Children's Home run by Enhanced Young Persons Care Limited in Gateshead

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2602558 1

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Enhanced Young Persons Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care and accommodation for up to seven children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in November 2020. There is no registered manager in post.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions in place relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus), this visit was carried out off site. The purpose of this visit was to monitor the provider’s compliance with enforcement action. The visit included a review of documents, and discussions with the children, staff and relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

On 2 March 2021, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting three compliance notices issued under regulations 6, 12 and 13. This was to address serious concerns relating to the care planning arrangements, protection of children, and widespread failings in the leadership and management of the home. The compliance notices under regulations 6 and 13 were not met and were reissued. An additional compliance notice was served under regulation 32 to address shortfalls in recruitment practices. The restriction of accommodation remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, the inspectors found that care planning documents continue to provide staff with conflicting guidance or, in some instances, no guidance at all regarding the actions staff are required to complete to help to keep a child safe. This failure exposes the child to a serious risk of harm, which could potentially be fatal. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2602558 2 Significant information regarding a serious known risk and vulnerability is not included in one child’s risk assessment. This demonstrates poor leadership which exposes the child to serious risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to consistently provide appropriate staffing arrangements to safely meet each child’s needs. There are no suitable arrangements in place to ensure one child’s safety during the night. The placing authority provided feedback that it had been informed that specialist equipment is in place as a safety measure during the night for this child. However, this is not in place. This neglectful approach exposes the child to a potentially life-threatening risk.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to ensure that staff are suitably allocated should one child need assistance with personal care. This means that the child’s dignity is not considered or respected.

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This monitoring visit

The manager responded to the inspector’s request made during the visit to allocate, with immediate effect, a member of staff to provide a waking night and also to ensure that there is a gender balance to staffing arrangements. This was requested to ensure the immediate safety and comfort of a child.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has ensured that each member of staff has received a supervision since the last visit. Staff are encouraged to use supervision to reflect on their practice and share any concerns, and to raise the standard of care that children receive.

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This monitoring visit

Recruitment files have been audited. There is an audit trail to demonstrate that previous issues raised have been explored and appropriate information held. This provides assurances that safer recruitment processes are followed.

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This monitoring visit

The manager’s monitoring and reviewing processes have failed to identify the serious concerns raised. A suitable action plan has not been implemented to address some of the shortfalls. These failings highlight continued poor leadership and management practice.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, a notice of suspension has been served. The compliance notices previously issued under regulations 6 and 13 are not met. These notices are reissued. An additional compliance notice is issued under regulation 12 to address shortfalls relating to the protection of the children. The previously issued requirements under regulations 14, 21 and 40 were not reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are reissued.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2602558 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, the 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— protect and promote each child’s welfare; provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iv)) 16 May 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; 16 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2602558 4 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)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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; 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; 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)(f)(h)) 16 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that arrangements are in place to— ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 28 Jun 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2602558 5 The registered person must ensure that— children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when

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Requirement Due date

balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 28 Jun 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. A notification made under this regulation— must include details of— the matter; the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; must be made or confirmed in writing.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 28 Jun 2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2602558 6

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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: Enhanced Young Persons Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Fox Street, Sunderland Road, Gateshead NE10 0BD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Tague

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Inspector

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2602558 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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