Children's Home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC414347 1 SC414347

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Coventry City Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since December 2011 and is suitably qualified.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged good at the full inspection in August 2020. Leadership and management was judged as requires improvement.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring inspection was completed in response to the high number of incidents that have occurred in the home. In addition, concerns were identified at another home in the company during a recent assurance visit.

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This monitoring visit

There were three children living in the home at the time of this visit. All three children are attending school or college. The inspector found that despite recent challenges in the home, all three children are making progress.

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This monitoring visit

Two young people have moved out of the home due to the level of risk they placed themselves at during episodes when they went missing from home. It was evident that managers and the staff team worked closely with multi-agency partners to try to reduce risk and support the young people.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have worked hard to support the newest child who has moved into the home to feel safe and cared for. This child’s social worker told the inspector, ‘Since being placed at the home, the child has had a period of consistency. He now believes that he is going to stay at the home and trusts the workers around him to care for him.’

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This monitoring visit

The inspector observed that children have formed trusting and caring relationships with staff. All three children told the inspector that they feel safe and well cared for. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC414347 2 One child told the inspector that they want to remain at the home until they are grown up.

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This monitoring visit

Another child told the inspector that at times he gets upset by racially abusive language from the other two children. Staff are proactively addressing this behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are passionate about their roles and the children that they care for. One teacher told the inspector, ‘Staff go above and beyond and always deliver on their promises; the communication between the home and the school is excellent.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not always follow processes put in place to protect young people. For example, when young people go missing from the home, staff do not consistently try and follow them to encourage their safe return. In addition, staff do not always maintain telephone contact overnight.

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This monitoring visit

On one occasion, managers failed to notify Ofsted of an allegation against a member of staff. In addition, notification was made late to the designated safeguarding officer. There was no detrimental impact on the child as managers investigated the allegation.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not addressed shortfalls with regards to gaps in staff training. Not all staff have completed all mandatory training and other training relevant to their roles. This has the potential to leave staff without the essential knowledge and skills to fulfil their roles.

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This monitoring visit

There are two doors to the front of the property. The second internal door is kept locked at all times. This distracts from a homely environment and imposes unnecessary restrictions on children.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/08/2019 Full Good 25/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/08/2018 Full Good 17/01/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC414347 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 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that staff follow young people’s missing-from-care protocols. 31/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is necessary and proportionate; 31/12/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC414347 4 is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 31/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 31/12/2020

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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: Coventry City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coventry City Council, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC414347 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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