Children's home run by The Percy Hedley Foundation

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 1

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The Percy Hedley Foundation

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by the Percy Hedley Foundation. It offers care and accommodation for up to 14 children who may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or sensory impairment. The accommodation consists of a residential unit and a three-bedroom cottage.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager at this home.

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Information about this children’s home

A full inspection was carried out on 4 and 5 May 2021 which identified a number of failures in respect to the quality of leadership and management. In response, two compliance notices were issued under regulation 13 and regulation 33.

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Information about this children’s home

A monitoring visit was carried out on 22 June 2021. The inspector found that the compliance notice under regulation 33 was met. However, there were shortfalls identified in staff recording, the quality of management oversight and staff training. A compliance notice was reissued under regulation 13.

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Information about this children’s home

The Percy Hedley Foundation are to close this children’s home on 30 September 2021.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the action taken by the provider in response to the compliance notice. The visit included a review of documents, a tour of the buildings, observations of children and young people and discussions with staff and a parent. There were four children and one young person living in the home at the time of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found that the provider has taken effective action and met the steps in the compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 2 The interim manager has ensured that there is effective management oversight of all incidents involving children. Since the last inspection, the manager has analysed the recording system and identified weaknesses. She has introduced a new system that records management oversight. This includes the scrutiny of children’s records and rectifying errors.

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This monitoring visit

Staff allocated to care for children with complex medical needs are adequately trained. The interim manager has ensured that staff are appropriately allocated and have the necessary skills to care for children. The manager has reviewed the staff training needs and, where she has identified gaps, staff have been enrolled onto training courses.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has commenced a review the children’s files, including individual risk assessments. The shortfall identified in the last inspection in a particular child’s risk assessment has been addressed. The manager has a plan in place to review all other risk assessments to ensure that they are up to date and relevant.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager and responsible individual have regular meetings with senior leaders to review plans for closing the home. These meetings help the manager to continually risk assess, manage resources and ensure that there are sufficient staff to meet the children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team are committed to caring for the children. While saddened by the forthcoming closure, staff are focussed on the children enjoying positive experiences and receiving good-quality care throughout the remaining time of them living in the home. One parent was complimentary about staff, describing them as ‘amazing’ in how they have helped their child to make progress in recent weeks.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is working with the children’s placing authorities to plan each child’s move to a new home. The staff have supported children with introductions to their new carers. This includes sharing information about children’s needs, likes and dislikes. In addition, staff have created social stories, which are read with children to help them understand what is happening in their lives. One child was very happy to move to their new home and settled well.

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This monitoring visit

The previously issued requirements under regulations 14, 35 and 36 were not fully reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are reissued.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 3 24/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/06/2019 Full Inadequate 01/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 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, the 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s 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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(i)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This was not considered as part of this inspection. 5 November 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; 5 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 5 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

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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 five 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))

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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 signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This was not considered as part of this inspection. 5 November 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person must review the location of the home to ensure that children are effectively safeguarded. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (The guide to the Children’s home regulations, 15.1, page 64) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 6

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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: The Percy Hedley Foundation

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Percy Hedley School, Forest Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE12 8YY

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Inspector

Catherine Heron, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1234990 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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