Children's home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Wiltshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC059755 1 SC059755 Registered provider: Five Rivers Child Care Limited 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 operated by a national private organisation. The home can provide care for four boys with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2019. At the time of this inspection, the registered manager was on a planned leave of absence. An interim manager has been appointed.

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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 on 24 March 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on our website.

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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

Date of last inspection: 3 December 2019

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report children’s home: SC059755 2

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 24 March 2021, a monitoring visit took place. This monitoring visit was undertaken because Ofsted received a whistle-blowing complaint. The complaint raised serious concerns that a child living at the home is at significant risk of harm and exploitation. Following this visit, one compliance notice was issued. The compliance notice related to Regulation 12: the protection of children standard.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Since the monitoring visit, the registered manager has taken a planned leave of absence. In the interim, an acting manager has been appointed, who in a short period of time has taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notice. Inspection report children’s home: SC059755 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2019 Full Good 22/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/08/2018 Full Good 02/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC059755 4

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improvement to be good

At this inspection, one child remains living at the home. He was keen to tell the inspector about his experiences since the monitoring visit. He shared how much he enjoyed the ‘family day’ and has asked if another day can be arranged. He said that he particularly enjoyed playing garden games and the cookery lesson that was provided by a guest chef. The child said that he is now very happy here and is enjoying living on his own.

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improvement to be good

This child’s attendance and engagement at school have improved. The blended education timetable is working well for him. The child is learning a range of life skills through play and recreation.

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improvement to be good

The child’s living environment has improved significantly. An extensive refurbishment programme has commenced. This includes the redecoration of the home, new furniture and the purchase of age-appropriate games. The team has been successful in changing the house into a home that the child is proud to live in. The positive atmosphere is testament to the acting manager’s drive and determination to improve children’s living environment.

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improvement to be good

The acting manager confirmed that the child’s current care and support plans are under review. This is because she recognises that these important documents do not include the child’s views. The planned introduction of a person-centred plan will ensure that the child’s views are central to his care planning and may help him to achieve his goals. In addition, it is hoped that improving the plans will ensure that all staff will have an improved understanding and insight into the child’s needs and behaviours.

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improvement to be good

Following the monitoring visit, senior leaders and the acting manager recognised that they could not keep another child safe. There was a three-month period when a number of high-risk incidents occurred. During this turbulent time, the child was at significant risk of exploitation and his health and welfare were compromised. Leaders and managers did not keep the child safe and behaviour management strategies were not effective. As a result, leaders and managers served notice to the child’s placing authority. The child experienced a positive move out of the home and has maintained regular contact with the adults who cared for him.

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improvement to be good

Since the monitoring visit, the acting manager has worked closely with a range of safeguarding agencies. She has reviewed missing-from-home protocols to include guidance for staff on how to disrupt high-risk behaviours. For example, enhanced safeguarding resources were placed on a child’s mobile device. This resource Inspection report children’s home: SC059755 5 enabled staff to locate the whereabouts of the child and who he was with. In addition, this intelligence helped the staff and police recover the child and disrupt potential criminal activity from taking place in the community.

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improvement to be good

The acting manager ensures that all potential safeguarding concerns are responded to appropriately and reported to Ofsted as required by regulations. Records relating to behavioural incidents now detail what actions have been taken and the outcome. The acting manager’s monitoring is evaluative; her findings are shared with the team members to help them to reflect and improve their practice.

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improvement to be good

Senior leaders and managers ensure that those adults looking after children are safe to do so. Since the last inspection, two new staff have joined the staff team. Safer recruitment checks are comprehensive.

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good

The current temporary manager usually manages another home within the organisation. However, she has been managing this home since the end of March 2021 to cover the registered manager’s planned leave of absence. The acting manager is providing clear leadership and is passionate about providing good-quality care to children.

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good

Following her appointment, the acting manager completed an audit of the home’s environment and the quality of care provided to children. The findings from this audit were used to compile an action plan. This plan was shared with Ofsted prior to this inspection.

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good

Staff shared during this inspection that the support and guidance provided by the current management team have been welcomed and valued. They have reflected on recent events and acknowledge that there have been lessons learned. A staff member told the inspector: ‘The acting manager has included staff in the changes; we feel empowered. There is more guidance, and we are learning new ways to respond to children’s changing needs.’

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good

The acting manager and her team receive regular formal supervisions. Team meetings take place regularly and attendance is good. Despite this, supervision records do not always detail the discussion held; they do not reflect the leaders’ and managers’ work in this area.

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good

All staff are provided with a range of training opportunities that include face-to-face training and e-learning. Since the monitoring visit, senior leaders have commissioned three bespoke training courses for staff. These include learning about safeguarding, county lines and episodes of going missing from care. This training is under way and is due to be completed by June 2021. The acting manager’s audit of staff skills and training needs identified that a high proportion of staff have not completed refresher training courses within the home’s policy timescales. Action to address this is under way. Inspection report children’s home: SC059755 6

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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 ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all staff should complete all basic mandatory training and the three specialist courses identified by senior leaders. 9 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

that all staff help the child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s child-centred plans are introduced and include children’s views and contribution. 9 July 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of staff supervision are of a good quality and reflect the discussions held. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: SC059755 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Five Rivers Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Five Rivers Childcare, 47 Bedwin Street, Salisbury SP1 3UT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Newman

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC059755 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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