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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065517 1 SC065517

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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 and run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 13 October 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This home was last inspected in March 2020, and judged to be good, with one requirement made under Regulation 45 and three recommendations in relation to supervision of staff practice, transition for children leaving the home and the use of restraint. This virtual monitoring visit took place to review progress of the requirement and recommendations and to review the effectiveness of how staff manage children’s behaviour. This followed the independent visitor report commenting about an increase in incidents in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The visit took place remotely, in line with COVID-19 (coronavirus) risk management strategies. There are currently four children living at the home. The inspector spoke to one child, staff and the manager by video call.

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This monitoring visit

The virtual tour of the home, completed through video calling, showed that the environment is child focused and welcoming. One child spoke of their opportunity to choose the colour of the decor in the upcoming redecoration. This helps children to feel involved and part of the home. The home is personalised with vibrant artwork made by the children during COVID-19 restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

The current manager has made an application to Ofsted for registration and is supported by senior management in continuing her professional development. The senior management team has provided stability for the children. The manager knows Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065517 2 the staff well and manages the home based on the ethos of the home’s statement of purpose. Staff on each shift have a good balance of skills and experience. Induction for new staff is thorough and organised, and staff feel prepared when meeting the children for the first time.

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This monitoring visit

Children benefit from consistent boundaries and from staff who understand their different needs. The staff team provides good stability for the children. As a result, there has been minimal impact on the continuity of care to children during the pandemic.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s behaviours, and the reasons for these, are understood by staff. For example, staff are attuned to factors that both motivate and trigger incidents of aggression towards others. Behaviour management plans are comprehensive and provide clarity on the use of restraint where this is absolutely necessary. Regular updates ensure that staff are consistent in their approach. However, there is delay in the manager’s review of some of these incidents.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed training with regards to managing emotionally and physically aggressive behaviour by children that may place themselves or others at risk of upset or harm. The use of a range of de-escalation techniques enables staff to consistently manage children’s behaviour. The informal debrief with children offers them the opportunity for reflection and supports effective relationships between children and staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive regular supervision from the manager. However, there is a lack of reflective discussion about practice or what impact the behaviour of the children may have on staff’s own feelings and behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

The positivity board, introduced by the staff, allows children to attach positive and kind messages to each other and staff. One child was very happy and excited when telling the inspector that she had received one of these messages. This highlights the positive impact that this has on emotional and mental well-being.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been creative and motivated in helping children to express their worries and concerns. A ‘worry box’ has been introduced that allows children to write down their worries if they feel unable to talk about them. Children are aware that staff access this daily. Children also know who to talk about the care they receive. One child told the inspector that they would talk to staff or the manager if they had any worries or concerns.

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This monitoring visit

All the children attend school full time and are making progress. Communication between the manager and education professionals is good. Daily and relevant information-sharing supports the children’s emotional stability and attainment across different settings. Since living at the home, one of the children is attending mainstream school for the first time and is making good progress. This child told the inspector that she now enjoys school, and staff helped her with learning when the school was closed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065517 3 The manager has completed her own review of the home through the regulation 45 report. The omission of views from children, parents and professionals has prevented the opportunity to show the positive and proactive work by staff. Nonetheless, there are plentiful opportunities and recordings elsewhere that capture this. The requirement relating to regulation 45 made at the previous inspection will be reissued

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This monitoring visit

as this is still an area for development. A further requirement under regulation 35 will also be made in relation to the manager’s review of documents.

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This monitoring visit

The recommendations from the previous inspection are judged to have been met. A further recommendation has been made as a result of this monitoring visit in relation to reflective practice in supervision.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/03/2020 Full Good 26/02/2019 Full Good 19/03/2018 Full Good 19/09/2017 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065517 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 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 has signed the record to confirm it is accurate.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is a review of all incidents by the manager within 48 hours of the incident taking place. 1 May 2021

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the quality of care review must specifically ascertain and make use of feedback of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff to inform service development. 1 May 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff supervision enables staff to reflect and act upon how their own feelings and behaviour may be affected by the behaviour of the children they care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065517 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: 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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Inspector

Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC065517 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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