers

Monitoring of the home by the registered manager and independent person has not been consistently good. In the past, monitoring has failed to identify shortfalls in practice and record-keeping. This is now improving and a new independent person for the home has been sourced.

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Leaders and managers

Record-keeping is improving. Records and documentation are much more detailed and outline the specific needs of each young person. However, documentation such as key-worker records would benefit from a more child-friendly format so that the information is helpful to the young person and tells their life story. Assurance visit report: SC483688 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 promotes their welfare.

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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 staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(c)(h)) 27/11/2020

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Recommendations

 All staff should strive to build positive relationships with children in the home and develop a culture of openness and trust that encourages them to be able to tell someone if they have concerns or worries about their safety. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.11)  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  Information about a child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child, Staff should understand the important role in encouraging the child to

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Recommendations

reflect on and understand their history. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraphs 14.4, 14.5) Assurance visit report: SC483688 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspectors

Chris Scully, Social Care Inspector Marie Cordingley, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC483688 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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