Children's Home run by Nurture Childcare Services Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2571033 1

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Nurture Childcare 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. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2020.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance visit conducted by Ofsted on 22 and 23 September 2020 identified serious concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this home. Requirements were raised in relation to the protection of children, leadership and management and care planning standards.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was conducted on 4 November 2020 to consider whether the manager and responsible person have taken sufficient steps to safeguard and protect the welfare of children.

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This monitoring visit

Following the assurance visit, the registered provider has put in place an action plan to address the shortfalls identified. Immediate notice was served on one young person’s placement as staff were unable to meet the young person’s needs and keep them safe. The staff helped the young person to prepare for the move and the young person was able to speak to staff at the new placement via video conferencing prior to moving.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has taken steps to increase the knowledge of staff. Additional training and support have been provided to staff prior to the admission of another young person to the home. For example, all staff have now completed training on child sexual exploitation and risk management. Refresher training in safeguarding and restraint practice has also taken place to update the staff team’s knowledge and increase their confidence in these areas. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2571033 2 The registered manager has received additional support from senior managers to support her professional development and to help drive improvement. Furthermore, the registered provider has arranged for the independent visitor to conduct more frequent visits to the home. This gives an additional opportunity for independent scrutiny of the home’s performance.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, one young person had recently moved into the home. The registered manager has conducted an impact risk assessment to inform her decision about the admission. The young person told the inspector that she likes living at the home and said, ‘The staff are fun and it is a nice home to live in.’

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This monitoring visit

The young person receives a high level of supervision that is in line with her care plan. The young person’s risk assessment is comprehensive and contains very detailed and clear guidance for staff to follow. This means that staff have the information they need to respond effectively and to reduce risks for the young person. The risk assessment is kept under review and updated following significant incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The young person is not currently in education or training. However, staff are supporting the young person to engage in educational activities every day. The in- house education coordinator is arranging these activities and sourcing appropriate accreditation for them.

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This monitoring visit

The recommendation made at the assurance visit was not considered at this monitoring visit. Therefore, it is repeated for consideration at the next routine inspection. A further recommendation is made regarding the need to assess any risk arising to the young person’s care from the staff ratios dropping in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor the provider closely to ensure that improvements are sustained.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2571033 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) 06/11/2020

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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—

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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— 06/11/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2571033 4 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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 each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)) 06/11/2020

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)) 06/11/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2571033 5

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Recommendations

 Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. In particular, staff should have the skills to challenge poor behaviour and apply consistent boundaries. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)  Contingency plans should be prepared in the event of a shortfall in staffing levels. The manager should make a formal assessment of the implications for children’s care, including any likely risks. This assessment should be recorded and available for inspection by Ofsted and placing authorities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.18)

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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: Nurture Childcare Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 Edge End Lane, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire BB6 7QD

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Inspector

Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2571033 6 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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