Children's home run by Shropshire Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 1 SC370982

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Shropshire Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority-run home offers support, education and care for five young people who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma, which has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the quality assurance visit on 15 September 2020, four young people have remained living in the home. The registered manager has left the home to become registered manager of another local authority home. A new manager is in post. The new manager was previously the deputy manager of the home and knows the young people and the staff very well. The manager is working towards the level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

On 16 June 2020, a monitoring visit was carried out in response to information received by Ofsted about the home. Following this inspection, Ofsted issued the provider with two compliance notices under section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000. The compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 35, behaviour management policies and records, of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a further monitoring visit on 29 July 2020 when it was judged that the provider had taken enough action to ensure that the steps in the regulation 35 compliance notice were met. However, further shortfalls were identified in terms of regulation 12, and a further compliance notice was issued.

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This monitoring visit

On 15 September 2020, Ofsted carried out a quality assurance visit. Although the inspector identified examples of good practice, shortfalls were again identified in relation to regulation 12. As a result, another compliance notice was issued. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 2 This monitoring visit was specifically to review the compliance notice. At this visit, Ofsted found that managers have made good progress in addressing the shortfalls in practice. As a result of the marked improvement, the compliance notice is now deemed met.

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This monitoring visit

The home is now a homely environment for young people to live in. Damage to the walls has been repaired and areas of the home, including young people’s bedrooms, have been re-decorated. Young people have been given a budget to buy items for their bedroom, and staff have bought new furniture and homely items for communal areas of the home. Chairs in the dining room now have covers, and the outside fasciae have been cleaned. The manager is in the process of putting up pictures of the young people.

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This monitoring visit

Young people now live in a safe environment. The conservatory no longer has blinds with blind cords, and young people’s risk assessments include advice to staff about managing risks in the home. The location risk assessment has been updated with information from the local police. As result, staff are constantly updated about known and emerging risks to young people that are within the vicinity of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have ensured that risk assessments give staff clear guidance about young people’s triggers for displaying complex and challenging behaviours. These include young people’s views about their own triggers and strategies that staff can use to de-escalate these behaviours. The manager told the inspector that, as a result, young people are now aware of their own behaviours, and they take more responsibility for them.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have addressed shortfalls in recording practice with staff in team meetings. Most records have more detail and are written in a way that is personal to young people. However, some records still contain minimal information and are written in an impersonal manner, for instance, using a young person’s initials rather than their name. The manager is aware that recording practice is inconsistent and plans to further address this issue with staff.

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This monitoring visit

Recording of planned key work sessions and day-to-day discussions now contains clear evidence of young people’s thoughts and opinions. Managers continue to monitor recording of discussions to identify further work and actions for staff to take. As a result, young people receive the help and support they need and continue to make progress. Social workers are very positive about the quality of care their young people receive.

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This monitoring visit

Following incidents of restraint, staff have received in-depth de-briefs from an independent person within regulatory timescales.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have responded to the challenges arising from young people’s behaviours by increasing the number of staff who are employed in the home and introducing waking night staff. They have further supported the staff team Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 3 with the use of a psychologist. Staff said that, although there have been changes in the management team, these have been well managed, and they feel supported. However, one staff member has not received regular supervision. Managers are therefore missing opportunities to ensure that every member of staff is given the opportunity to improve their practice.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/07/2019 Full Good 11/03/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/08/2017 Full Good 07/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, para 13.2)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, para 14.4)

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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 address: Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6ND

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Inspector

Karen Gillingwater, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC370982 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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