Children's Home run by Isle of Wight Council in Isle of Wight

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC395944 1 SC395944

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Isle of Wight Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 10 children who have learning disabilities. It provides both short breaks and long-stay placements. The manager was registered with Ofsted on 1 September 2017.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was undertaken to assess the quality of care and running of the home during the extended lockdown periods. In accordance with Ofsted guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions, this inspection was undertaken remotely. Inspectors held telephone discussions with the registered manager, deputy managers and staff. Social workers and parents provided their views via telephone and email. Relevant documents were emailed to the inspectors and these were considered. Inspectors also had a virtual tour of the building.

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This monitoring visit

This home and short-breaks service was last inspected on 30 October 2019. That was a full inspection and the home was judged as good overall, with the effectiveness of leaders and managers judged as requires improvement to be good. Two requirements were made in relation to the timeliness of maintenance work, and completing staff debriefs when they have been involved in an incident of concern with a child. These were deemed to be met at this inspection. However, it was noted that the installation of a new bath has not been completed to an acceptable standard. Therefore, a new recommendation has been made about the quality and finish of maintenance.

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This monitoring visit

The quality and focus of reports by the independent visitor have deteriorated over the COVID-19 pandemic period. They have unduly focused on incident reports, containing detail, but little evaluation of the impact of incidents and responses. In addition, some of the findings of the independent visitor were not evidenced, for Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC395944 2 example that complaints are not being responded to in a timely manner. This was not found to be the case. The registered manager and responsible individual review the reports, and have also noted a decline in quality, which is attributed to the virtual nature of monitoring during the lockdown periods. A new independent visitor has taken over the role from January 2021. As with the last visitor, they too are a registered manager from a neighbouring local authority. The neighbouring authority provides oversight and support to this local authority children’s service. While the

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This monitoring visit

registered manager does not deem this a conflict of interest, this should remain under review to ensure that the reports remain impartial and provide robust scrutiny of the quality of care being provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

The short-breaks service has continued to provide a reduced service throughout the lockdown period. Children continue to be offered a wide variety of activities. At times, this has been difficult to maintain during COVID-19 restrictions. Staff have shown creativity to ensure that children still have enjoyable breaks. A scrapbook containing photographs shows children engaging in varied activities in the home and community.

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This monitoring visit

The home no longer has a registered nurse on site. The change in children’s needs has resulted in fewer having medical conditions that would require on-site nursing staff. The links with the community nursing team and the local hospital children’s ward mean that there is no break in continuity of care or support for children. Staff have been trained in delegated health tasks as appropriate. This means that the children’s health needs are not adversely affected by the registered nurse no longer being on site.

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This monitoring visit

Incident reports indicate that there is appropriate oversight by leaders and managers. Detailed debriefs with staff post incident are recorded and any learning outcomes are identified. There are clear expectations from the management team that reports should be completed in a timely manner, and action is taken if staff continue to fail to produce reports within the 24-hour period as per regulation. The management team expects all staff involved or witnessing an incident to contribute to the report to ensure that records of incidents are accurate. The manager acknowledged that there has been some delay in staff being suitably trained in behaviour support due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is proactive in seeking training at the earliest opportunity. The manager assured inspectors that there are a suitable number of staff qualified in the physical intervention aspect of the prescribed behaviour support approach.

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This monitoring visit

Child protection and safeguarding have been managed effectively. Leaders have taken appropriate steps to investigate, report and follow up any concerns. They work with external agencies effectively to manage safeguarding concerns. Both parents and social workers are positive about the home and short-breaks service, identifying an improvement in communication since the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC395944 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/10/2019 Full Good 14/11/2018 Full Good 15/08/2017 Full Good 09/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC395944 4

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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 independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

If the independent person becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest (whether under regulation 43(3) or otherwise) after a visit to the home, the independent person must include in the independent person’s report—

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Requirement Due date

details of the conflict of interest; and the reasons why the independent person did not notify the registered provider of the conflict of interest before the visit. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b) (5) (6)(a)(b)) 12 March 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the installation of equipment, such as the bath, is finished to a good standard. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC395944 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Isle of Wight Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1UD

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Inspectors

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Mrs Skye Frain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC395944 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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