Children's Home run by Fonjock's Social Work Practice Limited in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2585102 1

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Fonjock's Social Work Practice

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children.

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Information about this children's home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in August 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place after information was received by Ofsted, raising concerns about a high number of incidents in the home and concern that staff were not managing safeguarding concerns well. The purpose of the visit was to consider safeguarding practice in relation recent incidents and to review the progress that the provider has made in relation to the requirements that were made at the home’s most recent monitoring visit in February 2021.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this inspection took place off site through a combination of telephone discussions with children, social workers, the designated officer and staff. A number of records and documents were reviewed by the inspector.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted has issued a notice to restrict the accommodation of this home. This is due to: specific concerns relating to staff failing to follow agreed procedures in reporting a safeguarding concern, and the provider’s failure to meet a previous requirement to ensure that all relevant risk factors are considered prior to admitting children to the home. A compliance notice in relation to regulation 12 was also issued.

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This monitoring visit

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this monitoring visit:

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This monitoring visit

 At the monitoring visit which took place on 1 February 2021, a requirement was made because a significant risk factor was not considered when assessing if the needs of new children moving into the home are compatible with those who are Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2585102 2 already living there. When reviewing the progress of this requirement, the inspector found that the manager’s plans to address this concern had not yet been implemented. This vulnerability in the home’s admission process potentially places children at risk of harm.  At the visit, the inspector found that the home’s safeguarding policy did not specify who staff should report concerns to if there is an allegation against a manager in the home. In one recent example, a child made an allegation about a manager in the home at the time. Staff did not know how to manage the allegation and therefore shared this with an on-call manager the following day.

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This monitoring visit

Subsequently, this resulted in a delay in the allegation being shared with the designated officer and other external safeguarding bodies. This avoidable delay in acting on safeguarding concerns has the potential to place children at risk of harm. At the previous inspection, a requirement was made regarding hazards to children as a result of poor maintenance of the home. This requirement is judged to have been met. The manager now takes appropriate action to ensure that children who display self-injurious behaviour are safe within the home. Defects are acted on in a timely manner and all maintenance is carried out promptly. The manager is alert to any recurrence of damage and has measures in place to repair damage quickly.

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This monitoring visit

The child living in the home has an advocate in place, and evidence contained in incident reports shows that the child is confident to speak with their advocate about matters relating to their care. The child has free access to contact their advocate. The manager has a plan in place to ensure that all new children admitted to the home will be offered an advocate on admission. The requirement issued at the previous inspection relating to ensuring that children have access to an independent advocate is now met.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has a clear process to manage low-level complaints in the home. For example, one child was unhappy that the Wi-Fi signal was not fast enough. The manager promptly arranged for a signal booster to be installed to address this matter. These matters are managed in a timely manner and actions are taken in response to children’s ideas about how to improve the service.

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This monitoring visit

The manager ensures that staff are supported with individual supervision and group reflective practice sessions. This enables staff to develop their practice and learn from their peers. This approach enables the child to benefit from consistent care from the staff team. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2585102 3

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Recent inspection history

This home has not yet had a full inspection since it was registered in August 2020. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2585102 4

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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— 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that placement matching assessments contain the correct information and that all risks to children are fully considered prior to children being admitted to the home. 14 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—that staff— take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)) 14 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which— is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and 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— 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)(f)) 14 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2585102 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: Fonjock's Social Work Practice

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Orchard House, 1 Old Convent Orchard, Bury St. Edmunds IP33 3PQ

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Inspector

Matt Nicholls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2585102 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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