Children's Home run by Potton Homes Limited in Thurrock

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1226757 1

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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 three children, aged eight to 17, who have a diagnosed learning disability.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2019.

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This monitoring visit

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

Since April 2020, three children have lived at the home. The children are settled and all attend school. Children benefit from individual routines in accordance with their needs.

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This monitoring visit

The house provides the children with communal living space and personalised bedrooms and has a small rear garden. The garden is not well kept; the general upkeep has been overlooked by the manager. Consequently, the children do not benefit from a pleasant outdoor space. This is particularly notable when local facilities are closed because of COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

The children benefit from a consistent staff team. Any vacancies are recruited to without delay. However, the recruitment checks are not thorough enough. References that identify previous concerns are not properly explored. Risk assessments for some staff are not objective and fail to address the specific risk. This does not provide good enough assurance about staff’s suitability to work at the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1226757 2 The manager does not use agency staff. Due to COVID-19 infection, the registered manager and staff have covered any gaps in the rota. This avoids the need to have additional people coming into the home and reduces the risks of transmission. The consistent use of core staff helps children to build relationships and trust with the staff.

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This monitoring visit

The staff training programme has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent behaviour management training was cancelled. This means that refresher training for some staff is overdue.

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This monitoring visit

Supervision is provided regularly by senior staff. However, one supervisor failed to pick up concerns raised by a new member of staff during a supervision meeting. This could result in safeguarding concerns not being explored.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/09/2019 Full Good 15/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/06/2018 Full Good 15/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1226757 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 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

This specifically relates to the monitoring and maintenance of the rear garden. 5 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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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, 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. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(b) (3)(d)) 20 February 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1226757 4 This specifically relates to the provider undertaking comprehensive recruitment checks and risk assessments for staff.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that supervision of staff safeguards the children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular, the supervisor should pick up and follow through any issues of concern. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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, 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.

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Potton Homes Limited

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Children's home details

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

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Inspectors

Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Clive Lucas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1226757 5 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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