Children's home run by SWAAY Child & Adolescent Services Ltd in Sutton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431807 1 SC431807

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SWAAY Child and Adolescent Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides accommodation and specialist care for adolescent males with histories of trauma, disrupted attachments and harmful sexual behaviour. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children. The organisation has its own separately registered school and therapeutic team.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2018.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place due to the length of time since the previous inspection and information received by Ofsted relating to the condition of the property. The home was last visited on 15 May 2019, when a full inspection was carried out.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken over two days. Day 1 was undertaken remotely by one inspector, in line with COVID-19 (coronavirus) risk management strategies. Day 2 was undertaken on site by two inspectors, due to serious concerns that had been identified during day 1. During this visit, the inspectors spoke with staff, two children and two social workers.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was compromised by the resistance of the registered manager and the organisation’s head of care to supply the inspectors with requested information. Consequently, the inspectors were unable to determine if the children were being suitably and safely cared for.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors attempted to case track one particular child from the four children currently living in the home. This was due to Ofsted’s recent receipt of notifications from the provider, which detailed serious safeguarding incidents in respect of this child. Despite the registered manager’s refusal to supply requested documents, the inspectors found the following serious gaps and omissions: Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431807 2  the staff team’s failure to adequately supervise this child has provided opportunities for the child to engage in dangerous and criminal behaviours  in spite of the three recent serious safeguarding incidents, this child’s care plan has not been updated. The last update of the care plan preceded these incidents  the child’s risk assessments and risk management plans do not provide staff with clear strategies on what they should do to keep the child safe

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This monitoring visit

 despite an attempt by the child to self-harm through the use of ligatures, the child’s bedroom was observed to have a number of potential ligature points. Inspectors were not provided with evidence that showed that sufficient action has been taken to reduce these risks  inspectors were not provided with evidence to demonstrate that the required 15-minute observations by staff were taking place to monitor this child  investigations into serious or safeguarding incidents have not always been undertaken or investigated to an acceptable standard  the provider’s strategies have not been effective in supporting this child to address their behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

From the evidence seen, the inspectors were not convinced that the provider’s risk management guidance is either well informed or implemented in practice to minimise the risks and protect this child from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to oversee and manage the home effectively to ensure that it operates in line with its statement of purpose. From the limited evidence shared by the registered manager and the head of care, the inspectors determined that:

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This monitoring visit

 leaders and managers have failed to ensure that the physical environment is maintained to an acceptable standard. The home is unkempt and is not cleaned adequately by staff. Kitchen equipment is unhygienic. The utility room has clear signs of mould and limescale on the walls. One child’s bedroom is unhygienic and is furnished with broken furniture, including the child’s bed  the registered manager has failed to support one child to develop their independence according to the home’s set procedures. This has left the child feeling undervalued with regards to the effort he has made to meet the requirements of his placement in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not taken effective and timely steps to address the requirements set at the previous full inspection. They have not been effective in prioritising, challenging and making improvements to the home. The registered manager has failed to identify and address weaknesses in practice and demonstrate her capacity to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431807 3 Ofsted has serious concerns about the provider’s reluctance to share information with the regulator. Ofsted has issued a compliance notice in respect of the immediate safeguarding concerns for one child. Ofsted will consider its next steps in relation to concerns about the provider’s wider practice and unwillingness to work with the regulator.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/05/2019 Full Good 19/12/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431807 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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(vi)(ix)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that children are appropriately supported towards independence, and that the premises are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 28 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431807 5 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;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the use of monitoring systems to review and improve the quality of care, and that effective support and challenge is provided through team and management meetings. 28 March 2021

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)) 28 March 2021

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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

that staff— 28 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431807 6 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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that plans for care are up to date and clear. 28 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431807 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SWAAY Child and Adolescent Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 591 London Road, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9AG

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Inspectors

Paul Thomas, Social Care Inspector Nicola Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC431807 8 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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