Children's Home run by PSS Care Group Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2571480 1

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PSS Care 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 home is registered to provide care for up to five children. The organisation’s statement of purpose says that the home aims to provide children with a safe, stable home. No children are currently living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in June 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit in January 2021 following significant concerns raised by professionals and through safeguarding notifications. As a result of the findings of that visit, Ofsted served three compliance notices and a notice restricting accommodation. Monitoring visits were undertaken in February and March 2021 to review the provider’s progress in meeting the required actions set out in the compliance notices. These visits identified some improvements. However, at the last monitoring visit, a further compliance notice was served in respect of the ongoing concerns regarding the lack of effective management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to monitor the provider’s adherence to the restriction of accommodation. There have been no children admitted to the home and therefore the provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

The visit also considered the progress that the provider has made in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notice in relation to the leadership and management of the home. There have been some improvements in specific areas. However, the provider has not taken sufficient action to meet all the steps specified in the compliance notice. Management arrangements have declined since the last monitoring visit. The previous acting manager has resigned and has not been replaced. Furthermore, several members of the organisation’s senior management team have resigned, with immediate effect, in the two weeks prior to this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2571480 2 The home has no manager or deputy manager. The home therefore does not have adequate management arrangements in place.

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This monitoring visit

There are no staff currently employed to work at this home. Therefore, the home is not able to provide care and support to meet the needs of the children as outlined in the statement of purpose. The last monitoring visit found significant shortfalls in staff recruitment practices. The home has not recruited any staff since this visit and is therefore unable to evidence improvements in recruitment practice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has ensured that staff who previously failed to fulfil the organisation’s minimum training expectations did so before they ceased working at the home. The provider has not ensured that a particular staff member received supervision of suitable quality. The frequency of effective supervision was identified as a risk- reduction measure in an employment risk assessment. Consequently, the staff member did not receive the appropriate levels of support, nor did the provider engage in appropriate reflective practice.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s location risk assessment has improved since the last visit. However, it continues to require further clarity and detail regarding the particular risk of the location of the home and how risks can be reduced and managed.

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This monitoring visit

The last visit identified ineffective management oversight of incidents and children’s records and a failure to identify or address shortfalls in staff’s practice. At this visit, the provider has not been able to provide evidence of improved monitoring systems because the home has not cared for children and the staff have been redeployed.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s fire risk assessment details several required actions. The provider has replaced all the automatic closures on the fire doors and changed the signage ahead of the required timescale. Seven further actions are required to ensure that the home is operating in accordance with the fire risk assessment. These will need to be addressed before children are admitted to the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home does not have the staff and management required to operate. The provider does not intend to operate the home at this time. The home will therefore be subject to a condition that the provider must inform the Chief Inspector of its intention to accommodate children at the home at least three months before any child is accommodated.

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2571480 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 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

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; and

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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)(a)(c)(d)(h)) 12 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, address the outstanding actions detailed in the home’s fire risk assessment. 12 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2571480 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the provider’s adherence to the restriction of accommodation notice and to establish the progress that the provider has made in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notice that Ofsted served following the last monitoring visit.

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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: PSS Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 284 Chase Road, London N14 6HF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Frederik Booysen

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Inspectors

Joanna Heller, Social Care Inspector Paula Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2571480 5 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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