Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Devon

Inspection report children's home: SC468747 1 SC468747 Registered provider: Idem Living Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a national provider. It is registered to provide residential care for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is currently vacant.

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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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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering 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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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Inspection report children's home: SC468747 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2020 Full Outstanding 20/09/2018 Full Good 07/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 26/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC468747 3

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improvement to be good

One child currently lives at this home. They are back to enjoying varied activities again in line with the relaxation of government restrictions. These activities include rugby, guitar lessons and trips to the skate park. Staff also organise additional fun activities such as swimming in the sea and river, which the child enjoys.

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improvement to be good

The home is well furnished and maintained. The inspector observed good relationships and the child to be happy and relaxed in their home. They have a cat and a hamster, which they take pride in caring for. The child spoke very fondly of their home and of the adults who care for them.

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improvement to be good

The child’s identity and cultural needs are considered in the care provided. One staff member learnt a skill to help care for the child’s specific hair needs, this meant a great deal to the child.

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improvement to be good

The child has not attended school since moving into the home in November 2019. This has limited their access to learning and achievement and has had a negative impact on their ability to spend time with their peers. They express a consistent wish to attend school. Leaders and managers have challenged other professionals rigorously since the child moved in and have now secured a school place. Education provided by a tutor continued throughout the pandemic. The child has engaged with these sessions.

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improvement to be good

There have been several changes in the staffing of the home. When staff have moved on, the child has struggled with these losses. Some staff who have moved on from the home remain in contact with the child. New staff are in post and key relationships are developing between the child and the new adults in their life.

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improvement to be good

The child has made one complaint. It was well managed, and an appropriate response was provided.

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improvement to be good

Child protection concerns are well managed and actions taken to safeguard children are effective. On one occasion, concerns were identified during a check of the child’s mobile phone. The matter was appropriately escalated to the relevant agencies and further safeguards were put in place. There is a clear plan to support the child with safe use of the internet. Access to social media is closely monitored and safeguards are robust.

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improvement to be good

Purposeful therapy has been difficult to arrange during the pandemic. This need is clearly outlined in care planning documents. The appropriate referrals were made to Inspection report children's home: SC468747 4 CAMHS (Child Adolescent Mental Health Service). Proposed video sessions were not appropriate for the child during the pandemic. Face to face sessions can start now that restrictions have been lifted.

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improvement to be good

Records of incidents lack detail and actions taken to support the child are unclear. There has been no analysis of these incidents, which have escalated in frequency in recent months. This does not promote considered and nurturing care in line with the child’s needs. Support to help the child develop alternative behaviours to manage their emotions is lacking.

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improvement to be good

On the few occasions when the child has been missing from home, the actions taken by staff are effective. Currently, independent conversations with the child when they return home are carried out by telephone. Senior leaders and managers have not challenged the local authority to promote face to face discussions for the child.

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good

There is currently no registered manager in post. The process to appoint a suitable manager is under way. Current management arrangements do not provide robust day-to-day oversight and scrutiny.

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good

Management oversight currently lies with the responsible individual. Reports on the home and updates to key documents have been completed. The responsible individual has also strongly advocated for the child to secure a school place.

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good

Recruitment practice is thorough and safe. When staff return to work after a period of sickness, appropriate actions are taken to ensure the welfare of both the child and the member of staff is promoted.

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good

Some case records sampled did not describe the child’s needs using appropriate terminology. This is not a child-friendly approach should the child wish to access their information, which they are entitled to do. Inspection report children's home: SC468747 5

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff-

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Requirement Due date

Seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should promote the importance of return home interviews being completed in person. 20 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, a clear understanding of children’s mental well- being needs must be obtained and the appropriate therapy provided. 20 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.

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)) 20 May 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC468747 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that all self- harming behaviours are fully explored, and any trends or patterns of behaviour are considered in care planning. Children should be supported to develop healthy behaviours and enabled to share their feelings when such incidents occur.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that Children’s records are written in way which supports them to understand their history according to their age and understanding. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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Information about this inspection

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: SC468747 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Stable Court, Business Centre Water Lane Tarbock Green, Prescot L35 1RD

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Inspector

Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC468747 8 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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