Children's Home run by Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy in Kent

Inspection report children's home: SC454294 1 SC454294 Registered provider: Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a charitable organisation. It is registered to accommodate up to eight children. The statement of purpose says that the home is a specialist residential therapeutic community providing therapeutic care and treatment along with family support to psychologically traumatised children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in December 2015.

p.1

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.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 13 February 2020

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC454294 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2020 Full Outstanding 09/01/2019 Full Outstanding 14/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC454294 3

p.2

improvement to be good

This inspection period provides a mixed picture of children’s experiences. A reduced level of senior management support has had an impact on the staff’s ability to provide children with a consistently high level of care. During this time, a number of safeguarding concerns were not identified, and the monitoring and oversight of the home was poor.

p.3

improvement to be good

The ethos of the home is to provide therapeutic care. However, this is not always evident in the staff’s practice. For example, one child moved out of the home in a way which was not consistent with good practice. The inspectors also observed a staff member using a work mobile phone while supervising a child. On another occasion, a staff member did not follow the expectations about staff conduct during a therapeutic community meeting.

p.3

improvement to be good

On the whole, however, the strength of the staff is their positive relationships with the children. Community meetings held after the school day are usually an opportunity for children to reflect on their day and discuss any issues prior to starting their evening. The inspectors observed staff supporting children to talk about a sensitive subject with maturity. This is something that the children would have struggled to achieve previously.

p.3

improvement to be good

The staff worked closely with a child’s multi-disciplinary network to understand and manage their risky behaviour. This has been successful. The child has learned to manage her behaviour more positively and is proud of her achievement.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff undertake effective direct work with the children. The registered manager has undertaken life-story work with four of the children at their request. In addition, key- work sessions are effective in covering areas that are important to the children. Staff engage children in group sessions to educate them in the risks associated with the use of social media, prior to them having unsupervised access to the internet. In addition, staff have worked with the children to enable them to access the local community unsupervised. The recommendations made at the last inspection in this regard have been met.

p.3

improvement to be good

All the children attend the organisation’s school. They accessed home schooling during the COVID-19 restrictions. The children are making progress academically. One child who did not attend school prior to moving into the home now attends full time and is planning his future career.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children usually move out of the home in a planned way because of the progress they have made. When it was identified that a child’s needs could no longer be met, the staff worked with professionals and the child to identify a suitable placement. Inspection report children's home: SC454294 4 The school and home’s community celebrated the child’s move by joining together to say goodbye.

p.3

improvement to be good

Senior managers failed to take decisive action following an incident when a child was forcibly moved, contrary to recognised physical intervention techniques. Action was only taken by leaders when an external professional was informed of the incident. This does not demonstrate an awareness by staff, including leaders, of how to follow child protection procedures to safeguard children.

p.4

improvement to be good

Another example of inconsistent safeguarding practice includes a considerable delay by the staff in reporting a child’s allegation against a staff member to senior managers. As a consequence, the staff member continued to work at the home for a short period of time following the allegation being made. This increased the potential risks posed to children and did not protect the staff member from further allegations. This undermines the good practice evidenced by another example, when prompt action was taken to ensure the safety and protection of a staff member and a child.

p.4

improvement to be good

Risk assessments are reviewed and updated in response to incidents or new information becoming available. Although detailed, these documents are lengthy, with generic information included. Consequently, there is a risk that important information could be ‘hidden’ by unnecessary detail.

p.4

improvement to be good

Some areas of the home are poorly maintained. Some children’s bedrooms were in a poor state of decoration and repair. In one child’s bedroom, a broken window latch had not been removed, presenting a potential risk of injury to the child. Another child had removed his window restrictors without the staff’s knowledge. Some children’s bedrooms were untidy, while other children’s bedrooms were much better presented. This avoidable inconsistency is because the staff are not routinely checking children’s rooms. On the day of the inspection, the maintenance team addressed the immediate hazards identified.

p.4

good

The senior leadership team’s monitoring and oversight of the home was poor during a period when the registered manager and deputy manager were absent. An outbreak of COVID-19 put further pressure on the remaining staff, who worked additional hours to provide consistency for the children. During this inspection, staff morale was high. All staff spoke positively about the improved current level of management support.

p.4

good

Leaders and managers recognise that the systems were not as effective during this difficult period. This has been addressed and lessons learned have been Inspection report children's home: SC454294 5 implemented. However, there is further work to be completed to ensure that the improvements become embedded.

p.4

good

Leaders and managers have addressed staff failures in following safeguarding procedures by reviewing safeguarding policies with staff in team meetings, and by ensuring that all staff have reread the policies and completed online safeguarding training. They have not however, followed this up individually with staff to ascertain any remaining gaps in their skills and knowledge.

p.5

good

During this inspection period, managers have not always notified Ofsted of significant events, for example, with regards to police involvement and a child needing medical attention. This compromises Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home effectively in between inspections.

p.5

good

There have been significant delays in the managers’ oversight of physical intervention records. Some examples demonstrate that managers did not discuss the incidents with staff in a timely manner and children were not consulted about their experiences. These omissions hindered the manager’s ability to monitor and analyse these incidents. Leaders and managers have since completed a thorough lessons learned exercise and identified actions to minimise the risk of reoccurrence. As a result, these records have improved.

p.5

good

The staff supervision records seen by the inspectors were of good quality, however, there is not a clear process in place for the manager to monitor that all staff have had monthly supervision, in accordance with the organisation’s supervision policy. In addition, staff appraisals have not occurred annually. Consequently, staff have not benefited from a structured, reliable approach to supervision and appraisal to support their continuing professional development.

p.5

good

These identified shortfalls and failures in effective leadership and management are viewed against the backdrop of much good staff practice, some excellent assessment and specialised interventions. Leaders and managers have recognised many of the shortfalls themselves and are addressing these. Inspection report children's home: SC454294 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to following safeguarding procedures, leaders and manager assessing staff’s knowledge of the policies and procedures, and reviewing risk assessments. 30 July 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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)(d)) 30 July 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— 30 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC454294 7 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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”)—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

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 (1)(a)(b)(3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

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)(h)) 30 July 2021

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 30 July 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC454294 8 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 30 July 2021

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered manager must lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcome and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. They should ensure that therapeutic practice is consistently applied. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)  A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager, the record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33 (4) (b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

p.8

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: SC454294 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 210 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JX

p.9

Inspectors

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC454294 10 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.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10