Children's home run by Kisimul Group Limited in North Kesteven

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367623 1 SC367623

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Kisimul Group Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned service provides care and accommodation for up to 35 children with learning disabilities and/or challenging behaviours associated with autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has recently left the organisation.

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This monitoring visit

Since the interim inspection in January 2020, there have been monitoring visits on 2 March 2020, 29 July 2020 and 9 February 2021. A separate report is available for each visit.

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This monitoring visit

On 10 March 2021, Ofsted imposed a condition of registration to reduce the number of children that could be accommodated to 35.

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This monitoring visit

At the visit on 9 February 2021, two compliance notices were issued relating to regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). The date for compliance was 18 April 2021.

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This monitoring visit

This emergency visit was conducted prior to the date of compliance due to the following further concerns that came to the attention of Ofsted:

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This monitoring visit

 an unexplained injury to a child  concerns about staff practice  historical unexplained injuries to children that had recently become known  concerns about verifying the ongoing suitability of staff to work with children  the registered manager had resigned and left the organisation immediately. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367623 2 During this visit, inspectors were aware that a serious incident which occurred at the setting since the previous inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the visit to inform the inspectors’ judgements. The arrangements in place to keep all safe while the necessary investigations take place are unsuitable. This puts children at risk.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders were unaware of all the injuries and marks sustained by children while at the setting. They had not assured themselves that staff were following the necessary protocols and strategies to care for the children and prevent further injury, for example, following a head injury due to self-injurious behaviour. Senior leaders were not able to demonstrate that they have an effective system in place to identify, record and review injuries and accidents to children to mitigate potential future incidents. Inconsistent recording, poor monitoring, and a failure to adhere to good safeguarding practice means that children are at risk.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have not ensured that the staffing of each individual home includes the necessary balance of staff skills, qualifications and experience. In addition, there are ongoing gaps in staffing numbers. Although senior leaders may book agency staff to cover the shortfalls, they do not have the systems in place to check that the agency staff are suitably skilled. This means that vulnerable children are not guaranteed to receive suitable care by a competent, qualified and experienced staff team.

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This monitoring visit

Recruitment methods are unsafe. Senior managers have failed to introduce systems to ensure the ongoing suitability of staff, even though this was raised at the monitoring visit in July 2020. The necessary checks for agency staff do not meet the regulations. The reasons for the provider deciding to no longer use certain bank staff are unclear. Senior leaders did not consider if a safeguarding process needed to be followed. There continues to be a risk that adults who are unsuitable to work with children remain in employment.

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This monitoring visit

Staff did not identify a potential safeguarding incident and delayed reporting it to the relevant safeguarding professional. The subsequent internal investigation was poor and ineffective in recommending actions to prevent recurrence. The staff who were potentially involved in the incident were not identified and so there were no plans for additional supervision or training. Senior leaders did not ensure that there was a notification to Ofsted of this significant incident.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders were unable to explain the reason for the sudden departure of the registered manager. In addition, they could not explain why care staff did not attend a key transition meeting with a new provider that had been identified by a placing authority due to ongoing concerns about the welfare of a child at the setting.

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This monitoring visit

The previous compliance notices and requirements remain in place. An additional requirement is made relating to regulation 40 (notification of a serious event). Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367623 3 Ofsted issued an emergency suspension notice following this visit. Ofsted will consider next steps.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/01/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/07/2019 Full Good 09/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367623 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 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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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; 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367623 5 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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e))

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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)(d)(h)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367623 6 sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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 achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)) 18 April 2021

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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 (5)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367623 7 *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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kisimul Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Kisimul School, The Old Vicarage High Street, Swinderby, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN6 9LU

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Inspectors

Keith Riley, Social Care Inspector Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC367623 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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