Children's Home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278806 1

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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 have social and/or emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since September 2018. The registered manager holds a level 5 award in the leadership and management of residential childcare.

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This monitoring visit

Three young people live at the home. The purpose of the visit was to review the provider’s response to safeguarding concerns relating to a young person who lives at the home. Inspectors found shortfalls in safeguarding practice relating to this young person and in leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

When a young person went missing from home for a significant period, staff did not make sufficient attempts to locate her and help her return to a place of safety. Delays in following processes left the young person at risk of harm and she went on to be involved in an alleged serious safeguarding incident.

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This monitoring visit

The young person’s risk assessment does not detail clear guidance for staff on how to manage known risks, such as where and when staff should search for the young person, and early warning signs so that they can try and prevent her from going missing from home. This does not promote the young person’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not reviewed staffing arrangements at the home. There has been insufficient staff to help to locate the young person and make contact with her. As a result, there have been missed opportunities to check on the welfare of the young person and encourage her to return home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not follow agreed strategies to monitor a young person’s mobile phone and internet use. For example, checks are not taking place at the required intervals to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278806 2 ensure that the young person is safe when accessing the internet. This undermines the effectiveness of existing safeguarding strategies.

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This monitoring visit

The manager does not ensure that staff complete training specific to the identified needs of young people who live at the home. For example, all staff have not completed training in criminal exploitation, online safety and self-harm, despite some young people exhibiting this behaviour. This does not assure Ofsted that the staff have the essential skills and knowledge to safeguard young people.

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice has been raised in relation to safeguarding shortfalls identified at this monitoring inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Young people enjoy some positive experiences. For example, young people explore their interests and hobbies. A young person told the inspector about visiting a theme park and going swimming. Another young person spoke about wanting to be in a band and enjoys attending guitar lessons. Young people develop their social skills and confidence while having fun.

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This monitoring visit

Staff promote young people’s education. All young people have suitable education plans and these are kept under review. Two young people are positive about learning and look forward to going to school. As a result of good support, young people make progress towards achieving their educational goals.

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This monitoring visit

Staff ensure that young people enjoy a range of healthy food. Young people support staff in preparing meals, which they like doing. One young person likes to cook meals that reflect his cultural identity and staff support this by purchasing ingredients from specialist supermarkets. Young people’s contributions to the home enable them to learn more about their identities and develop skills that will support them in adulthood.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/01/2020 Full Good 12/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278806 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 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)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(b)) 14/12/2020

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(f)) 04/01/2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278806 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: 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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Inspectors

Helen Malanaphy, social care inspector Alison Smale, Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1278806 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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