Children's home run by Semi-independent House Limited in Peterborough

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC452107 1 SC452107

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Semi-Independent House Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides short-, medium- and long-term care for up to three children aged eight to 18 who have experienced neglect and abuse and have related behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home at the end of January 2020.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to follow up recent notifications made to Ofsted that raised concerns and to explore the difficulties in appointing a registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

There has been no registered manager since January 2020. The responsible individual recruited two managers. However, neither applicant made an application to register as required by Ofsted. The responsible individual has been unable to recruit and retain a manager during this period. The responsible individual has recently appointed a temporary, experienced manager from his organisation while another permanent manager is recruited.

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This monitoring visit

Since April 2020, five children have moved into the home. Two children remain living at the home and are making progress. However, two children have left the home in an unplanned way and a third child came for a temporary respite break. Two poor matching decisions have resulted in unstable placements and unplanned endings for some children.

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This monitoring visit

During the national lockdown period, the home closed for three months and then reopened with a new manager in post. The manager made a poor decision about a child moving into the home. The child was assessed as a good match without any evaluation of the potential effect on the children living at the home. This has resulted in two children being intimidated by another child and the newly admitted child having an unplanned ending. The senior management team raised concerns Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC452107 2 about the matching when incidents increased and the house sustained some damage. The responsible individual started to investigate the emerging concerns about the suitability of the child’s placement and other management shortfalls. During this investigation, the manager gave notice and left the home.

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This monitoring visit

The head of care and responsible individual have provided consistent oversight and monitoring throughout this period. They have identified concerns with both appointed managers and worked together to address these.

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This monitoring visit

The children benefit from stable routines and education or work experience placements. One child has good predicted exam grades. The staff support him with study and recreational activities. Another child has benefited from a well-planned admission and, since moving to the home, attends school regularly.

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This monitoring visit

Any damage to the home is repaired quickly and communal areas are of a good standard. However, one child’s bedroom has not been decorated and fails to reflect his preferences and choices. This does not help the child to build a permanent sense of belonging at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The requirement raised at the last full inspection has not been assessed and has been reinstated for review at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/01/2020 Full Good 04/06/2018 Full Good 20/11/2017 Full Good 24/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC452107 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

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the impact risk assessments include how risks for existing children are potentially increased by new children moving into the home. 31/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 31/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which 31/12/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC452107 4 the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met. In particular, ensure that a good standard of decoration in the children’s bedrooms is maintained. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 15 paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC452107 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up recent notifications made to Ofsted that raised concerns and to explore the difficulties in appointing a registered manager.

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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: Semi-Independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Inspector

Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC452107 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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