Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367802 1 SC367802

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North East Lincolnshire Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to two children whose care plan is to live in a medium- to long-term residential setting.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2018. However, he has been away from the home since November 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At this time, an interim manager is in day-to-day charge of the home. The interim manager registered with Ofsted in February 2021.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted has paused assurance visits at this time as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This monitoring visit was carried out in response to increasing concerns received by Ofsted in relation to the management of safeguarding incidents. The focus of this visit was to review significant incidents which relate specifically to allegations of harm. This monitoring visit combined on- and off-site inspection activities, including the review of documents and discussions with children and staff.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted last inspected this home on 15 April 2019 when it completed a full inspection. One recommendation was made at that time. This was in relation to staff supporting children to raise any concerns that they may have. This recommendation has been met; however, this monitoring visit identified further shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding procedures were not routinely followed by the registered manager. He responded to significant safeguarding incidents in isolation with an absence of multi- agency working. This means that when safeguarding incidents occurred, the children did not have the opportunity to independently discuss their safety with relevant professionals. Under the leadership of the interim registered manager, children’s Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367802 2 safety plans have been remodelled. These now promote children’s welfare. One child commented that these plans ‘help me to feel safe as the staff are always around’.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to the appointment of the interim registered manager, the registered manager failed to inform Ofsted of significant safeguarding incidents, in particular disclosures relating to staff. As a result, the regulator was unable to review if appropriate action was taken by the provider to maintain the safety and welfare of children.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s risk assessments highlight the pertinent risks for each child. They are tools to enable the staff to respond to risk and to help the children to learn how to keep themselves safe. However, there is no clear record within the children’s risk assessments that their movement around the home may be restricted. For example, areas of the home are ‘locked off’ by the staff during incidents. This measure needs to be clearly recorded to ensure that this practice is evaluated and reviewed, and only used to immediately safeguard a child’s welfare.

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This monitoring visit

Although the children do not go missing from the home, they do on occasion leave without the agreement of staff. The staff use a range of positive strategies to support the children to return to the home. These personalised procedures are not recorded within any of the children’s plans. This may lead to inconsistent practice.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has not submitted any amendments to the home’s statement of purpose since March 2019. The registered manager has also not completed, or previously submitted on time, a six-monthly review which evaluates the quality of care provided for the children. Since March 2020, there have also been significant gaps in the completion and quality of external monitoring of the home by the independent visitor. Together, these failings impact on Ofsted’s ability to review the quality of care, safety and stability for the children. The interim registered manager and the responsible individual are committed to addressing these shortfalls.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/04/2019 Full Outstanding 17/07/2018 Full Outstanding 09/05/2017 Full Good 03/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367802 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 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 (3)(a)(b)) 19 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b)) This is with particular reference to the consistent implementation of these policies. 19 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(C)) 19 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) 19 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. (Regulation 45 (1)) 19 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367802 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission and how staff should support the child on return to the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  The registered person should ensure that children are able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home, and any modifications to the environment of the home, must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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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: North East Lincolnshire Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Offices, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire DN35 8LN

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Children’s home details

Registered managers: David Drury and Tracy Jefferson (interim)

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Inspector

Jennifer Fenlon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367802 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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