Children's home run by Potton Homes Limited in Greenwich

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393940 1 SC393940

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Potton Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides residential care for up to five children aged from eight to 17 with a diagnosed learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as good at the last full inspection on 15 October 2019. The home has been subject to two monitoring visits since that inspection. The first monitoring visit on 11 November 2020 resulted in Ofsted serving two compliance notices. Ofsted monitored the notices on 15 and 16 December 2020. The inspector found that the provider had met the steps that were set out in both compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to establish whether there is effective leadership and managerial monitoring of practice and recruitment, following concerns being raised to Ofsted. The visit comprised of a blended approach of on-site and off-site activity. No serious concerns about children’s care or welfare were identified. However, there are some regulatory shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

Four children were living at the home at the time of the visit. The staff have adapted their shift pattern to work at the home for consecutive periods of time. This is to reduce the frequency of people entering the home to help manage the transmission of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and managers said that they are using social media groups to communicate with each other about the home and the children. This includes sharing photographs and videos of children. The staff said that this has helped to improve communication between the teams when working the new shift pattern. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393940 2 The manager has obtained consent from children and their parents to use photographs of children on the home’s email and social media chat group. However, although the home has a policy on the use of the social media groups, this does not relate to a care setting and does not consider the confidentiality or privacy of the children. The policy does not make clear who is responsible for monitoring the content of the chats or expectations of staff conduct on the forum.

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This monitoring visit

Staff recruitment files do not easily evidence that all checks are completed before an applicant starts working at the home. The home rarely uses agency staff. However, when agency staff are used, the manager does not routinely confirm that gaps in employment have been satisfactorily explored by the agency. This does not provide the manager with the information that he needs to assess the suitability of these staff before they work at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are positive about working at the home and the support that they provide to each other to offer consistent care to the children. Staff are familiar with the process for escalating any concerns to relevant agencies outside of the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

The previous requirements were not reviewed during this monitoring visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/10/2019 Full Good 21/01/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 09/05/2018 Full Good 04/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393940 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 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

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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, update children’s risk assessments to include the triggers that lead to difficult behaviours. 1 March 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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the content of any online forums for staff are monitored and adhere to the home’s policies on privacy, confidentiality and staff conduct. 15 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393940 4 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all checks are in place for all staff before they commence working at the home. 15 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 1 March 2021

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of the visit was to establish whether there is effective leadership and managerial monitoring of practice and recruitment processes, following concerns being raised to Ofsted.

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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: SC393940 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Potton Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Potton Homes, 1 Cresswell Park, Blackheath, London SE3 9RD

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Inspector

Paula Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC393940 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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