Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Oxfordshire

Assurance visit report: SC069128 1 SC069128

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Information about this children’s home

The service caters for a maximum of seven children at any one time, including one emergency bed. However, because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, fewer children are accessing the service at any one time.

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Information about this children’s home

The staff provide a residential short-break service for children who are disabled. The service is provided by a national charity in partnership with a local authority. Most of the children using the service have complex health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 19 November 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 19 November 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19, Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC069128 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

The staff know the children well. They listen to the children and ably assess each child’s readiness for overnight stays. As a result of this, and the support that children receive, they settle quickly at the home and build trusting relationships with the staff. One child said that he has been visiting the home for several years and has always found that he could talk to all the staff about things that are important to him. However, no record is kept of the assessment that is completed prior to a child visiting the home. This is a missed opportunity to monitor whether all of a child’s needs are properly identified, with a clear plan to meet these needs, before they start to visit the home.

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The care of children

Staff maintain good levels of contact with parents. During the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, staff were in regular contact with families and children. The staff provided families with as many services as possible to support them in caring for their children during this period. One parent said that the reports she received about her daughter’s visits to the home were detailed and informative.

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The care of children

Some parts of the home are homely, but other areas have an institutional feel. For instance, televisions in the main living areas are placed in locked cabinets. Bathrooms contain a large number of notes and signs for staff to remind them about suitable practice.

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The care of children

The staff generally support children’s progress effectively. Staff take account of what they know children will like to do when they visit. Care plans are used daily to plan for the group of children attending the home. Children’s educational plans and goals are incorporated effectively into plans for children’s stays and are reviewed regularly. Children’s complex health needs are understood well and catered for effectively.

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The care of children

Although there have been no identified errors or issues in the administration of medicines, the medication policy allows for staff to accept verbal changes if this is prescribed by a consultant. This practice is not in line with guidance on medication administration.

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The safety of children

The staff have a good understanding of safeguarding concerns and receive regular training about a variety of related topics, such as internet safety. Parents and professionals say that they believe children are kept safe when they come for visits.

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The safety of children

Safeguarding referrals are made appropriately. However, the records about a current safeguarding concern had not been systematically maintained. This runs the risk Assurance visit report: SC069128 3 that all the detail of the actions taken, and any conclusions, may not be available for future reference.

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The safety of children

Parents and professionals speak positively about how the staff manage one child’s difficult behaviour. The child’s parent said that the positive and regular contact she has with staff helps her to know how best to respond to her child. Staff review each child’s behaviour plan as part of each shift plan. This process enables the staff to be up to date about a child’s care plan and prompts them to consider any issues for children who visit the home and to adjust their plans accordingly.

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The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments are well documented and reflect children’s needs well. The assessments provide clear guidance for staff to follow and are regularly updated. Consequently, risks to children are minimised. Children do not go missing from the home, and there is rarely a need for physical intervention by staff to keep a child safe.

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The safety of children

Where physical intervention is needed, some records of these incidents lack the required detail. One record did not include the length of time a child was held for, and there was no evidence that a debriefing meeting with the staff who were involved had been held.

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The safety of children

Children’s health and safety are generally promoted by staff. Leaders and managers have implemented satisfactory precautions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the staff do not consistently identify and minimise all health and safety concerns. During the visit, the inspector found that there were trip hazards in the garden. Records of daily freezer temperature checks showed that one freezer had frequently been outside of the prescribed range. This was not escalated to managers or acted on. Both of these issues were being addressed by managers because of this visit.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers demonstrate a caring and thoughtful approach to supporting children, their families and the staff team. They understand children’s needs well and organise children’s daily life within the home effectively.

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Leaders and managers

Professionals spoke positively about how the staff work with them and with the wider professional network surrounding a child. One professional said that she was, at times, frustrated that staff were not able to attend reviews. She confirmed that this occurred because the home’s poor internet service prevents staff from joining virtual meetings. However, the professional also stated that the reports provided by staff are helpful documents which detail a child’s progress. This supports appropriate decision-making.

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Leaders and managers

Care plans for children are child friendly, clear and up to date. The plans record whether any restrictive practices, such as CCTV, are in use. Where appropriate, children take part in the decision about whether CCTV should be used, and their views are taken into consideration. Assurance visit report: SC069128 4 Managers’ actions to improve the consistency of staff on duty have been successful. The COVID-19 pandemic and staff sickness continue to present challenges in ensuring that there is a consistent staff team caring for children. Leaders and managers continue to recruit permanent staff to reduce the use of agency staff.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not effectively monitor the overall quality of support that is provided for children. One child told managers that he had outgrown the facilities; this did not result in a review of whether the quality of home’s provision for older children was sufficient. The six-monthly reports that the managers complete about the quality of service lack evidence that children’s views have been taken into consideration. The reports are not evaluative or analytical. The organisation has taken too long to repair outside equipment, and this has had an adverse impact on children’s enjoyment of the outside space, especially over the summer months.

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Leaders and managers

Staff supervision is now frequent, and the staff are positive about the support they receive from managers. However, the quality of supervision records is variable. Some records provide good detail of what was discussed and demonstrate reflective practice; other records do not. Consequently, it is not clear whether all staff are receiving the same quality of supervision.

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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 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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(2)(h)) 30/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— 30/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC069128 5 the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d)) 30/11/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b)) 30/11/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as Assurance visit report: SC069128 6 recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The Statement of Purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) In particular, the registered person should ensure that a record is kept of the assessment that is completed prior to a child visiting the home.  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety

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Recommendations

legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. Children’s case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of his or her death. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3

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Recommendations

In particular, the registered person should ensure that each record kept about a safeguarding referral has a clear chronology of any actions taken and the outcome.  The registered person should monitor and review the patterns and trends of turnover of staff, whether agency or directly employed, and be able to understand and where possible, address any negative trends. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.19)

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Recommendations

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they keep under review whether their plans to improve the permanent numbers of staff employed at the home are effective. The registered person should consider further action where concerns from this review are identified.  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. Professionally qualified staff employed by the home, e.g. teachers or social workers, should be provided with relevant professional or clinical supervision by an appropriately qualified and experienced professional. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Assurance visit report: SC069128 7

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Recommendations

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the quality of supervision for all staff is satisfactory.  The registered person is responsible for deciding what each review should focus on, based on the specific circumstances of the home at that particular time and any areas of high risk to the children that the home is designed to care for, such as missing or exploitation. They will also consider what information or data recorded in the home will form part of the evidence base for their analysis and conclusions. There is no expectation that the registered person will review the home against every part of the Quality Standards every six months – registered persons should use their professional judgement to decide which factors to focus on. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written

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Recommendations

report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barnardos, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG

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Inspector

Ruth Coler, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC069128 8 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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