Children's Home run by Lioncare Ltd Operating as The Lioncare Group in Brighton and Hove

Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 1 SC482548 Registered provider: Lioncare Limited Operating as The Lioncare Group Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 5 September 2014.

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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 13 January 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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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/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 22 January 2020

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 2

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A compliance notice was issued in respect of Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f) following an assurance visit undertaken on 2 to 4 November 2020. Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/01/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/06/2019 Full Good 12/12/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 4

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inadequate

There have been significant changes in the staff team since the assurance visit in November 2020. Seven care staff have left their role, including an experienced deputy manager. One staff member has been dismissed from their post and another senior staff member is currently suspended. There has been ongoing recruitment of staff, including four new childcare workers since the virtual monitoring visit took place in January 2021.

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inadequate

The high degree of change in the care team, together with the necessity to use agency staff in the interim, has had a negative impact on the consistency of care given to children.

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inadequate

The new staff team has shown real commitment to caring for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has included working increased hours to cover staff sickness. However, without the enduring relationships with staff, it is difficult for children to develop trust in the changing staff team. This makes it difficult for them to raise concerns or share their worries with some staff.

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inadequate

At times, staff have been focused on responding to the challenging behaviour of one child to the detriment of the other children. This has resulted in the needs of the other children not consistently being met.

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inadequate

There has been a medication error for one child. The initial findings from an internal review identified that this was due, in part, to the focus of the team being on responding to the behaviour of other children. Some external professionals have also commented on this impact on children.

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inadequate

The individual vulnerabilities of another child, in terms of their developmental needs in the context of their age and level of understanding, are not understood by the staff team. This concern was shared by a professional who questioned the suitability of strategies in place to support this child. Although specific training and guidance have been provided by the senior leadership team, the training has not been completed by all staff. As a result, there is inconsistency in the team’s approach to caring for the child.

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inadequate

Support for children’s learning has been positive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff have supported children to continue to engage in education, including remote learning. One child has made positive progress in relation to their studies.

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inadequate

Staff have supported children to stay in contact with their family, where possible. This has included one child who has been supported to re-establish contact with a family member. Staff have continued to support the cultural identity needs of Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 5 another child. They provide focused support to enable the child to practise their faith in the home. Children are helped to develop their individual sense of identity.

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

It is of concern that one child has been left feeling vulnerable and unsupported when they have been subjected to sexualised behaviours of another child. Staff lack the confidence to challenge this behaviour and ensure that safe boundaries are in place for all children.

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

The response to two complaints from a child regarding this approach, six weeks apart, has not resulted in appropriate safeguards being put in place. The initial response to the first complaint was limited to advising staff to remove the child from the situation.

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

The registered manager again responded when a second complaint was made regarding the impact of the continuing sexualised behaviour. The outcome of this complaint was to put restrictive monitoring arrangements in place for the child who was subjected to the behaviours.

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

Without appropriate guidance and support from the registered manager, staff are developing their own strategies to respond to behaviour. For example, a risk assessment has been written by an inexperienced member of staff in respect of the sexualised behaviours of a child. There was no oversight by the registered manager of this risk assessment, and the senior leadership team was not aware of these ad- hoc arrangements for oversight of risk management. The identified risks and strategies to mitigate these were not appropriate. As a result, the child was not safeguarded, and staff were unnecessarily put at risk of allegations being made against them.

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

The overall risk management plan for one child has not been updated to reflect all known risks, including a number of different safeguarding concerns and a risk of fire-setting. The toaster was locked in a cupboard by staff as directed by the registered manager. Children living in the home were not allowed to use this appliance without staff supervision. This strategy has an unsuitable and disproportionate impact on all children in response to safeguarding one child.

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

Additionally, there are concerns in relation to a child’s risk management plan in response to their missing-from-home episodes. The plan has not been updated promptly following incidents when the child has gone missing from care. This is of significant concern due to the child’s level of vulnerability. Staff informed inspectors that they had completed risk management plans retrospectively. This means that staff do not have clear guidance on how to respond effectively to known risks.

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

Professionals raised concerns with inspectors about the recording of missing-from- home episodes. In one example, a child left the home with no shoes on. The record of this incident does not make clear the circumstances that preceded it. The child was able to travel a significant distance from the home. Although assurances were Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 6 provided by the senior leadership team that the missing-from-care protocol was appropriately followed, there are discrepancies in terms of how this incident has been recorded.

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

There has been effective working with statutory agencies in relation to potential risks outside of the home regarding another child. Where there have been a limited number of allegations and/or practice issues identified within the home, these have been reported to the designated officer. There has been no further action required following conclusion of the respective investigations. The response to previous allegations, as reported on the assurance visit in November 2020, has been appropriate. One staff member has been dismissed following a disciplinary process. The other staff member remains suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager does not have an understanding of the shortfalls in care practice within the team. They do not have an accurate assessment of the knowledge, skills and experience within the predominantly new staff team. There is insufficient management oversight of the day-to-day care provided by the team. Staff are provided with individual supervision by the registered manager. However, they do not receive sufficient guidance and support in-between supervisions. Several staff report not feeling supported by the registered manager following physical assaults by children. They feel that the impact of these assaults is not acknowledged by the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

It is of concern that an understanding of the lived experiences of children in the home is not informing improvements to the quality of care provided to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The lack of appropriate guidance for new staff, in terms of responding to physical aggression displayed by children, is concerning. There have been a limited number of incidents when staff have not used approved approaches to physical intervention. This is due to a lack of training for new staff before being placed in situations where this type of behaviour has been displayed. There have previously been concerns in relation to deprivation of liberty safeguards. The registered manager discussed these incidents with the team, and the senior leadership team subsequently completed a review. However, not all new staff had received appropriate training in the home’s approved approach to physical intervention. Training for the recent staff members who have joined the team was booked for the day after this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not have an understanding of the process for reporting concerns internally or externally. Several new staff members came forward to raise their concerns with the inspectors. A number of new staff members reported that they do not feel comfortable raising concerns with the management or leadership team. This was reported to be based on a perceived lack of trust. Following the assurance visit in November 2020, the senior leadership team has provided training to help staff understand the organisation’s whistle-blowing procedures. This has clearly not resulted in improvements to the safeguarding culture within the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 7 The home’s communal areas are generally welcoming. However, there are several maintenance matters that need to be addressed. For example, there is a delay in replacing the kitchen sink unit as this has yet to be carried out. A replacement

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

cooker has been ordered but not yet installed. There was also a delay to the repair of a wardrobe door in one child’s bedroom. This was repaired during the inspection. The meeting room furniture is awaiting replacement and the current furniture is not suitable for its intended purpose. Although it is important to recognise that some delays are due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, equally these delays do not communicate to children that they are valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider informed Ofsted that the management arrangements changed immediately following this inspection. The registered manager is no longer in day-to- day charge of the home and they are actively recruiting to fill this this post. The senior leadership team is maintaining management oversight with an assistant director in day-to-day charge of the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure timely repair or replacement of furniture following breakages or damage, due to usual wear and tear. 16 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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 staff— 16 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 9 meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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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

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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)) 16 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 10 *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspire sand 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—

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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

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)(c)(f)(h)) 16 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff are trained in approved de- escalation and physical intervention approaches, prior to using restraint in practice. 16 June 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 16 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 11 * 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: SC482548 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lioncare Limited Operating as The Lioncare Group

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 58a Livingstone Road, Hove, Sussex BN3 3WL

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Inspectors

Maria Lonergan, Social Care Inspector Helen Simmons, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482548 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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