Children's Home run by Somerset County Council in Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 1 SC030439 Registered provider: Somerset County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides short breaks, shared care and permanent accommodation for up to five children who have a learning disability and complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in February 2021. A new manager is in post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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. We last visited this setting on 21 October 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted 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 inadequate

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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: 25 November 2019

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/11/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 3

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improvement to be good

This year, leaders and managers decided appropriately to suspend short breaks for a period. Currently, only two children are living in the home. Inspectors found that staff work hard to give these children positive experiences and help them to make progress. Relationships between staff and children are positive, and interactions were seen to be caring and supportive. Staff like the children and they know them well.

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improvement to be good

Children are making progress towards their individual aims. For example, children are developing the skills to become more independent in personal care and to communicate their needs. Staff celebrate the children’s achievements with them and share these important memories with the children’s families.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that children go to school regularly, and that their health needs are met.

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improvement to be good

The quality of children’s day-to-day experiences can be improved. The environment is not homely because staff carry lots of keys, use walkie talkies to communicate in front of children and take a short cut through a child’s home to get to communal spaces. Bathrooms are institutional in appearance and in the choice of fixtures and fittings. Bathrooms for staff and visitors to use are better presented. Staff told the inspectors that they did not know why the same bathrooms could not be used by children, staff and visitors.

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improvement to be good

Children are helped to enjoy activities that they like and go into the community usually at weekends and holiday times if there are enough staff to meet the children’s individual needs. However, activities in the home can be repetitive and lack creativity. Leaders and managers recognise this and are wanting to implement an activity-planning programme.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to make choices and help them to understand how they are feeling. Staff use alternative communication systems and social stories to support children to communicate. Work is needed to include the children in consultations about their care plan and to seek their views about the quality of care.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers recognise that practice in relation to safely managing medication and adhering to child protection policies has not been what it should. Leaders took urgent action to reduce the risks and safeguard the children who live in the home by suspending short breaks and providing staff with refresher training. Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 4 Staff have completed additional child protection training, behaviour management training and the safe management and administration of medication training. Most staff have had their competency to administer medication assessed, but not all. Plans are in place to complete this.

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improvement to be good

Some parents and all professionals who contributed to this inspection feel that their children are kept safe. Inspectors found that staff are working hard to keep children safe, but this has led to staff being risk averse. Staff are not reviewing risk effectively because they are not using the current evidence to determine whether children are able to make progress. Despite direction from leaders and managers not to, staff often lock rooms and unnecessarily lock one child’s clothing away. Staff do not record when they do this, so leaders and managers are not able to understand fully how often it happens nor monitor its appropriateness.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise when children are feeling anxious and they do the right things to help them. Staff understand the triggers to children’s behaviours and they work effectively to de-escalate situations. Physical intervention is used rarely. Incidents are recorded in detail, and managers have good oversight of them. They challenge practice where necessary and ensure that children are debriefed. This was a requirement from the previous inspection and is now complete.

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improvement to be good

Staff work appropriately when referring to external agencies and they have commissioned independent professionals to investigate concerns. Leaders and managers demonstrate learning from the investigations and are taking actions to address the investigator’s recommendations.

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improvement to be good

The process to monitor injuries to children has been improved. Detailed records are now kept, and any concerns are shared appropriately to safeguard children. This was a requirement from the previous inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

This home has not always been led and managed adeptly. Staff lack accountability; they have not always understood their responsibilities or implemented them effectively. Staff have failed to follow medication and child protection policies. Following serious incidents, leaders and managers made the decision to suspend short-break provision because they could not be assured that they had sufficient and competent staff to keep the children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children who would normally visit for short breaks have been unable to do so for the past 12 weeks. This provision is due to restart despite some concerns remaining. Leaders and managers understand the areas of concern and are implementing an action plan to address them. However, the actions taken so far have not been objectively scrutinised by leaders and managers to enable them to accurately understand the current performance of the home. For example, inspectors found that staff who lead shifts and manage medication continue to do so without having Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 5 their competency assessed or completing necessary refresher training. Plans are in place to provide this necessary training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Several staff are not aware of what they and the team need to do to improve their practice because leaders and managers have not clearly and fully discussed the issues of concern with them. In addition, there is a lack of expectation for staff to attend team meetings. Consequently, several important meetings to help staff to understand what is happening in the home and to contribute to reviewing the action plan have been poorly attended. Current leaders and managers have not done enough to challenge this nor implemented opportunities to formally observe staff’s practice and test out their understanding of policy changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has significant staff vacancies. Staff told the inspectors that, prior to the pause of the short-break provision, they worked excessive hours to ensure that children received continuity of care and that their needs were met. While short breaks have been suspended, leaders and managers have tried to recruit for these vacancies; however, the majority of them remain. Moving forward, this means that a reduced package of short-break provision will be provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Two requirements from a previous inspection have been appropriately addressed. However, a previous recommendation to seek the views of stakeholders about the quality of care has not been completed. Leaders and managers plan to obtain this feedback. The independent visitor regularly inspects the home and provides helpful challenge. However, they do not consistently spend time with children during their visits to observe interactions and staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new manager has been appointed. She is committed to the service and has applied to register with Ofsted. Staff spoke positively about the support the manager gives. Staff are now receiving regular supervision and appraisals. Supervisions can be improved by ensuring that actions from previous meetings are consistently appraised at the next.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers understand that considerable improvements are required to improve the quality of the environment. They are seeking to modernise the bathrooms, and staff are helping to redecorate rooms. Wooden steps in one garden area present a potential hazard, and blocked guttering causes flooding to the outside area. Despite improvements in some areas, the home feels tired.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Overall, the home has sufficient fire exits, enabling children and staff to exit into the gardens. However, in order to reach the designated evacuation point, children and staff travel through several gates that are locked with keys. Although staff always carry the key to unlock the gates, they have not considered the additional hazards this may present if faced with a real fire. Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 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 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; and

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(ix)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff do not unnecessarily restrict children’s access to rooms and their belongings. 1 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 7 Improve the homeliness of the environment taking into consideration the use of institutional style fixtures and fittings in bathrooms, tired décor throughout the home, use of walkie talkies, carrying of keys and travelling through one child’s accommodation to access communal areas.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to prepare for any review of the child’s relevant plans and to make the child’s views, wishes and feelings known for the purposes of that review.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that children are helped to contribute to their care plan and are helped to provide feedback on the quality of care their receive. 1 October 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

that staff— 1 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 8 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

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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2) (a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Assess the appropriate use of restrictive practices (for example, harnesses, clothes locked away, doors locked) based specifically on an objective review of children’s needs and progress.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all aspects of the home are free from avoidable hazards. In particular, risk assess the use of keys to exit gates to the fire evacuation point, repair the wooden steps in the garden and ensure the guttering is unblocked.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 1 September 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 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; and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that staff responsible for managing medication and leading shifts have completed all the required training set by managers.

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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 1 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 10 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

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Requirement Due date

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

In particular, ensure that a record is maintained of restrictive practices and that leaders and managers monitor the appropriateness of this. The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)) 1 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 11

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they consult with children and other stakeholders to obtain their views about the quality of care provided by the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)  The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)  The registered person should ensure that actions from previous supervision sessions are consistently reviewed at the next meeting. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC030439 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4DY

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Inspectors

Paula Lahey, Social Care Inspector Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC030439 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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