Children's Home run by Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited in Hounslow

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 1 SC409851

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Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. The home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. The registered manager has been in post since July 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

There are currently two children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit focused on concerns reported to Ofsted in relation to staffing levels at the home and the provider’s ability to work in partnership with other services. This was a blended visit occurring both on and off site. Social care professionals, staff, parents and children gave a combination of verbal and written feedback.

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This monitoring visit

Supervision of the manager is not currently robust, focused or suitably challenging. In addition, the responsible individual does not receive focused social care professional development. This dynamic has meant that the systems and processes that protect children are inconsistent. For example, a safeguarding incident was not notified to Ofsted as required by regulation.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers do not have an effective system in place to ensure a timely and efficient response to enquiries from social care partners. When responses are delayed or not completed, children’s experiences and progress cannot be fully monitored.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers did not evidence the numbers of staff on shift and the frequency with which they worked. New staff have been recruited who do not have the required experience and skills to work with the children living in the home. Recruitment measures, such as trial shifts, are not focused on the complex needs of the children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 2 Leaders and managers are not using their own monitoring and review systems to make improvements to the quality of care offered to children. The required six- monthly review document shared during this visit was a year old. The statement of purpose does not meet the regulations.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are active and present within the home. The registered manager is suitably qualified and has the experience to support the children. However, there are no other senior or administrative staff to support the running of the home. This has meant that leaders and managers have become over involved in some of the practice. This has distracted them from completely fulfilling their management responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are not planning to accept any further children at the home, without first ensuring that they can offer clear and consistent care to the children already living there.

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This monitoring visit

Progress has been made by both of the children living in the home and they feel supported by staff. Professionals have spoken very positively about the manager’s advocacy, determination, and professionalism in supporting children’s care. Parents are happy with the care that their children are receiving.

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This monitoring visit

The previous requirement relating to the frequency of the independent visits is restated as consistency has not yet been achieved. Additional requirements have been made relating to leadership and management, continuing professional development, fitness of workers, employment of staff, notifications of serious events and the statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

The recommendation made at the previous inspection in respect of staff appraisals was not considered during this monitoring visit and is also restated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/06/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 3

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home. The registered provider must-

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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

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.

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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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) (2)(d)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to leaders and managers producing planned and actual rotas and using their roles more effectively in overseeing all responsibilities for the home. Leaders and managers should use the information generated in the home to develop, learn from and improve practice. 24 September

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider is an organisation, the organisation must ensure that the responsible individual undertakes such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the responsible individual has the skills needed for supervising the management of the home. (Regulation 29 (2)) 24 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 4 This is specifically in relation to the responsible individual understanding and developing the role in a social care context. The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that—

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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. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring all staff have the initial requirements to meet the needs of the children in the home. 24 September

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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

This is specifically in relation to the registered manager receiving practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. 24 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to leaders and managers not making a safeguarding notification when this would have been appropriate. 24 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring that the recent monthly visits by the independent person are occurring and sustained. 24 September

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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 six months. (Regulation 45 (1))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to the home’s regulation 45 document being a year old and thus not being purposeful in reviewing the quality of care. 24 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 5 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.

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Requirement Due date

Details of the experience and qualifications of staff, including any staff commissioned to provide education or health care.

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Requirement Due date

Details of the management and staffing structure of the home, including arrangements for the professional supervision of staff, including staff that provide education or health care.(Regulation 16 (1) (19) (20))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to the current statement of purpose not having the required information. 24 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff performance appraisals take into account, when reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member and the views of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited

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Inspector

Tolulope Sawyerr, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409851 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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