Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC489970 1 SC489970

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United Children’s Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company and provides care for up to four children and young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since May 2020.

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This monitoring visit

At the home’s assurance visit on 9 to 10 September 2020, this home was judged to have widespread and serious concerns.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit has reviewed the progress and steps taken to improve the quality of safeguarding practice and to improve the management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers took the concerns raised at the last assurance visit seriously and quickly implemented an action plan. This plan has included the ongoing development of staff through reflective team meetings and individual supervision. As a result, staff have developed a better understanding of the underlying causes of children’s challenging behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

There have been other improvements, including:  Managers and staff have ensured that the physical environment is now safe. Items that could be harmful to children are now stored securely or have been removed.  More experienced staff have been brought to work at the home to provide support and guidance for less experienced colleagues. This also ensures that there are always enough staff to cover shifts. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC489970 2  The quality of risk assessments has been improved. Risk assessments are now regularly reviewed and updated. The process for sharing risk assessments with staff has been strengthened.  Managers and staff have improved their systems to ensure that Ofsted is notified immediately following a significant incident.

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This monitoring visit

The day-to-day management of this home is going through a transition. The leaders of the organisation are bringing in an experienced manager from another home. She is enthusiastic about her new role and is ambitious for the future.

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This monitoring visit

Most requirements made at the assurance visit remain in place following this monitoring visit. This is to ensure that improvement can be sustained.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 29/10/2019 Full Good 26/02/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC489970 3

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(2)(a)(ix)) 19/11/2020

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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 staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

that staff take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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)(a)(v)(vi)(b)) 19/11/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC489970 4 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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(d)) 19/11/2020

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Drinsey Nook, Lincoln, Nottinghamshire LN1 2JJ

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Inspector

Phillip Morris, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC489970 5 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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