Children's home run by Mutual Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2528486 1

p.1

Mutual Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately operated children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. At the time of the inspection, two children lived in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager had recently resigned and was no longer responsible for day-to-day management of the home. An interim manager has been managing the home for the past five weeks and the company has made good progress in appointing a new permanent manager.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out following the assurance visit that took place at the end of October 2020, which identified serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since then the responsible individual and the interim manager have worked hard to address shortfalls and some good progress has been made. It will take time for these improvements to be fully embedded and progress will be examined at future inspections. Other areas require further attention to ensure robust and consistent practices and three requirements are repeated as a result of this visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Following the departure of the previous registered manager, the company provided suitable interim arrangements and has been timely in securing the appointment of a permanent manager, who will take up their post at the beginning of January 2021. Careful consideration is being given to the induction and handover the new manager will receive. A decision has also been made that a third child will not be admitted to the home until March 2021. This decision reflects the importance of the new manager settling in and getting to know current children well before undertaking the complex and important task of assessing, matching and introducing a third child into the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2528486 2 Good attention has been given to examining why staff retention has been poor for several months and what lessons can be learned from this. This has led to planned improvements in pay, induction training, extending shadow shifts, clinical supervision

p.1

This monitoring visit

There have been no changes in the staff team since the assurance visit and just two members of the bank team have been used. These arrangements have meant that children have been cared for by fewer adults, who are getting to know the children better. Attention has been given to identifying training opportunities and how these can be facilitated, while remaining mindful of COVID-19 and the need to keep staff and children safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has been reviewing and updating records and has completed a review of quality of care report, which identifies several ongoing improvements to be made at the home. These include improvements in impact risk assessments, introducing safeguarding scenarios for practice discussions in staff supervision and a new staff induction workbook.

p.2

This monitoring visit

While there is evidence that more careful consideration is being given when serious incidents occur, along with better oversight and reflection, further improvements are needed. For example, a safeguarding incident that occurred in the home recently was not responded to effectively at the time. The inspector discussed this with the manager and the responsible individual, who have reflected on the incident to ensure similar matters do not slip through the net again. Further clarification was also provided by the inspector about the importance of follow-up actions with children, that detailed records should be maintained on staff files, as well as the matters that should be notified to Ofsted.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.2

Recent inspection history

26/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2528486 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

p.3

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;

p.3

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.3

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)) 21 December 2020

p.3

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—

p.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 21 December 2020 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2528486 4 promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

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)(h))

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.4

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)) 21 December 2020

p.4

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.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2528486 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 19 St Marys Road, Portishead, Bristol, Somerset BS20 6QP

p.5

Inspector

Norma Welsby, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2528486 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6