Children's Home run by Inspire Care (UK) Limited in Staffordshire

Assurance visit report: SC487764 1 SC487764

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to two children who have experienced trauma which has left them with associated difficulties. The home is privately owned.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home does not have a registered manager in post. The previous manager’s employment ended in September 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 14 January 2020

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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.

p.1

Information about this visit

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. Assurance visit report: SC487764 2

p.1

Findings from the visit

At the time of the assurance visit, no children were living in the home. Furthermore, records related to children who previously lived in the home were missing and could not be found by the provider. The absence of these records is currently subject to a police investigation.

p.2

Findings from the visit

Ofsted was not able to make a judgement as to whether there were any widespread or serious concerns.

p.2

Findings from the visit

The requirements and recommendations raised at the full inspection completed on 14 and 15 January 2020 have not been reviewed during this visit.

p.2

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.

p.2

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 — helps children aspire to fulfil their potential, and promotes their welfare.

p.2

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to — use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 27/03/2020

p.2

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement the statement of purpose ”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

p.2

Requirement Due date

The registered person must — keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

p.2

Requirement Due date

If a home has a website, the registered person must ensure that a copy of the statement of purpose is published on that 28/02/2020 Assurance visit report: SC487764 3 website unless the registered person considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children in the home.

p.2

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16(1)(3)(a)(b)(4)(5)) The registered person must ensure that all employees — undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b)(c)) 29/05/2020

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which — is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular — provide for liaison and cooperation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

p.3

Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

p.3

Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about past abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the alleged abuse or neglect occurred;

p.3

Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

p.3

Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)) 27/03/2020

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that 27/03/2020 Assurance visit report: SC487764 4 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes —

p.3

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.4

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.4

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.4

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.4

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. 28/02/2020 Assurance visit report: SC487764 5 (Regulation 37(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)) Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)) 28/02/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to sexual exploitation;

p.5

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.5

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or

p.5

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 28/02/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.5

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— 28/02/2020 Assurance visit report: SC487764 6 if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

p.6

Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44(1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5)) The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year, taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

p.6

Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46(1)(2)) 28/02/2020

p.6

Recommendations

 Staff should provide a nurturing and supportive environment that is homely. (‘Guide to the Children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance visit report: SC487764 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Inspire Care (UK) Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 263 Nottingham Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG7 7DA

p.7

Inspector

Annemarie Parker, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC487764 8 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.7

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.8

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8