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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378187 1 SC378187

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Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of four homes owned by an independent provider. The home cares for up to two children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a registered manager who holds a Level 5 diploma in leadership for health and social care. He manages both this home and a neighbouring home within the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 8 January 2021 in response to a serious event that occurred at this home. The incident involved children living at both this and a neighbouring children’s home. Shortfalls in how staff safeguard children when they are at risk of physical, sexual or emotional harm were identified, and a compliance notice was issued.

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This monitoring visit

Since the first monitoring visit, one child has moved from this home.

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This monitoring visit

A second monitoring visit took place on 28 January 2021, following further serious events that involved the child living at this home. The inspector found that staff had made initial improvements to keep the child safe in this home. However, staff had not engaged successfully with the child to reduce his risks in the community.

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This monitoring visit

This third monitoring visit considered how the registered manager has implemented practice to improve how staff care for and safeguard children. The inspector found that the compliance notice has now been met.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector conducted the monitoring visit remotely in line with national COVID-19 (coronavirus) guidance to reduce the risk of virus transmission. The child did not want to speak with the inspector. However, his social worker had recently visited and was able to represent his views. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378187 2 Since the last monitoring visit, staff have cared for the child living in this home more effectively. Staff have been proactive in diverting potential opportunities for children from this and the neighbouring home to go out together into the community. As a result, staff have reduced the risk of COVID-19 transmission and of children going missing together directly from the home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has improved how he identifies and assesses risk for the child. The registered manager updates the risk assessments, but has not been specific enough in recording some details. The registered manager identifies the link between the child’s missing episodes and the influences of his peers. However, the registered manager has not recorded that a significant peer has moved to a new area. Although, following a missing episode, staff have collected the child from the new area, this information is not available as a reference point for staff working in this home.

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This monitoring visit

Despite this shortfall, staff are aware of the specific areas of risk for the child. The registered manager has provided clearer guidance on staff actions to safeguard the child. As a result, staff are more proactive when this child goes missing. They are persistent in their messages to the child while maintaining phone contact. Staff have stayed in the area the child has gone missing from and anticipated his actions. The child’s social worker acknowledges that the improved responses by staff have resulted in the child returning home more quickly and a reduction in his level of risk.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have developed supportive and effective relationships with the child’s family. On one occasion, staff facilitated a visit to the child’s father while travelling home from a missing episode. The child was upset, and his father was able to calm and reassure him. The staff member successfully acted to reduce distress and encourage a successful return of the child to the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have sought specialist advice when they have been concerned about the child’s distress and potential to self-harm. The child’s social worker states that staff effectively safeguard the child by undertaking night monitoring if they are concerned about his emotional well-being. Staff have provided the child with a self-harm self- sooth box. This has helped to provide positive distractions for the child to reduce his level of risk. A staff member told the inspector that this child’s self-harming behaviour is private and different to how she has previously experienced it in children. The registered manager is exploring further training to enhance the skill levels of staff caring for children who self-harm.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has introduced new formats for risk assessments and daily handovers. He has facilitated reflective practice within a team meeting. Staff know children’s risks and how to keep them safe by, for example, discretely placing first- aid items in the child’s bedroom. Staff describe an improved atmosphere and communication within the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378187 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/11/2019 Full Good 02/10/2018 Full Good 07/12/2017 Full Good 22/08/2017 Full Inadequate

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)) 28 February 2021

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 28 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378187 4 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1)(b)(c)) 28 February 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)) 28 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 28 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378187 5 a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated; or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(d)(i)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support staff to be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and clearly recording all new information within a risk assessment. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support staff to have the relevant skills and knowledge to respond to the specific needs arising from a child who self- harms. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.12)

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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: Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leonard Pattinson

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Inspector

Joanna Warburton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378187 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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