Children's home run by Discovered Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1272209 1

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Discovered Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned five-bedded home was registered in April 2018. It provides care for children who have experienced traumatic childhoods and require support in a nurturing, structured and therapeutic environment.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out in response to a number of concerns raised directly to Ofsted about the operation of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 (coronavirus) is currently posing to those it regulates. During this visit, the inspector took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 by the home. One inspector visited the home and spoke with children and staff. Another inspector worked remotely, reviewing records and speaking with other agencies.

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This monitoring visit

Significant concerns were identified during this visit. Children are at risk of harm because of weaknesses in their care and supervision.

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This monitoring visit

The home provides care to children who are particularly vulnerable as a result of complex emotional and mental health conditions. They have been placed at the home on the understanding that they will receive care from staff who have particular expertise in meeting such needs. However, staff are not sufficiently skilled, trained or experienced to meet the needs of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Agreed safe staffing levels have not been adhered to. For example, a child who always requires supervision from two members of staff has often been supported by only one member of staff. It is of particular concern that this member of staff lacks experience and relevant training. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1272209 2 Staff have not been able to intervene effectively to protect children from self- harming behaviour. As a result, children have sustained injury. Managers were unable to provide evidence during the visit that these injuries had been reported to appropriate agencies or that medical treatment had been provided. Children do not always receive the medical attention they need and their health is not appropriately monitored.

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This monitoring visit

There is a very high turnover of staff. Only four members of staff have worked at the home for more than one month. This prevents children receiving care from a consistent, stable staff team and limits opportunities for children to develop stable and nurturing relationships. One child reported to the inspector that she did not know the name of a staff member providing care to her on the day of the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an over-reliance on police to respond to and manage children’s behaviour. This places children at risk of unnecessary criminalisation.

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This monitoring visit

Allegations of abusive practice made by children have not been addressed by managers and have not been reported appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation has not ensured that a broken window was made safe after it had been smashed. This had happened several days prior to this Ofsted visit.

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This monitoring visit

Both the home’s manager and deputy manager resigned with immediate effect in the days prior to the inspection. Although the manager of another registered children’s home is providing interim cover, management arrangements are weak and insufficient to ensure the safe care of children living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted has issued an urgent suspension notice in order to safeguard children. Children are no longer living at the home. The home cannot operate until the suspension is lifted.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/07/2019 Full Good 04/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1272209 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 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to staffing levels which are unsafe and do not comply with children’s risk assessments, and to staff not seeking medical attention for children when they have significant health issues. 30 April 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 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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is in particular relation to a smashed window, and the delay in fixing this. 30 April 2021

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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

promotes their welfare. 30 April 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1272209 4 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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

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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to children’s care not being in line with the home’s statement of purpose, to shortfalls in staff competence, skills and training, and to the very high staff turnover and ineffective monitoring by the organisation.

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or 30 April 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1272209 5 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This is in particular relation to police call-outs, concerns about staff and several other safeguarding matters which have not been passed to Ofsted.

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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

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about past abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the alleged abuse or neglect occurred;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

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Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)) 30 April 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1272209 6 This is in relation to safeguarding matters where the organisation has failed to follow their own safeguarding procedures and failed to inform the relevant authorities.

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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 address: 4-4a Blackburn Road, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 1HD

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Inspectors

Caroline Brailsford, Social Care Inspector Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1272209 7 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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