Children's Home run by Gracewells Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2577168 1

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Gracewells Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that provides care for up to three children and young people with emotional needs and challenging behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered on 4 May 2020 and has not previously had an inspection. There is a registered manager in post.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a visit to the home on the 15 December 2020. As a result of this visit, it was Ofsted’s view that the home’s day-to-day care was poorly arranged and was not being delivered so as to keep each child safe and failed to protect each child effectively from harm. This had resulted in serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice and procedure, compromising children’s safety and protection in the home. A compliance notice was issued under regulation 12.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the home and the registered manager on the action and progress made since the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Two children remain living at the home. A third child has moved to another placement that was in a better position to meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

The number of incidents at the home and incidents of children going missing from the home have reduced. Multi-agency strategy meetings continue to monitor the safety of one child in placement. Although a semi-independent placement has been identified for this child, staff are continuing to support him with ongoing family contact and discussing criminal exploitation and his substance misuse. He continues to not be engaged in education or training.

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This monitoring visit

One child has recently enrolled in a new mainstream school and is attending daily. Children’s risk assessments are detailed and are regularly updated. Any disruptive Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2577168 2 behaviour is challenged quickly and learning used to reflect on and understand what the child’s needs are and the best way to approach the child to help them to improve their behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

The home no longer uses agency workers and new staff have been employed to form a pool of staff that the home can call upon should it find itself with staff shortages. The recruitment of these staff is poor. Issues around references, background checks and gaps in employment, along with poor interview notes resulted in the registered manager not following the organisation’s recruitment procedures to ensure children’s safety. None of the staff had commenced a shift in the home and were still in a period of induction. A requirement has been made to address the shortfalls in recruitment.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case discussion, it was agreed that the notice had been met. However, a requirement has been made to address the recruitment and vetting of staff. This will be monitored at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2577168 3

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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. (Regulation 32(1)) 01/03/2021

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Gracewells International Ltd, Unit 1, Calder Court, Shorebury Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool FY4 2RH

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Inspector

Elaine Clare, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2577168 4 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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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: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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