Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC380956 1 SC380956

p.1

North East Lincolnshire Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a local authority and provides care for up to three children. The home’s statement of purpose has recently been amended and this has changed the function of the home. Children are placed at this home for a period of assessment before they move on to appropriate placements.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2020. However, she is currently away from the home and an interim manager is in day-to-day charge of the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was carried out on 25 January 2021 in response to increasing concerns relating to the management of children’s behaviour. The focus of that visit was to review significant incidents and associated documents and reports. These were with regard to children going missing from the home and the use of physical restraint.

p.1

This monitoring visit

During the monitoring visit on 25 January 2021, Ofsted identified breaches in the leadership and management arrangements of this home. These failings impacted on children’s safety, protection and welfare. Consequently, Ofsted issued two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 and made a further five requirements.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and actions taken to meet the compliance notices. The inspectors identified that the required steps within the compliance notices had not been met. There are continued regulatory breaches that impact on children’s safety, protection and welfare. This monitoring visit was completed remotely. The visit included the review of documents and case records, and discussions with staff and with other relevant professionals. Despite the inspectors’ efforts, engagement with the one child currently living in the home was limited. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC380956 2 Children’s risk assessments include their known risks and vulnerabilities. However, during this monitoring visit, the inspectors found that one child’s risk assessment did not provide the staff with any effective strategies to use to manage and reduce risks

p.1

This monitoring visit

to the child’s safety. This was with particular regard to alcohol and substance misuse. As a result, on an occasion when this child returned to the home under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal substances, staff did not provide adequate supervision for the child or complete necessary observations. This placed the child at a significant risk of harm.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager is now working closely with the police and with the child’s family and friends to reduce missing-from-home incidents. However, there are still shortfalls in staff practice with regard to their responses when children are missing. For example, the inspectors found an occasion when there was an unacceptable delay in staff classifying a child as missing from the home. This was despite staff knowing that being away from the home meant that this child was extremely vulnerable and at risk of serious harm.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children’s admissions into the home are not well planned. In recent weeks, two children with complex needs that significantly increased risks to their safety were placed together. This put both children at risk of serious harm as they went missing from the home and misused substances.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Other children, including unaccompanied children seeking asylum, have been admitted to the home in an emergency with only a generic risk assessment that did not reflect their individual circumstances or needs. In this situation, leaders and managers did not ensure that immediate safeguards were established to consider any potential risks associated with human trafficking and modern slavery. This failure placed children at risk of harm.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Improved behaviour support plans provide better insight into the children’s journeys through care. However, some children have been involved in significant incidents that have required police involvement in order to safeguard them. The manager has not notified Ofsted of these incidents as required.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Internal monitoring systems are ineffective. For example, leaders and managers have failed to identify that children’s risk assessments and missing-from-home plans did not contain clear strategies or actions for staff to follow to keep children safe. Consequently, the provider cannot demonstrate how they will make improvements to the home and to children’s care.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The inspectors did not fully assess the progress made by the provider to address the requirements made at the previous monitoring visit, relating to the recording of physical restraints and the manager’s review of the quality of care. These will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC380956 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/09/2019 Full Good 04/09/2018 Full Good 27/09/2017 Full Good 21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC380956 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 18 April 2021

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

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)(h)) 18 April 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.4

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 14 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC380956 5 that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a))

p.4

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”)—

p.5

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 14 May 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 14 May 2021

p.5

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 6 months.

p.5

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)) 14 May 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC380956 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire Council

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: North East Lincolnshire Council, Civic Offices, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire DN35 8LN

p.6

Inspectors

Jennifer Fenlon, Social Care Inspector Brian Wood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC380956 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

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

p.7