Children's Home run by Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2503915 1

p.1

Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is one of four homes owned by an independent provider. The home registered in June 2019 and provides care for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager holds a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit took place in response to an increase in serious incidents involving children living at the home. The incidents occurred after a significant period of stability for two children living in the home following the last inspection in February 2020. A third child has recently moved in and dynamics have changed.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The visit considered progress made by the children living in the home and how staff provide care to reduce risks and keep children safe. The inspector conducted the visit remotely in line with national COVID-19 (coronavirus) guidance to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has notified Ofsted of all serious incidents. He has also alerted Ofsted to an emerging pattern of risk-taking behaviour when some of the children are away from home. This oversight helps Ofsted to understand risks for children and how staff respond to keep children safe.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children have good relationships with staff who they trust. This enables staff to maintain telephone and face-to-face contact with children when they are away from home. Staff are proactive in searching for children if they do not return home when expected. The registered manager reports any concerning information about children’s behaviour when missing to the police and social workers. This has Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2503915 2 highlighted that children are at risk of exploitation, and agencies are now working together to keep children safe.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have not safeguarded children effectively during the night as they have been asleep and unaware of children’s movements as their bedroom doors do not have alarms. As a result, staff have not been aware of incidents which have occurred in the home at night. On one occasion, a child left the house during the night without staff being aware as they did not hear the front door alarm. This delayed the staff and police searching for the child and securing his return home. On another occasion, two children jumped out on a child and threw a glass of water over him during the night.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have not always been able to prevent children from physically and emotionally harming each other during incidents. Two children have had verbal and physical altercations. On one occasion, a child produced a penknife and threatened another child. At times, staff have managed the altercations to reduce risk. However, this has not prevented children from harming each other.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have been creative in engaging children during the COVID-19 pandemic to help occupy them and encourage them to stay at home. Children play football and have darts matches with staff. Staff maintain routines and boundaries for children. Staff protect dinner time, which promotes children and staff spending positive time together. Children enjoy this opportunity to cook and talk with staff.

p.2

This monitoring visit

One child has continued to attend school during the COVID-19 lockdowns. His social worker is pleased with his progress both in school and in the home, where he says he feels happy and secure.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff are preparing their first child, placed in 2019, to move on from the home to semi-independence. He has spent time in the placing authority’s training flat. Staff have maintained regular contact, which has encouraged him to successfully complete the training. Staff are proud of this child’s achievements.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff develop effective working relationships with children’s families. This has supported one child to successfully stay with his mother during the first COVID-19 lockdown. The registered manager makes appropriate referrals to agencies to safeguard children. This ensures that specialist workers engage with children so they learn how to stay safe online and develop appropriate peer relationships. Social workers report that staff maintain regular contact and inform them promptly about incidents. However, one social worker has experienced two episodes where communication between staff has not been effective, which has delayed care planning meetings for a child.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has good oversight of the home. He provides detailed risk assessments and monitors children’s progress. This guides staff to ensure that their care promotes children’s safety and well-being. The registered manager has met all requirements made at this home’s first inspection. He has acted promptly in Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2503915 3 response to the inspection findings and on the day of the visit, sought to ensure improved systems to safeguard children at night.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2503915 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)) 19 March 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)) 19 March 2021

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff communicate with each other and with each child’s placing authority in a timely way to promote effective day-to-day care planning. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2503915 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Apex, 2 Sheriffs Orchard, Coventry, Warwickshire CV1 3PP

p.5

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leonard Pattinson

p.5

Inspector

Joanna Warburton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2503915 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6