Children's Home run by S P Homes Limited in Lambeth

Assurance visit report: SC065535 1 SC065535

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home is for up to six young people. The home’s statement of purpose confirms that the home looks after young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager was registered with Ofsted in October 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:  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: SC065535 2

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The care of children

The home has managed the COVID-19 pandemic well. Staff and young people follow effective safety measures, such as regular handwashing and having their temperatures tested in the home. As a further precaution, managers have offered to pay for taxis home for staff, to avoid the use of public transport. There have been no cases of the virus among staff or young people.

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The care of children

Young people who spoke with the inspector said that they are happy in their home. Staff have worked hard to engage young people and develop relationships in the home using board games and ‘movie nights’. Young people value this input, and one young person commented, ‘Staff really care for me.’

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The care of children

Staff know and understand each young person well. Staff recognise the behaviours or events that unsettle young people, and they intervene quickly to manage young people’s challenging behaviour/s effectively.

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The care of children

Placing social workers commented on the tenacity and perseverance of the staff team. One social worker said, ‘They are doing a fantastic job of trying to engage him (the child).’

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The care of children

A comprehensive programme of refurbishment has resulted in improvement to the home environment. This includes an upgrade to both bathrooms and new carpeting being fitted throughout the building. Staff and young people commented about how proud they are of their home.

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The care of children

The support provided to young people to engage in their education has improved. This is of significance following the recent closure of schools during the lockdown period. A designated member of staff works specifically with young people to draft daily planners and engage in discussion sessions or reading exercises on issues such as a recent anti-racism campaign.

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The safety of children

Staff have tried hard to support young people during the pandemic and teach them how to keep safe. Effective key-work sessions address concerns specific to the complex needs of each young person. For example, one staff member researched the dynamics of a county lines drug network to illustrate the high-risk level to young people.

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The safety of children

Any safeguarding concerns are swiftly shared with allocated social workers.

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The safety of children

The local area risk assessment has been improved and now reflects positive engagement with key agencies such as local police and youth offending services. Decisions on the appropriateness of young people being admitted to the home are now informed by an in-depth knowledge of local gang-related issues. Assurance visit report: SC065535 3 The home has developed appropriate relationships with local police. This has helped to better inform young people’s risk assessments. However, risk assessments lack the input or views of young people, therefore limiting their effectiveness.

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The safety of children

Behaviour management is better, and staff offer restorative interventions to young people. In many cases, young people learn to apologise and help to suggest means of ‘making good’ following incidents. Behaviour management plans are generally clear, with an emphasis on de-escalation.

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The safety of children

Despite the recent nationwide lockdown, episodes of young people going missing from the home is high, and the home’s response is poor. Since April 2020, six young people who went missing from the home, on 31 separate occasions, are still to receive an independent return to care interview. This limits support for young people at a vulnerable time.

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Leaders and managers

Management of the home is consistent and focused on improving the support offered to young people. The home has addressed six requirements and two recommendations from the last inspection. An additional requirement and three recommendations result from this inspection. It was not possible to assess the remaining requirements and recommendations during this visit.

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Leaders and managers

Managers have a suitable oversight of the running of the home. However, the management monitoring reports, completed in line with Regulation 45, do not fully evidence young people’s feedback or evaluate effectively young people’s behaviour when they go missing from the home.

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Leaders and managers

Managers’ oversight of restraint is lacking. Case records fail to fully record that managers have held debriefs with young people following incidents where staff have used physical intervention.

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Leaders and managers

Managers and staff have shown sensitive insight into how restrictions placed on young people during the COVID-19 crisis have impacted on young people’s anxiety and well-being. This is evidenced by the decision to maintain low occupancy levels.

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Leaders and managers

Succession planning is lacking in the home. The operations manager is due to leave the home in December 2020, leaving the registered manager without effective support or a designated deputy.

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Leaders and managers

The home benefits from a committed team of both ‘bank’ and permanent staff. Staff reported receiving regular supervision and access to online training. The home continues to explore the resumption of face-to-face training with providers. Staff are motivated by the progress of young people and the support of managers. Assurance visit report: SC065535 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 registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)) 01/04/2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 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, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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, the registered person must ensure that files consistently record and evaluate the previous history of staff. 01/04/2021

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust. 01/04/2021 Assurance visit report: SC065535 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the home should ensure that young people contribute to the development of their own risk management and behaviour support plans.

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Recommendations

 Ensure the home accepts placements for children when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Records must be kept detailing all individual incidents when children go missing from the home (regulation 36 (schedule 3 (14)). This information should be shared with the placing authority and, where appropriate, with the child’s parents.

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Recommendations

Evaluation of missing incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, pages 45 and 46, paragraph 9.31)  Ensure the registered person oversees the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23) In particular, feedback from young people to be evidenced in the management monitoring report.  Ensure the home has a plan in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and

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Recommendations

restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.36) Assurance visit report: SC065535 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 163 Manor Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 1JT

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC065535 7 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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