Children's home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC059753 1 SC059753

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Five Rivers Child Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a national private organisation. The statement of purpose advises that the home can accommodate a maximum of two children with emotional and behavioural needs arising from trauma and attachment-based difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, there was one child living in the home. A second child has recently moved out.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was last inspected in August 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was completed because of concerns relating to the matching of children’s needs. The inspector completed the visit remotely, reviewing records and consulting with the registered manager, staff and social workers. The child currently living in the home spoke with the inspector and took her on a video tour of the home.

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This monitoring visit

After the last inspection, a new child moved into the home. Soon after moving in, the registered manager quickly assessed that the child’s complex needs could not be met by the home. In response, notice was given to end the child’s placement quickly. This decision was in the best interests of this child and the child already living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to agreeing to the new child moving into the home, the registered manager reviewed information from the placing authority and the child’s previous placement. However, the registered manager only used some, and not all, of the information provided to assess the compatibility of the two children. As a result, the risks posed by children living together were not fully explored. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC059753 2 As a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the government, the new child’s planned introduction to the home was cancelled. Consequently, the new child was not aware that she was moving home until the day of the move. The staff and existing child ensured that she received a warm, friendly welcome.

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This monitoring visit

During the short time that the new child lived at the home, there was a sharp rise in significant incidents, including children being held, police being called to the home and staff being assaulted. The registered manager’s monitoring of these incidents identified that staff did not intervene quickly enough to keep children safe. He recognised this as an area of staff’s practice that required improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoke positively to the inspector about the support they receive from leaders and managers, and described themselves as working well together as a team. Staff said they receive regular formal supervision and that the training opportunities are good. Despite this, training records confirm that not all staff are up to date with basic and specialist training.

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This monitoring visit

Two social workers contributed to this monitoring visit. Both praised the registered manager and staff team on how well they communicate and share information about the quality of care and support children receive. Positive recognition was given to the progress one child has made, both emotionally and socially.

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This monitoring visit

The one child who remains living in the home told the inspector that, while he prefers living on his own, he would recommend this home to other children. He also likes the staff and enjoys spending time with them. Staff know the child well and told the inspector how proud they are of his progress and achievements. The home itself is well maintained, warm and welcoming.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has taken appropriate action to meet the recommendation raised at the last inspection. Allegation protocols are now reviewed regularly. Two requirements and one recommendation have been raised as a result of this monitoring visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/08/2019 Full Good 18/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/05/2018 Full Good 03/01/2018 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC059753 3

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

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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Statutory requirements

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Statutory requirements

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Statutory requirements

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Statutory requirements

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Statutory requirements

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Statutory requirements

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Statutory requirements

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Statutory requirements

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Statutory requirements

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; 5 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC059753 4 understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Statutory requirements

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Statutory requirements

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Statutory requirements

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(ix)(xi)(xii)(xiii))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, the provider should ensure that staff take appropriate action to intervene quickly and effectively with children to prevent incidents from escalating.

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Statutory requirements

The care planning standard is that children—

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Statutory requirements

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Statutory requirements

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Statutory requirements

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Statutory requirements

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Statutory requirements

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. 5 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC059753 5 (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, the provider should ensure that appropriate decisions are made about matching children, so that staff can safely meet all the children’s needs.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are up to date in basic mandatory and specialist training. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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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: Five Rivers Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Five Rivers Child Care, 47 Bedwin Street, Salisbury SP1 3UT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Newman

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Timothy-John Matthews

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC059753 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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