Children's home run by Wolverhampton City Council

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 1

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Wolverhampton City 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 managed by a local authority. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children with complex needs. There are currently three children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been appointed permanently but has not yet submitted her application for registration; she is currently absent from work.

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This monitoring visit

On 2 and 3 February 2021, Ofsted completed a remote monitoring visit to the home. This visit was carried out due to escalating concerns that were raised in the notifications sent to Ofsted. Following this visit, compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) were issued.

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This monitoring visit

On 11 and 12 March 2021, Ofsted completed a further monitoring visit to the home. Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this visit was completed remotely. The inspector considered a sample of documents provided by email; conducted an interview with the senior residential manager for the provider, who currently has oversight of the home: spoke with members of staff and children; and gained feedback from a senior manager in the placing local authority. While some small steps have been taken towards improvement, the inspector found continued shortfalls in relation to safeguarding and the leadership and management of the home. This is impacting on the safety and welfare of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on staffing. Two out of three shift leaders are shielding at home and leading shifts remotely. This has been ineffective and has left staff to make decisions without guidance from more experienced senior staff. There are a high number of non-permanent staff Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 2 working in the home who do not know the children well. Unfortunately, the manager of the home has also been unavoidably absent for a significant time during this monitoring period. Furthermore, there have been occasions when staff who are in their probation period and/or who have not completed mandatory training have led shifts. Managers were not aware of this until the inspector noted inaccuracies in the staff rota. The inconsistency of staffing has unsettled children and resulted in their needs not being well met.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not ensured that risk assessments provide sufficient guidance to enable staff to help keep children safe and identify all risk-taking behaviours. The risk management plan for a child who had informed staff that she had taken an overdose does not include sufficient detail to guide staff about the warning signs and actions to take to protect her. Furthermore, managers stated that they were unable to manage the risks relating to the child leaving the home other than by ‘not letting her out’. This demonstrates a lack of professional curiosity and insight into how managers and staff fulfil their responsibilities in keeping children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not ensured that staff understand risk assessments. Records do not demonstrate that staff have read and understood these essential documents. The senior residential manager informed the inspector that staff working with children were observed, to provide assurance that staff were working to guidance. However, there were no records of this happening and, due to the levels of absence of senior staff in the home, this is not a credible quality assurance mechanism. Given the high number of non-permanent staff working in the home, it is particularly concerning that managers have not sought more assurance about the staff’s understanding of risk assessments and guidance. The lack of management assurance about the staff’s understanding of risk assessments and guidance is particularly concerning given the high number of non-permanent staff working in the home. As a result of these shortfalls, safeguarding practice is compromised, and children are not effectively

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to address the shortfalls in the safe administration and recording of medication. Medication records demonstrate that medication is not given to children as prescribed. Furthermore, the staff’s competence in the safe recording and administration of medication has not been assessed following incidents where medication has been missed. Consequently, children’s health needs are not safely met.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not ensured that there is always a qualified first aider working in the home. Bearing in mind the difficulties children face and how these present, such as in self-harming behaviour, this shortage of qualified first aiders is particularly concerning and further compromises the children’s safety and well- being.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have now completed some training relating to the specific needs of the children in their care. However, staff have not completed basic mandatory training, such as Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 3 training in safeguarding, first aid and food hygiene. Managers are aware of this and have not acted to address the multitude of shortfalls in basic staff training. As a result, children are supported by staff who are not sufficiently trained to meet their basic needs.

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This monitoring visit

There are ongoing issues relating to poor quality of recording at the home. For example, a new incident record has been implemented to help guide staff in their recording of incidents. However, records continue to include errors and value-laden statements. Managers have failed to identify these shortfalls. Consequently, there is an absence of challenge to staff to improve the quality of recording.

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This monitoring visit

In addition to the concern about the quality of recording, during the monitoring visit, multiple documents were edited and resent to the inspector by managers. This does not provide Ofsted with confidence that managers have readily available, up-to-date information about staff or children. This hinders managers’ ability to understand and make the required improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have failed to ensure that all staff receive regular professional supervision. Many staff have not received supervision since the start of the year. Therefore, staff have not had the opportunity to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children in their care. Supervision records lack sufficient detail about practice concerns and the actions that staff must take. For example, when staff have not administered medication as required, records indicate that they are given ‘a gentle reminder’. This downplays the importance of administering children’s medication as prescribed and fails to demonstrate that managers are taking appropriate action to address serious shortfalls in staff practice. Consequently, staff are not driven to improve, and practice continues to not meet the standard that children deserve.

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This monitoring visit

Managers’ monitoring of the home is insufficient. For example, daily monitoring by shift leaders has not been completed on several occasions and managers have failed to take decisive and timely action to address this. Additionally, the six-monthly quality of care review does not drive improvements in the quality of care. It does not take into account trends identified in the daily monitoring, nor are the views of children, parents, professionals and staff clearly considered. This means that there have been missed opportunities to analyse and evaluate the care provided for children. As a result of this, managers have not been able to identify and address shortfalls in staff practice. This has contributed to children experiencing an inconsistent quality of care.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have made improvements in records relating to physical interventions. These are now clearer and contain all of the necessary information. Children are also well consulted about their plans and this is fully recorded in essential documents. This shows children that staff see their views and opinions as valid and valued.

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This monitoring visit

Despite the considerable challenges with staffing, managers have worked hard to include night staff in developments within the team. Managers have provided Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 4 workshops to help night staff with their understanding of children, and night staff have also attended specific training so they can work more effectively. As a result of this, night staff now feel more included in the team and appreciate the efforts managers have made.

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This monitoring visit

Children have been supported by staff to consider their impact on the environment and have completed some excellent work to identify where they can make changes to address this. For example, children have requested specific recycling bins and a water purifier to encourage them not to buy single-use plastic bottles. Children’s requests have been acted on swiftly by managers. This shows children that staff and managers will help them to achieve their goals in areas that matter to them.

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This monitoring visit

The outcome of this visit was that two compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) have been re-issued.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 18 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(c)(h)) 18 April 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— 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 6 that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3)(a)(b)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (1) (2)(a)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 7 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”).

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (3)(b)(d) (4)(a) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, there should be clarity about decisions to allow staff who have not completed mandatory, core training to lead shifts. 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must receive regular supervision which supports and challenges their development and holds them to account for their practice. 18 April 2021

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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 records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (2)(d)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 8 Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers will ensure that staff rotas accurately reflect the staff who are working in the home and include other information necessary for managers to assure themselves about the staff working being appropriately trained. 18 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.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year, taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 9 *These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should seek to develop the physical environment of the home so that there is a homely rather than an ‘institutional’ environment. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff supervision: is used to reflect on and challenge the staff’s views of their practice; includes clear actions and targets; and is fully recorded. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand when they are to complete records, and that they are able to complete these clearly and professionally. (‘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: Wolverhampton City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, St Peter’s Square, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 1SH

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Inspector

Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2496288 10 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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