Children's home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2588753 1

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Acorn Homes (uk) Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to six children aged between seven and 16 who may experience social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties. The home is run by a private organisation that operates several registered children’s homes.

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Information about this children's home

This home has not had a registered manager since 8 March 2021.

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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 9 and 10 June to carry out a full inspection. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection on 9 and 10 June 2021 the home was judged inadequate. Three compliance notices and a restriction of accommodation notice were served. In addition, five requirements were also made. This monitoring visit was conducted over two days by two inspectors. The purpose was to monitor the providers progress in meeting the compliance notices and to ensure that the provider remained compliant with the restriction notice. The additional requirements were not looked at during this visit and are therefore repeated.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found that no children had been moved into the home during this period. Therefore, the provider has complied with restriction notice.

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice was served under regulation 12 (1) (2) (d) The protection of children standard. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2588753 2 Step one required the manager to: “ensure that the premises used for the purpose 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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This monitoring visit

A tour of the property demonstrated that maintenance has improved, and areas of the home have been redecorated. The home was clean, free from hazards and well presented.

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This monitoring visit

Step two required the manager to: “ensure that communal areas are kept clean, hygienic, safe and free from damp.”

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This monitoring visit

The child was moved to an alternative room. The ensuite had been removed and the bedroom was being redecorated. The home was clean and tidy.

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This monitoring visit

Step three required the manager to: “ensure that damage to communal areas is rectified as a priority.”

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This monitoring visit

There is an improved system in place to report damage which enables a quick and efficient response for repairs to be rectified promptly.

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice was served under regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i) The protection of children standard.

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This monitoring visit

Step one required the manager to: “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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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments do not clearly state what the risk being considered is and there is no link to the children’s care plans. Through reviewing the paperwork some risk assessments were not relevant to the child’s current risk. For example, a child goes missing but the responsible individual stated that this does not happen any longer. Therefore, staff do not have current information to effectively manage the children. Children continue to be at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Step two required the manager to: “review, and where necessary amend, the current risk assessments for all children.”

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This monitoring visit

Current risk assessments have been reviewed and amended. However, quality and attention to detail is not effective in providing staff with a clear understanding of the risk, and how these can be reduced and managed. This element of the notice has been met.

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This monitoring visit

Step 3 required the manager to: “provide guidance to all staff in risk management processes and implementation.”

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This monitoring visit

The staff have not been consulted during the review process. Team meetings and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2588753 3 supervision did not evidence discussion regarding risk management. The staff have not received any training; the responsible individual reported this is booked. The manager has failed to provide appropriate training and support for staff to understand complex risks. This has resulted in children not being safeguarded.

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice was served under regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c) The leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

Step one required the manager to: “conduct a skills, experience and training audit for every staff member, including the registered manager, and identify any gaps.”

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual informed the inspectors this has not been completed. Failure to identify the staff skills demonstrates that leaders are not committed to providing staff with relevant training and experience to effectively undertake their roles and responsibilities. Consequently, children’s needs are not met.

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This monitoring visit

Therefore, Step two “ Implement a training programme that focuses on the staff having the relevant skills to care for the identified needs of children in the home.” And Step three “Ensure that all staff are appropriately inducted for the roles that they are appointed for.” Have not been completed.

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This monitoring visit

The findings of this monitoring visit caused Ofsted significant concern. The providers lack of ability to meet the notices demonstrates their practice and care of children is unsafe. This was exacerbated by a serious safeguarding incident were a child stated they did not feel safe. Therefore, Ofsted have taken action to suspend the home while next steps are considered.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2588753 4

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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 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

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to regular children’s meetings and one-to-one discussions with children. 29/08/2021

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 11/07/2021

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are 11/07/2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2588753 5 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

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

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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 the premises used for the purpose 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)) 11/07/2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 11/07/2021

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 29/08/2021

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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); 11/07/2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2588753 6 serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to the use of holding and locking doors.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 29/08/2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards' page 40, paragraph 9.36)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (uk) Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 424 Margate Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6SJ

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Carol Bradley Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2588753 7 Registered manager: Post Vacant

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Inspectors

Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Inspector Ms Sophie Wood, Regional Inspection manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2588753 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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