Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023745 1 SC023745

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Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company that operates several other children’s homes in the area. The company also provides education services to support children and, if necessary, can provide therapeutic services for children. The home’s statement of purpose says that the home provides a nurturing and safe environment for children with autistic spectrum disorder and/or severe to moderate learning difficulties or global learning delay, as well as mild to severe emotional, behavioural and communication difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 28 September 2016.

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This monitoring visit

This home had a full inspection on 20 May 2019 and was judged to be good. An interim inspection was carried out on 16 February 2020, and two recommendations were made at that time.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was undertaken to assess how specific incidents had been managed by the home and to establish whether there had been any breaches in regulations.

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This monitoring visit

In accordance with Ofsted guidance on COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions, this inspection was undertaken remotely.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors held telephone and video discussions with the responsible individual, registered manager and staff. Social workers and external professionals provided their views via email and telephone calls. Relevant documents were emailed to the inspectors for review. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023745 2 Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 and its potential influence on the service provided was also reviewed.

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This monitoring visit

The staff and registered manager have worked hard to maintain continuity and stability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their detailed knowledge of each young person’s vulnerabilities and needs has enabled them to reassure and keep them safe. Feedback from social workers and the young people is very positive about the high standard of care and careful and considered approach of the staff and registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are genuinely fond of the young people in their care, and there is a shared pride and joy in the young people’s successes and the often-impressive strides that they make in their development, for example enabling a young person to attend medical appointments, which at one time was thought improbable.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents are reflected on, and changes are made to strategies and guidance when necessary. This approach to service development means that the recommendation made at the interim inspection has been met. Additionally, the registered manager is quick to liaise with other agencies and specialists for advice and guidance. This ensures that each child’s well-being is checked and their welfare and progress scrutinised and promoted by staff.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager carries out internal reviews of practice in the home as required by regulations. These show that she is carefully considering the strengths and weaknesses of the service. She implements action plans to address any shortfalls. This process holds the young people’s experience and progress at the centre of practice.

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This monitoring visit

Visits by an independent person have taken place by telephone calls recently, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Contact with young people and external professionals has not been consistently achieved during these virtual visits, and therefore their views have not been considered. This is a missed opportunity to seek a wider picture of life for the young people and their experience of living in this home during this challenging time. A requirement is made for this shortfall to be addressed.

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This monitoring visit

The use of physical intervention is rare. This a credit to the skill and understanding that the staff have of the young people’s needs and behaviours. On one occasion, the registered manager was involved in a restraint, and there is no record of a review of this incident by an external manager. The use of the restraint was appropriate, and it only lasted for a short period. The young person had a lengthy debrief with an adult not involved soon after the incident. As such, the young person’s welfare was protected, but the lack of evidence of external oversight means that the incident was not evaluated in line with regulations. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023745 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/05/2019 Full Good 16/01/2019 Full Inadequate 03/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023745 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

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 the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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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 name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 31 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023745 5 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that an appointed person checks records and practice involved in a restraint if the registered manager is involved. The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the views of children and external professionals are sought and recorded consistently. 31 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023745 6

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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: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited, 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Inspectors

Paul Taylor, Social Care Inspector Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC023745 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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