Children's home run by Care Focus Limited in Mid Suffolk

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC047894 1 SC047894

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Care Focus Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This private home is part of a group run by an independent provider. The children’s home specialises in the care of girls aged 11 to 18. The children have experienced trauma. They often have complex social backgrounds, and all are at risk of, or have experienced, child sexual exploitation and/or going missing from care.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted inspected this home in June 2019 and judged the home to be good. One requirement and two recommendations were made at the last inspection, and these have been met. Since April 2020, the manager has notified Ofsted about incidents in which some staff have been hurt and some children had made allegations against the staff. Two children have moved out of the home. These children had unplanned endings. The focus of this monitoring visit was to establish how the home has managed incidents and ensured good matching of children who have moved into the home.

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This monitoring visit

There are currently four children living at the home. The current mix of children is working well. The home is settled, and children make good progress. A committed staff team provides good-quality care. The children value the support provided by staff. The risks to the children have reduced since they moved into the home. The children said that they feel safe.

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This monitoring visit

The staff spend time with the children and offer meaningful key-work sessions on topics that help the children to develop socially and emotionally. Some of the children receive regular therapy. The children’s lives are improving because of the help available to them. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC047894 2 A covered outdoor seating area has been installed. This new space means that the children can meet with visitors in a comfortable, sheltered outdoor area while maintaining social distancing.

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This monitoring visit

All the children have continued with their education during lockdown periods. There is a school on site at the home and the children engage in lessons together. The children are supported to work towards relevant qualifications. Some of the children talked about plans for the future, including working and further study.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the children have not been able to visit their families as often as they would like. The staff take steps to arrange virtual contact on video calls or on the telephone, so that the children can talk to people who are important to them until contact can resume face to face.

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This monitoring visit

Risks are reducing. Children who were previously at risk of exploitation are now safe from harm. None of the children go missing and all are protected effectively from exploitation. Staff have a good understanding of the individual risks and vulnerabilities of each of the children and risk assessments are updated following incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The home had a period of being less settled and some children tried to bully other children. Staff addressed these behaviours by intervening to ensure that children were protected. The children are encouraged to talk through any conflicts that arise and to resolve differences through discussion and negotiation. Relationships in the current group of children are harmonious.

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This monitoring visit

There have been incidents in which children have been restrained to keep themselves or others safe. Some of these have involved the police being called and staff being injured. Some children moved out of the home following these incidents. The manager and the staff reflect together during debriefs and apply learning to inform future practice. There is honest communication between staff, which encourages a culture of openness.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are suitably qualified, and their competency is reviewed by the manager through annual appraisals. The staff have been supported during the COVID-19 pandemic to safely care for the children. The manager has put in place regular testing and infection control measures.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, the children’s bedroom doors did not comply with fire safety requirements. The manager and the independent visitor had not picked up on this safety hazard during routine monitoring of the home. The monitoring by the manager, and virtual visits undertaken by the independent visitor, failed to adequately identify and monitor hazards. When this shortfall was identified by the inspector, managers acted quickly to plan for the doors to be repaired. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC047894 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/06/2019 Full Good 11/04/2018 Full Good 05/07/2017 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC047894 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 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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the regular maintenance checks undertaken by managers and the independent visitor monitor the safety of the environment effectively. 25 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all the children’s bedroom doors meet fire safety regulations. 11 February 2021

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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. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC047894 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Third Floor, 24 Chiswell Street, Islington, London EC1Y 4YX

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Inspector

Angela Weston, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC047894 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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