Children's Home run by Barnardo Services Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 1 Registered provider: Barnardo Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is owned and managed by a charity. The home provides care and support for up to four children who can no longer live at home.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has recently been appointed and they are not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the secretary of state, we suspended all routine inspection of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted last visited this service on 2 March 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. This report is published on its website.

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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

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children are poor, and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This is the home’s first full inspection. Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 3

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inadequate

Impact risk assessments for children moving into the home are ineffective. They fail to consider the needs of the children already living in the home as well as the needs of the child moving in. A member of staff said that the recent placement of a younger child in the home had had a ‘horrendous impact’ on the other children.

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inadequate

Children raised their concerns with the inspector about the placement of such a young child in the home. The admission of this child without due care and attention has had a detrimental impact on the older children’s emotional health and well- being.

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inadequate

Children who have lived here for some time said that they have a good relationship with the staff whom they know. However, they were not able to spend as much time with the staff due to the needs of the younger child. Children also said that the numerous staffing changes have left them feeling unsettled.

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inadequate

Healthcare plans are missing vital information regarding the children’s medical needs. Issues around sleep problems, self-harm and the children’s mental health are not effectively identified, resulting in there being delays in them receiving help and support.

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inadequate

One child said that they are unable to relax and watch television because of the negative impact of a child’s behaviour. Another child said that it was unfair that they have to turn the television channel to meet the needs of younger children. Consequently, children are spending more time alone in their bedrooms.

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inadequate

All children have a school placement. Some are on restricted timetables, and one child is refusing to engage in education in the home. The manager and staff advocate well for children. They are working with the placing authority and virtual head to source an appropriate school for one child.

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inadequate

However, there are no plans as to what children should be doing during the day to support their learning when they are not in education. One child said that they stay in their bedroom as there is nothing to do, while others sit in the lounge area watching the television. This does not help children to prepare for learning and the reintegration to school.

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inadequate

Children are able to remain in contact with their families. Staff ensure that the children have the opportunities to talk to their families and to meet with them once the COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions are lifted. Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 4

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inadequate

Risk management plans are not effective. This is because they fail to identify all the known risks and the action to be taken to reduce them. This places children at risk of harm.

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inadequate

Following a serious safeguarding incident, the manager and staff revised the supervision protocols. Consequently, staff are checking the children every 30 to 60 minutes during the day and evening. This blanket approach to risk management has not been assessed against the needs of each child and is having a detrimental impact on the children’s emotional health and well-being. The children said that this level of supervision is intrusive and is having an impact on their ability to settle at night, as the staff frequently come into their rooms.

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inadequate

Children said that they do not always feel safe in the home. This is because of the behaviours of one child, which has included assaults on the staff and children. Following one serious incident, a child was unable to attend school for four days because their glasses were broken. Furthermore, one child who was happy and settled here has now asked to move.

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inadequate

There have been 11 physical interventions for the new child; on 19 April the child was held on three different occasions. It is evident that staff are unable to meet the needs of the child and keep them and the other children safe.

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inadequate

Children said that they are asked by staff to go to their rooms and lock their doors when other children are struggling. While they understand the reasons for this, they do not think it is fair. One child said that they are unable to relax because of the impact of one child’s behaviour. Another said that they are not able to get to sleep at night, which means that they are going into school tired.

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inadequate

The incidents of children being missing from the home have dramatically decreased. There were 101 incidents of children being missing since September 2020. This reduced to zero from January 2021. The reason for this decrease for one child is that they are no longer attending school. Staff have not considered what action is needed to prevent a reoccurrence of this behaviour when the child returns to school.

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inadequate

The home is generally well maintained and provides a warm and homely environment. Children have been instrumental in redesigning the dining room into another lounge. Children’s privacy in their bedrooms is compromised due to the lack of appropriate window dressings. The lock on the laundry room door is inappropriate as a child was able to lock the staff in the room.

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inadequate

Fire drills are not routinely carried out when new children or staff arrive at the home. One child was unsure what to do if the fire alarm goes off. This places children and staff at the risk of harm. Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home is ineffective. The home has been through a turbulent year, due to incidents of COVID-19 in the home, the lockdown restrictions and changes in management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been three managers in the home since September 2020. A manager was appointed to the home but has now moved to another home in the organisation. A new manager has been appointed and is to apply to Ofsted for registration. Because of this instability, some managerial tasks, such as monitoring, have not been carried out to a good standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Monitoring of the home has failed to identify areas of concern. Consequently, the responsible individual has made changes to the person carrying out the independent monitoring of the home. Records and documentation are not current and do not reflect the needs of the children. Furthermore, incomplete records of physical interventions and consequences have been signed off by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staffing during this period has been difficult due to a number of issues. As a result, 174 shifts were covered by seven staff members to provide a level of consistency for the children. This prevented the need to use temporary staff who would not know the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The processes for admitting children into the home are ineffective. The manager received a referral on 7 April 2021 for a younger child. The referral was considered and refused by the manager, as it did not meet the home’s admissions criteria in the statement of purpose. The statement of purpose originally stated that the home can care for children from 10 years of age.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager was then instructed by the responsible individual to change the statement of purpose and admit the child. This decision failed to take into consideration the skills of the staff team or the needs of the other children. This has resulted in poor outcomes for all the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Social workers have commented on the negative impact that this placement has had on all the children living in the home. Unfortunately, because of the child’s needs, an alternative placement has been sourced. This is a poor outcome for this child. The responsible individual has agreed that there will be a settling period for the children before any new placements are considered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Record-keeping is not good. Records and documentation fail to show the depth of discussions held with children to identify the actions that need to be taken. The electronic recording system is not helpful in telling the story of the child’s time in the home. This is because information is duplicated in several areas, which has led to inaccuracies and missing information in the records. This has been raised in previous reports and remains an issue. Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 6 Children know how to raise a concern. One child was supported well in raising their concerns about their placing authority. Staff ensured that the child had an independent advocate to support them throughout the process. However, staff have not detailed their actions in the complaints book. Similarly, there is not a clear audit trail of the actions taken by staff to address complaints made by parents. This does not promote transparency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 7

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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 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—

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Requirement Due date

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

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was issued at the last visit and is reinstated. 13 June 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; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. 13 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)) 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

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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was issued at the last visit and is reinstated. 13 June 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 13 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 9 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 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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)(b)(f)(h)) The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))* 13 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practice at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to followed in the case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 13 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

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date; and 13 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 10 are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was issued at the last visit and is reinstated. Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3)) 13 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and 13 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 11 has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2541467 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnardo Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barnardo House, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG

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Inspector

Chris Scully, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2541467 13 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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