Children's Home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Kent

Assurance visit report: SC023740 1 SC023740

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Information about this children’s home

This privately-owned children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. In accordance with its statement of purpose, the home specifically accommodates boys.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 25 July 2018.

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), 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.

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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. Assurance visit report: SC023740 2

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The care of children

Three children currently live in this home; two have lived here for over 12 months and they are being actively encouraged to welcome a child who has recently moved in. The staff have succeeded in supporting the children to understand and comply with the restrictions, and accept the changes imposed by COVID-19. The children have remained engaged in their education and learning despite significant changes in schooling arrangements. Staff have provided good and, in some cases, outstanding support to the children in this regard, resulting in being commended by a virtual school head.

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The care of children

The staff speak with care and affection about the children and show pride in the children’s progress and development. The unexpected and sudden departure of staff with whom the children were developing attachments has, however, been upsetting for some.

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The care of children

The small staff team has the benefit of fewer adults having greater interaction with the children, enabling close relationships to develop. However, this is sometimes outweighed by low staffing numbers. In the event of significant incidents, the staff team’s ability to provide effective support to all of the children at the same time can be compromised.

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The care of children

Staff have effectively supported the children in maintaining meaningful contact with their families as COVID-19 restrictions have been implemented and changed over time. This, together with a sense of solidarity by ‘being in this together’ that developed between the children and staff, has contributed to the children’s feelings of security and belonging.

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The care of children

The maintenance and appearance of the common areas of the home are good, but some children have been insufficiently supported in organising, equipping and maintaining their personal spaces. This undermines their investment in the home and building feelings of permanence.

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The safety of children

Disruption in the home has only been intermittent during this period and, generally, things have been settled for the children. There have been few instances when children have been at risk of any harm, due to staffing levels, and no children have gone missing during this period.

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The safety of children

Plans to guide staff to keep the children safe and best manage their expressions of strong emotion are clear. The staff also show very good understanding of the individual needs of the children and their associated risks. Consequently, the staff are able to anticipate potential triggers and prevent situations from escalating.

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Leaders and managers

Assurance visit report: SC023740 3 The home has a capable and committed registered manager who leads by example in her strong focus on the well-being and progress of the children. The last inspection marked a situation of significantly improving staff capacity. This followed a period during which the registered manager was required to forgo some of her managerial duties to support the staff in the direct care of the children. During this period, the situation continued to improve and activities like the regular supervision of staff, general communication within the staff team, and the completion of routine tasks, were put back on track. However, the recent sudden departure of two members of staff, together with the imminent planned departure of another, has again undermined the sufficiency and continuity of the children’s care.

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Leaders and managers

Contingencies have been put in place to address the immediate staffing needs of the home and recruitment plans are in progress for the longer term. This situation, however, shows that the consistency and continuity of the children’s care is placed at risk by having a small permanent staff team.

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Leaders and managers

Placing social workers speak positively about the quality of care being provided for the children and are fully satisfied with their communication with the staff team. The registered manager is adept at gaining the positive collaboration of external agencies to improve outcomes for the children.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders have been successful in addressing the majority of the requirements that were made from the last inspection. Not all of the elements of the requirement that was made under regulation 6 have been met, in relation to the children’s plans and physical necessities. These elements are therefore, repeated. The registered manager’s monitoring, under regulation 45, continues to be variable in terms of evaluation and clear improvement planning. Consequently, the previous recommendation is also repeated.

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 16 March 2021 Assurance visit report: SC023740 4 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(d)(e)) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2) (a)(b)(iv)(viii)) 16 March 2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for deciding what each (regulation 45) 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 report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery in the home and how those actions will

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Recommendations

be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used Assurance visit report: SC023740 5 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: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited, 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Inspector:

John Pledger, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC023740 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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Inspector:

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

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