Children's Home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Sandwell

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC404994 1 SC404994

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St Christopher’s Fellowship

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a registered charity and provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have difficulties managing their emotions and behaviours because of adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the organisation in June 2020. A new manager has been appointed and has submitted his application to Ofsted to become registered. At the time of this visit, the manager was absent from work and an interim manager was overseeing the day-to-day arrangements at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted found widespread concerns at the assurance visit on 29 September 2020. This visit was to monitor progress made. Two children continue to live at the home. Improvements made to the quality of care provided to children mean that children are now happier, safer and more settled.

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This monitoring visit

Staff better understand children’s care needs. The interim manager ensures that children’s individual care plans and risk assessments are up to date and include guidance for staff. This includes the location risk assessment. As a result, staff respond appropriately to children’s needs and behaviours. Staff support children and help them to understand how to keep safe. For example, one child is now aware of locations to avoid visiting when she spends time in the community.

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This monitoring visit

Children receive good care and have access to the resources that they need. This means that they no longer have to wait for essential items and are treated with dignity and respect.

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This monitoring visit

Both children living at the home have college placements and their attendance is generally good. One child’s alleged behaviour means that they cannot attend college currently. The interim manager continues to advocate on behalf of the child to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC404994 2 ensure that there are no delays in them returning to education. Managers and staff promote the importance of education, which supports children’s learning.

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This monitoring visit

One child had made a complaint at the time of the assurance visit and did not feel listened to. However, senior managers have since responded well. The child is now involved in helping managers to improve systems so that when children report their concerns, these are acted on promptly. Managers value children’s views and use these to develop the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children have positive relationships with staff, who support the emotional needs of children well. One child told the inspector about how a member of staff is helping her through a difficult period. Staff support children to experience positive friendships. One child often invites her friend to spend time with her at the home. In addition, staff encourage children to take part in activities that they enjoy. This promotes children’s welfare and helps them to develop good social skills. Children are also learning to take responsibility for their behaviour. This allows them to understand more about how their behaviour affects themselves and others.

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This monitoring visit

Staff support children to access health services. Medication administered to children by staff is in line with the prescriber’s directions and medication records are up to date. To ensure safe working practices, staff are subject to regular checks and managers maintain good oversight of medication and children’s health needs. As a result, children’s health needs are well supported and they have access to medication when they need it.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has refocused the team and as a result, staff and managers work well together to deliver care to children as described in the home’s statement of purpose. Managers ensure that staff receive support and development through regular supervision and team meetings. In addition, staff have received training to understand the indicators of child sexual exploitation and so they are better equipped to respond appropriately when needed. Staff feel valued and motivated to take on more responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

Rotas are clear and easy to understand. There is a distinction between staff who are supporting children and staff who are attending training or meetings. Fewer changes happen at short notice, which provides more consistency to children. In addition, one staff member said that the changes to the rota have helped to improve staff morale. Staff now make a record of who visits the home and when, which means children’s safety is promoted. Managers have reviewed and reformatted documents to ensure that when children move into and on from the home, there are better systems for staff to record information about this clearly.

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This monitoring visit

No incidents of physical intervention have occurred since the assurance visit. There is good management oversight of other significant incidents that happen. Reflective practice enables staff and children to learn from what has happened. Children’s plans are updated with new relevant information, which helps to guide staff practice. Evaluations are child centred and consider early childhood experiences. This Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC404994 3 promotes a learning culture and ensures that staff manage children’s behaviours effectively. However, when one significant incident occurred, the registered manager did not notify Ofsted. A recommendation has been raised to address this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

Managers do not implement safer recruitment processes. For example, managers have not satisfied themselves about the circumstance in which an agency worker’s previous employment ended. Furthermore, references are not verified. This does not ensure that children receive care from suitable individuals.

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This monitoring visit

Managers now understand the importance of staff achieving a health and social care qualification. As a result, two members of staff have completed an appropriate level 3 course in the care of children and young people. However, work to progress this is ongoing as some staff are still not qualified. For example, one member of staff who has been employed for more than two years has not made any progress in working towards completing the qualification.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/11/2019 Full Good 27/06/2018 Full Good 18/07/2017 Full Good 16/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC404994 4

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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 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 the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years 31 January 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC404994 5 after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(b)(d) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a system is in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. (‘Guide to the children’s home’s regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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: St Christopher’s Fellowship

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Putney High Street, London, Wandsworth SW15 1SZ

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Inspectors

Helen Malanaphy, Social Care Inspector Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC404994 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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