Children's Home run by R G Care Ltd in Havering

Inspection report children's home: 2625371 1 Registered provider: R G CARE LTD Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately run home. The statement of purpose states that the home provides care for up to five children who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home is situated next to an adult provision and an activity centre owned by the same company.

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Information about this children's home

The home re-registered under new ownership on 1 March 2021. The current owners are the third owners of the home in the last three years. The manager was previously registered under the home’s former ownership in November 2020 and has been in post since May 2020.

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Information about this children's home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children's home

We last visited this setting to carry out a full inspection on 24 April 2019. The report is published on our website under the home’s former registration (SC037152.)

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Information about this children's home

This inspection was conducted on site and involved meetings with children and staff. Feedback was given by email and from social workers, parents, a headteacher and a personal advisor. A staff questionnaire was also shared for those staff who were not on site but wished to contribute their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate Inspection report children's home: 2625371 2 The children's home is not yet effective in delivering consistent and good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children's home: 2625371 3 Inspection report children's home: 2625371 4

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inadequate

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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inadequate

The quality of care offered to children is limited by poor management, the lack of experience of some staff and the low morale of the staff team. In the week of this inspection, staff from an adjoining adult home, owned by the same organisation, covered shifts in the home on five separate days. These staff were not offered additional or specific training to work in the children’s home. This leads to children feeling confused with inconsistencies in their routines and staff who may not understand the children’s behaviours.

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inadequate

Children receive variable support with their learning. One child has not accessed any form of formal education despite living in the home since July 2020. The absence of a daily plan or any professional oversight limits any form of progress. More positively, the home successfully advocated for another child to remain in school during the lockdown period, ensuring he was able to maintain constructive routines.

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inadequate

Support provided to children to help them to learn independent living skills is poorly planned, limited and shows a lack of aspiration for children. Children make some progress in learning to cook and conduct basic budgeting exercises. However, direct work fails to address their cultural needs and improve their understanding of appropriate relationships or the risk posed by criminal exploitation in the community. This is of particular concern given the imminent plan to move one child on to a less supportive setting.

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inadequate

The lack of staff being able to drive the home’s vehicle has limited children’s access to community-based activities. These activities had been identified as a positive measure in reducing children’s unsettled behaviours. This shortfall is of significance given the closure of the home’s swimming pool during the lockdown period.

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inadequate

Children do form trusting relationships with some staff, although such progress is hampered by the inconsistent staffing arrangements. Children have developed their use of language and an ability to manage their own feelings better.

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inadequate

Children enjoy good access to advocacy services. One child was supported by an advocate to advise and guide him on plans to move on to a less supportive setting. This ensured that care planning was completed and considered in his best interest.

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inadequate

Despite the concerns, feedback from placing social workers is generally positive.

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inadequate

COVID-19 safety measures are followed appropriately. Children learn to understand the risk posed by the virus and one child referred to it as a ‘bad virus’. Staff and children follow established safety measures which include regular handwashing and temperature testing. Neither of the children have tested positive for the virus. Inspection report children's home: 2625371 5

