Children's Home run by Ivory Cottage Limited in Warwickshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586067 1

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Ivory Cottage Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in April 2020 and provides care for up to four children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is one of two children’s homes owned by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no permanent manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

On 23 and 24 September 2020, Ofsted completed an assurance visit. Concerns were raised during this visit relating to safeguarding children. A requirement was raised under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard).

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Information about this children’s home

On 21 December 2020, Ofsted completed a monitoring visit due to concerns received. It was found that little progress had been made to meet the previous shortfalls identified in respect of safeguarding children. As a result, a compliance notice was raised under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard).

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Information about this children’s home

On 26 January 2021, Ofsted completed a further monitoring visit. The visit concluded that insufficient progress had been made to meet the steps outlined in the compliance notice. As a result, a compliance notice was reissued under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard).

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor compliance with a notice reissued under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) on 26 January 2021. The compliance notice had been issued as staff were not safeguarding children at risk of exploitation effectively. Furthermore, risk assessments did not provide staff with clear guidance on how to respond to incidents of children going missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted completed a risk assessment and made the decision to carry out the visit at the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586067 2 There are two children living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments are now clear, specific and they identify strategies for staff to follow when managing children’s behaviour. Since the last visit, there has been an improvement in the recording of risk assessments, and they are now reviewed more regularly. As a result, staff were able to describe to the inspector the actions they take to safeguard children. Staff also ensure that children’s safety plans are personalised and have been completed with the children. These improvements mean that staff are more confident in applying strategies to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, there has been a reduction in the number of significant incidents. However, during one incident, staff have followed one child’s missing-from-home plans effectively. This meant that staff were able to quickly locate the child and ensure her safety. Furthermore, the management team has ensured that staff and the child were spoken to following the incident. This allows for reflection and learning to take place. In contrast, during the evaluation process, the management team has failed to accurately record all the findings. For example, the recording does not provide clarity as to whether staff used physical restraint to manage the child’s behaviour. The responsible individual provided further information to the inspector during the visit. However, she had failed to accurately record details of the conversations completed with staff during the debrief. This shortfall means

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This monitoring visit

that key information and evidence are missed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have continued to develop systems to improve communication between staff in the home. For example, the handover systems used by staff are more robust and key information relating to changes in children’s plans is recorded in the home’s communication book. Staff informed the inspector that they read and sign all changes to children’s plans at the beginning of every shift. During a supervision, one staff member has commented positively on these changes and how they have been able to assist with safeguarding children in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The management team uses supervisions with staff to ensure that they fully understand their roles and responsibilities when safeguarding children. In addition, they are also used to ensure that staff are kept up to date with children’s plans. Staff are now supported to contribute towards improving outcomes for children in the home. For example, one member of staff has used his initiative to develop a positive relationship with the father of one child’s boyfriend. This means that the child is able to spend time with her boyfriend safely.

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This monitoring visit

The management team ensures that steps are taken to address poor staff performance. For one staff member, there is a performance improvement plan in place and key learning areas and training have been identified. However, the plan is lacking detail and so it is unclear what specific support is provided to staff in order for them to meet their targets. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586067 3 Staff have now completed training which is specific to the needs of children. For example, all staff have completed child sexual exploitation and internet safety training. Staff were able to share their understanding and learning from these courses with the inspector. Furthermore, they gave examples of the key indicators and signs to look out for when working with children at risk of exploitation in the home. Consequently, this helps staff to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice in relation to regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) has been met. Statutory requirements issued at the last inspection on 26 January 2021 will be reviewed at the home’s next inspection and the date for these to be met has been extended.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586067 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, 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to shortfalls in communication with external professionals and delays in the home escalating concerns when not in agreement with care planning decisions for children. 19 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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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; 19 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586067 5 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to management oversight and monitoring of children’s records in the home.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to staff’s use of de-escalation techniques and the manager’s evaluation of the effectiveness of each intervention. 19 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586067 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ivory Cottage Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/O Sky Tax Accounting, 37th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Caroline Wigmore

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Inspector

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2586067 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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