Children's Home run by Indigo Children’s Care Homes Limited in Southend on Sea

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2596906 1

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Indigo Children’s Care Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care for up to four children with social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned on 11 January 2021.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 29 January 2021. The visit identified serious concerns about children’s safety. Following the visit, a notice of suspension of the home’s registration was served. In addition, compliance notices were served in respect of the protection of children and the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting the steps that were set out in the compliance notices and to determine whether the provider had made sufficient improvements to enable Ofsted to lift the suspension of registration. At the time of the visit, no children were living at the home. The visit was undertaken remotely.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, the interim manager and senior management team have met the steps set out in the compliance notices. Ofsted has lifted the suspension of the registration.

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This monitoring visit

Four regulatory requirements that were set at the last visit remain unmet. The deadline for these requirements has not yet passed and progress could not be measured, due to the suspension of the home’s registration. The progress in meeting these will, therefore, be monitored at the next inspection. These requirements were in relation to children’s education, health and care plans and notifications of serious events. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2596906 2 Managers have updated behaviour and care management plans and there is now a clear protocol in place for staff to follow if a child goes missing from the home. Discussions during the visit with the interim manager and the staff demonstrated that the staff are clear about the risks associated with child exploitation in all its forms, gang affiliation and how to minimise risk and keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager and the staff have received a good level of training. The training has included advanced-level safeguarding children, lifting lockdown in children’s homes and the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on children. The staff also received face-to-face training from the police in understanding child exploitation and county lines. Consequently, the staff have a better understanding of these issues and how to manage them.

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This monitoring visit

Two further shortfalls have been identified at this visit. Managers have updated records in respect of sanctions and rewards. However, the proposed sanctions and rewards are not proportionate to the linked behaviour. The suggested rewards could lead to potential confrontation. Neither the sanctions or rewards are likely to help children to understand and manage their behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

The procedures for the safer recruitment of new staff are not adequate. All necessary checks for staff have not been fully completed or reflected in the records retained at the home. Gaps in employment have not been discussed with the individual concerned, not all references for previous employment with children have been verified and there is a discrepancy in the addresses on documents relating to one member of staff, and a risk assessment has not been undertaken in relation to family members who may work together. This does not demonstrate a clear understanding of safeguarding.

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2596906 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iv)(x)) 20 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 20 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of 20 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2596906 4 that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)(e)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 20 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)) 20 March 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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to 20 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2596906 5 a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); 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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Information about this inspection

This visit was undertaken to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting the steps that were set out in the compliance notices and to determine whether the provider had made sufficient improvements to enable Ofsted to lift the suspension of registration.

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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: Indigo Children’s Care Homes Limited

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Inspectors

Cathy Russell, Social Care Inspector Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2596906 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

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

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