Children's Home run by Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 1 SC378187

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Platinum Services For Children (Residential Care) Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of four homes owned by an independent provider. The home cares for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a registered manager who holds a level 5 diploma in leadership, health, and social care. He manages both this home and a neighbouring home within the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place in response to a serious event which involved a child living in this home and another living at the neighbouring home. The monitoring visit considered how staff provide care to reduce risk and keep children safe. The inspector conducted the monitoring visit remotely, in line with national COVID-19 guidance to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager notified Ofsted following the serious event. However, there was a delay in submitting the notification. The inspector was, therefore, unable to assess in a timely way how staff responded following the incident, to safeguard children. During the monitoring visit, the inspector reviewed a number of other incidents over a short period of time which the registered manager agreed were also serious. Leaders had not notified Ofsted. Timely notification to Ofsted would have highlighted the cumulative impact of risk for children living in this home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not safeguard children effectively who are at risk of sexual harm. Two children engaged in sexual activity after a child from this home entered the provider’s neighbouring children’s home without staff being aware.

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This monitoring visit

Since this serious incident, the children have continued to seek opportunities to meet. On one occasion, a child from the neighbouring home entered this home without staff knowledge. Staff have agreed to the children spending time together in Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 2 this home despite an ongoing investigation following the sexual activity. The children have also maintained contact by mobile phone and staff do not monitor this activity. Staff have failed to risk assess effectively and to act to reduce the likelihood of children experiencing further sexual harm.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have also not safeguarded children effectively from physical harm. Children have displayed verbally and physically aggressive behaviour towards each other. One child was bitten by another child. Staff did not assess the situation and intervene effectively to prevent children from physically harming each other.

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This monitoring visit

Children from both this and the neighbouring home have directed intimidating behaviour and comments towards a child living in the neighbouring children’s home. Staff have not considered the emotional impact of this and prevented the behaviours, to protect the child.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are not creative in how they assess risk for children and deliver their day-to- day care. When staff update risk assessments, they do not always record the dates of emerging information and new actions to take to keep children safe. As a result, staff do not always have clear guidance from leaders to help them in their management of children’s behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

The location of the two children’s homes increases the risks for staff safeguarding children. Staff are not effective in occupying children living in this home and keeping them separate from children in the neighbouring home. As a result, staff respond reactively following an incident when children are meeting together rather than proactively. Staff do not divert children by engaging in more appropriate activities.

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This monitoring visit

The serious incidents have occurred within a short period of time. A new child moved into this home shortly before Christmas. The registered manager completed an impact risk assessment. He clarified information available at that time with the child’s social worker. He concluded that the referral was appropriate, and the child could live alongside children living in both this and the neighbouring children’s home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager, however, had planned time away from work during the time that the child moved in and the serious incidents occurred. The team leader post is currently vacant and senior staff have also been away from work during this period due to sickness. Leaders from within the organisation provided management oversight. During this period, however, staff did not receive the day-to-day leadership required to manage the emerging information about risk or the interactions between children in this and the neighbouring home. Leaders did not, therefore, manage staff effectively to ensure that they provide care which safeguards children and helps them to reach their potential.

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This monitoring visit

Now that the registered manager has returned to work, he is providing increased oversight of the home and guidance to staff. This has reduced the occurrence of serious incidents and children are more settled. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/11/2019 Full Good 02/10/2018 Full Good 07/12/2017 Full Good 22/08/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)) 28 February 2021

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iv)) 14 February 2021

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 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 28 February 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 5 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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; that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b)(c)) 28 February 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 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)(a)(f)) 28 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(d)(i)(e)) 28 February 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 6 *This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

The registered person should support staff to be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Apex, 2 Sheriffs Orchard, Coventry, Warwickshire CV1 3PP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leonard Pattinson

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Inspector

Joanna Warburton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC378187 7 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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