–

Assurance visit report: SC370956 1 SC370956

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people aged between 12 and 17 years who have a variety of complex needs, and who require specialist support. The manager was registered by Ofsted in February 2017 and is suitably qualified.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 29 January 2020

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Declined in effectiveness

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. 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.

p.1

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: SC370956 2

p.1

The care of children

The children say that staff have helped them to understand the COVID-19 pandemic. The children and staff are provided with the personal protective equipment they need to maintain their safety. The staff have provided the children with a good variety of activities and supported their education during the COVID-19 lockdown period. A range of stimulating activities took place at the home and in the community when it was safe to do so. The staff purchased additional games during the lockdown period to ensure that children did not become bored or frustrated. Staff also helped children to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

p.2

The care of children

Children make progress in their education. One child, who had consistently refused to take part in education, has begun a college course. Another child is thriving at a specialist school, which she enjoys attending. A child who has recently moved into the home does not yet have a formal school placement. However, applications have been made to local schools. In the absence of formal education, the staff are supporting this child’s education by providing online tutoring. A structured timetable is also in place to supplement online learning with vocational skills, such as horse riding.

p.2

The care of children

The staff support the children with their health needs, including by providing them with emotional support. Staff actively challenged external professionals when one child was denied therapeutic support. This led to the child being offered the treatment that she required. This demonstrates that the staff are good advocates for the children.

p.2

The care of children

The progress children make is underpinned by the positive relationships they have with staff. Children speak highly of the staff team. The children say that they are happy at the home and are confident to talk to staff about any concerns that they may have.

p.2

The safety of children

The inspector was aware during this assurance visit that an alleged serious incident had occurred at the home since the last inspection. This was investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the home in response to the incidents were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the visit. This informed the inspector’s judgement.

p.2

The safety of children

The manager ensures that safeguarding concerns are referred promptly to the designated officer following allegations made against staff. In addition, the manager notifies Ofsted at the time that a concern has been received. This enables Ofsted to ensure that effective action has been taken to safeguard children.

p.2

The safety of children

There have been no restraints for over six months. Episodes of children going missing are infrequent. When incidents do occur, the staff act swiftly to prompt the Assurance visit report: SC370956 3 child’s safe return. This demonstrates that the home is a generally settled and stable environment for children.

p.2

The safety of children

The staff have significantly improved their ability to identify and address bullying behaviours. They understand the underlying factors that lead to bullying behaviours and plan effective interventions. Consequently, children feel safe.

p.3

The safety of children

Risk assessments are thorough, subject to regular review and reflect the changing needs of the children. The staff are not risk averse; they help children to experience a range of opportunities while carefully considering the potential benefits and disadvantages.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff are now managing the children’s social media use effectively. This increases the safety of children. An excellent piece of work has been undertaken to ensure that all staff are aware of how to make the required checks on the children’s social media use. A guide has been produced by a staff member detailing how to make checks on a variety of social media platforms.

p.3

Leaders and managers

A senior manager from within the organisation has provided high-quality support to the home’s manager. This has enabled the manager to make significant improvements in the quality of care provided to children.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Placement matching has improved. The manager has reviewed potential referrals very carefully, ensuring a stronger focus on making sure that the mix of children is right. This enables the children to have a more positive experience at the home.

p.3

Leaders and managers

External professionals said that they have been impressed with the way in which the manager has advocated for children and the fact that he has been consistently child- centred.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager provides staff with good-quality supervision that addresses poor practice and promotes improvement. However, one member of staff has not achieved a relevant level 3 qualification within the required timescale. As a result, this staff member is not sufficiently qualified.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager has not provided an internal monitoring report to Ofsted in line with regulation. This does not enable Ofsted to have an accurate oversight of the home.

p.3

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 Assurance visit report: SC370956 4 ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or

p.4

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.4

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

p.4

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

p.4

Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

p.4

Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)(6)(a)(b)) 30/12/2020

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months.

p.4

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 12/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC370956 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 3LP

p.5

Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC370956 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.

p.5

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.6

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.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6