Children's home run by J & R Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591854 1

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J&R Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and/behavioural difficulties. It is owned and run by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was undertaken as the home has not been inspected since it was registered in August 2020. In accordance with Ofsted guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions, this inspection was undertaken with one inspector in the home for a short period to view the quality of the environment, to meet the children and speak to staff. The remainder of the inspection was conducted remotely. The remote inspector held telephone discussions with the responsible individual, registered manager, deputy manager and a social worker. The police also provided their views via email. Relevant documents were emailed to the inspector, and these were considered.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s safeguarding policy and policy in relation to children going missing from care do not contain the necessary information to meet regulation. These and other policies viewed contain some institutional and negative language. This is in conflict with the child-centred approaches also detailed in the policies. In practice, the inspector observed positive relationships between staff and children, and child- centred language is used in the majority of incident reports and records in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding notifications sent to Ofsted identified concerns regarding the frequency of police attending the home in response to children’s behaviour. Leaders and managers acknowledge that there have been occasions when involving the police Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591854 2 was not necessary and that staff have done so without consulting with managers. The threshold at which the police should be called to the home is not consistently in line with the ethos of the registered manager or wider management team. This situation is being addressed by the registered manager through staff supervision. The policies are not clear on the use of the police for supporting children who are expressing their emotions through behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s behaviour support plans include several strategies for how to de-escalate and divert the child when they are becoming upset or frustrated. Staff were able to share some of these, although they were not completely familiar with all aspects of the plan. Some staff demonstrate greater skills and knowledge than others, as to how best to diffuse or redirect children if they are becoming upset. Leaders are aware of this and are working with the team to develop a shared ethos and approach to behaviour management.

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This monitoring visit

A social worker commented that there is good communication with staff in the home and reported that they are confident that staff use only physical interventions when absolutely necessary. She also commented on how well the staff team keeps the child’s parents involved and engaged in their care.

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This monitoring visit

Children have been missing from the home on occasion. Staff work well with local police to find out where children are going. They take action to reduce the risks associated with children being missing from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are reflective of the challenges that they have experienced in starting up a new home during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. This has led to some delays in appointing a suitably experienced, full staff team. In order to reduce the impact of lockdown on the activities available to children, staff have continued to engage children in physical activities in the home and grounds and in public spaces when they are able to do so. This includes a football coach coming to the home, which the children clearly love. Children have been engaging in education, despite some spending significant periods of time out of school prior to their placement in the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

This is the home’s first inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591854 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 procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the missing child policy’) setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission. (Regulation 34 (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)) 26 March 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Further, they should ensure staff understand and use the positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)  The registered person must ensure that staff build constructive, warm relationships with children that actively promote positive behaviour, that provides the foundations for managing any negative behaviour. Staff should have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. Where necessary they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591854 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure there are procedures and guidance on police involvement with the home to reduce unnecessary police involvement in managing behaviour and criminalisation of behaviours. They must further ensure that children are not charged with offences resulting from behaviour that would not similarly lead to police involvement if it occurred in a family home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591854 5

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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 address: J&R Care, Ash House South, Longfield, Kent DA3 8JF

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Inspectors

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Anna Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2591854 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: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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