Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC464809 1 SC464809

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ROC Northwest

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of a number of children’s homes operated by a private provider. The home is registered to care for five children who may have social, emotional or learning needs, or a disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager has been at the home since August 2019. She completed the formal registration process with Ofsted in May 2020.

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This monitoring visit

The home was last inspected in February 2020. At that time, the overall experiences and progress of children were judged to be good. This monitoring visit was undertaken due to concerns about a number of serious incidents in the home, particularly relating to one child and an investigation into an allegation against a member of staff.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit included a visit to the home to speak to children and a visit to the organisation’s head office to review documents and speak with managers. Some documents were also reviewed remotely.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors were able to review the organisation’s own investigation into the allegation, along with learning from this incident. The investigation found that lines of accountability and responsibility had become blurred when a staff member’s role in the home changed. A lack of management oversight failed to identify this. Senior managers acknowledge this shortfall and the need to ensure that clear lines of accountability and oversight are in place. A recommendation was made at the last full inspection regarding management monitoring. This is escalated to a requirement at this monitoring visit, due to a lack of effective monitoring by the manager.

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This monitoring visit

There have been some staff changes since the last inspection. However, Ofsted has not been kept abreast of staff changes in each statement of purpose sent to Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC464809 2 The organisation has also commissioned the service of other individuals, such as therapists, but the statement of purpose does not include details of their specific specialism or how they access professional supervision. This limits the effectiveness of this document.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk management plans do not always contain details of current risks and concerns. One child’s previous history of substance misuse was not clear and there were no identified strategies for staff to follow in order to safely manage the child if they were to return to the home under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The same child’s risk management plan had also not been updated following the discovery of cannabis in the home. Without up-to-date information and clear guidance, staff may respond inconsistently or be unsure what action to take, leaving children vulnerable.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments which help inform the decision to admit a child to the home lack important detail. This includes details of additional information gathered, or which professionals were spoken to. In one instance, when a child moved into the home in an emergency, the risk assessment failed to include the reason for this or identify strategies to manage any risks his move may pose to other children. Furthermore, these documents fall short of outlining strategies about how staff will manage risks which are also shared by other children, or detail the specific skills and training of staff to support the specific needs of the child being considered to move into the home.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home without her needs and risks being fully understood. This caused disruption to the children already living in the home and resulted in the child having to move on from the home after only a few weeks.

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This monitoring visit

Children currently living in the home are making good progress. They told inspectors that the home is a good place to live and that, for the majority of the time, they get on together reasonably well. One child confirmed that incidents of name calling, which he had been the target of in the past, had reduced. This is good progress, given that children have been spending more time together inside the home due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Staff have completed individual work with children, as well as together in a group, which has had a positive impact on their relationships.

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This monitoring visit

Changes have been made to the home since the last inspection, primarily to accommodate a downstairs bedroom for one child. Staff were alert to the child’s physical needs and have adapted the home to meet these. This shows their level of commitment to children. Staff have also introduced a pool room, following requests from children. There is a homely atmosphere, where decisions are made in line with children’s wishes.

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This monitoring visit

Some positive feedback was received from social workers. One commented, ‘Staff advocate well for my child, clearly care for him and want him to achieve his potential both now and in the future.’ Another social worker stated, ‘Staff work in a very Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC464809 3 positive, nurturing and empowering way.’ Social workers are positive regarding the important part that staff play in contributing to children’s progress.

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This monitoring visit

One requirement relating to staff supervision and appraisal is repeated from the last inspection, as this was not explored as part of this monitoring visit. Similarly, a number of recommendations are also repeated, as these issues have not been explored as part of this monitoring visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/02/2020 Full Good 11/12/2018 Full Good 07/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC464809 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, the 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 9 April 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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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)) 9 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 9 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 9 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC464809 5

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children are in full-time education whilst they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full- time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14)  Ensure that children have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)  Ensure that there are suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose

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Recommendations

of any medication. These are fundamentally the same sorts of arrangements as a good parent would make but are subject to additional safeguards. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  Ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should

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Recommendations

record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC464809 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspectors

Mandy Williams, Social Care Inspector Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC464809 7 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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