Children's Home run by Shalamar Children Limited in Essex

Inspection report children’s home: 2526435 1 Registered provider: Shalamar Children Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in July 2019. It is one of two homes operated by a small private provider. The home provides care for up to three children who cannot live at home or in a foster placement because of their social, emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 1 January 2021. The interim manager has been in post since June 2021 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 23 September 2021

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 23 September 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2526435 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed four of the five requirements and two out of the three recommendations that were raised at the last inspection. Two additional requirements are made at this interim inspection. The manager has made improvements to the children’s risk assessments and missing person’s protocols. Risk assessments and missing-from-home protocols are clear, accurate and up to date. Staff understand what is required of them should a child go missing or display risk- taking behaviours. Incident reports reflect that staff’s action aligns with the guidance set out in the children’s plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and two children have moved in. Another child has been living at the home for over a year. The needs and risks of the newly admitted children have been sufficiently considered. Therefore, the current group dynamics are positive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has made a positive difference to the home. He monitors records to good effect. Records are clear, up to date and accurate. Staff respect the new manager and recognise that the positive changes at the home were due to his input.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the children do not have education placements. However, staff have been tenacious and relentless in their pursuit of education provisions or in-house tutoring. Several factors outside of the staff’s control have delayed one child’s access to education. Another child has been resistant to engage in education and has refused to attend college. This child’s parent said that the deputy manager has been tenacious in her attempts to try to encourage the child to attend college.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s social workers provided very positive feedback about the quality of care at the home. All social workers identified progress that their children have made. Progress includes a reduction in self-harming behaviour, improvements in self-care, an increase in children’s confidence and children’s ability to establish positive relationships with others.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff support the children’s hobbies and interests well. They provide children with opportunities to engage locally, doing things that they enjoy. Although these opportunities are not always taken up by the children, they are consistently offered. These activities include swimming, baking, going to the gym and singing sessions at a music studio.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children go missing from the home infrequently. When children do go missing, staff follow the children’s plans to achieve their safe return. Missing person’s protocols Inspection report children’s home: 2526435 3 clearly say what staff should do if a child goes missing from the home. The manager updates missing person protocols to ensure that any new and relevant information is suitably recorded. The placing authority holds responsibility for providing return home interviews. However, managers do not consistently challenge placing authori- ties when they fail to provide return interviews for children after they have been missing. As a result, children do not consistently have access to this safeguard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The organisation’s area manager worked at the home when the manager was on annual leave. Managers had not recorded this on the rota. The manager should maintain accurate records of staff who have worked at the home in case a query arises later.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has completed an internal monitoring report. However, he did not submit the report to Ofsted. This shortfall means that Ofsted does not have a current view of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment records relating to agency staff are not always adequate. It is not always clear if the required information has been gathered. Issues that should provoke managerial curiosity have not done so. This does not ensure that the children are as safe as they could be. Inspection report children’s home: 2526435 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2526435 5

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that agency staff have had the required checks.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full inspection and is re- stated. 29 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 29 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2526435 6 maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff working at the home are recorded on the rota.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)) 29 October 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: 2526435 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Shalamar Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 63a, Thames Industrial Estate, Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, Essex RM18 8RH

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Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2526435 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 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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