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children’s specific needs are not adequately addressed in this home. Staff do not help children consistently understand their behaviours or provide them with positive strategies.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff are ill equipped to understand the broad range of children’s needs. One member of staff reported feeling scared of one of the children and scared for colleagues who are being hit almost daily. All staff raised concerns about the impact on the second child. Consequently, this child’s behaviours are not managed or considered effectively, and have impacted upon the well-being of the other child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff said that their morale has been affected by the lack of training, formal supervision or performance appraisals provided to them. Staff commented on the lack of specialist training specific to the needs of children and their complex medical histories. Some staff do not yet have the required qualifications to work in the home. Therefore, children receive inconsistent and disorganised care which does not allow for them to feel helped and protected.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Risk assessment practice is hampered by poor case recording and ineffective management oversight. Discussions held with children by staff do not take account of the potential risks posed to children by exploitation, abuse, bullying or radicalisation. Keywork sessions do not cover topics such as understanding puberty, sexuality, healthy relationships or their future. Consequently, children are not prepared to recognise the complexities of modern society.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Key documents such as care and health plans have not been updated in the last six months. A review of the medication procedure highlighted that the record of one child’s current prescription was incorrect. This could have led to incorrect medicines or dosages being given to the child. This shortfall therefore placed the child at risk of harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The home’s incident and restraint folder could not be located by staff. In addition, there was no evidence of debriefs being completed with staff or the children. Furthermore, behaviour management assessments are not clearly updated or shared with all staff. This limits the ability to analyse children’s behaviour or assess any progress they are making to improve their behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. The physical environment is clean and conducive to comfortable living. There is a large amount of outdoor space and children have access to an on-site gym, activity centre and, when the pandemic restrictions are eased, a swimming pool. Inspection report children's home: 2625371 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The recent change in the home’s ownership and managers has limited the development of the home. The current owners have a professional background in adult care and struggle to understand regulations specific to children’s homes. Therefore, oversight of the running of the home has not been suitably challenged.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent visitor has not been on site since March 2020, despite legislation changes requiring this to occur since September 2020. This has meant that quality assurance measures for the care of children have not been robust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not received formal supervision since the change of ownership on 1 March 2021. Despite being in post since May 2020, the registered manager has yet to access the required management training course. One staff member has not obtained the relevant national qualification in care within the required timescale. In addition, another staff member has not yet commenced the same course despite being in post for one year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The day-to-day running of the home is compromised by an over-reliance on the registered manager having to support the direct care of children. The registered manager has not been appropriately supported during the pandemic and was without a deputy manager in the home for six months. This has limited the registered manager’s ability to maintain oversight of key managerial tasks. For example, care planning and risk management, quality assurance, staff supervision and appraisal, and workforce development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to senior managers being unable to locate the required records during the inspection, some important documents could not be reviewed by inspectors. For example, records relating to the use of restraint. Managers stated that these documents were lost during the transition in ownership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Important records are poorly maintained. Documents seen by inspectors were out of date and had not been reviewed appropriately. The documents did not demonstrate that managers had a clear understanding of how to support children’s progress or take action to support their learning, make effective decisions or develop clear action plans when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The admission of children to the home is controlled well. This is evidenced by managers keeping the level of admissions to the home low. One child has been admitted to the home in the last year. One other child successfully moved on to semi-supported accommodation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers accepted the lack of progress and shortfalls within the home. They displayed a commitment to a programme of improvement in conjunction with the home’s new owners. However, the delay in addressing these concerns previously has meant that there has been unnecessary drift in children’s progress and development. Inspection report children's home: 2625371 7 Managers have failed to act on previous requirements and recommendations. The previous requirements and recommendations from the last inspection relating to service monitoring, training, staffing levels, workforce development, appraisals, case recording and cultural awareness have all been reinstated as these have not been adequately addressed. Inspection report children's home: 2625371 8

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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 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.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that the care offered continually meets the needs of each child. 1 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates ensuring that all staff have the appropriate level of training to meet the complex health needs of the children. 1 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ('case records') for each child which:

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36(1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to case recordings accurately reflecting the child’s time in the home and to ensure that care plans and risk assessments are regularly updated . 1 June 2021 Inspection report children's home: 2625371 9 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 promotes their welfare.

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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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders and managers ensuring that they have the right staff with the right qualifications, skill set and experience to meet the needs of each child in the home. 1 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to offering a consistent and regular space to staff to discuss their work. 1 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 1 June 2021 Inspection report children's home: 2625371 10 help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child's learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8(2)(a)(i)(ii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring that the home offers children constructive and educational activity when they are not in school or receiving tuition at home. The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1)(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) 1 June 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with each child. ('Guide to the children's Inspection report children's home: 2625371 11 homes regulations including the quality standards', page 54, paragraph 10.23)

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Recommendations

In particular, feedback from young people to be evidenced in the management monitoring report.

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Recommendations

 Ensure the home has a plan in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home has a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.8).

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Recommendations

In particular, the training matrix must be kept up to date and evaluated to create a development plan to meet specific training needs.

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Recommendations

 The registered should ensure performance appraisals consider the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and the views of the young people in the home. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 60, paragraph 13.5).

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Recommendations

This allows for a full and useful account of conduct and behaviours which may be impacting on relationships with the child, families, and professionals.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 43, paragraph 9.9).

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Recommendations

In particular, staff must consistently complete the young people's scheduled key- work sessions to address cultural and diversity perspectives, safe relationships; understanding their bodies, vulnerabilities to exploitation through virtual or in person means.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure managers working in a children's home must have the qualification in regulation 28(2) within the relevant timescales listed in regulation 28(3). ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 52, paragraph 10.12).

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report children's home: 2625371 12 Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the 'Social care common inspection framework'. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards'. Inspection report children's home: 2625371 13

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Second Floor, 123 Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4JQ

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Inspector(s)

Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Tolulope Sawyerr, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2625371 14 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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