SC 040491

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 1 SC040132

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Cornwall Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This registered children’s home operates as a short-break service and is run by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has left. A new manager is working in the home and has not yet submitted an application to register.

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This monitoring visit

During a full inspection on 16 August 2021, Ofsted judged the home to be inadequate. Serious failures in staffing arrangements, vetting of agency workers, and restraint practices were identified. At the full inspection, seven requirements were raised. This monitoring visit monitored compliance with the requirements from the last full inspection. Six requirements raised at the last inspection are not met. As a result of this monitoring visit, compliance notices have been served.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is leaving the home. Alternative management arrangements were put in place immediately following this monitoring visit. The monitoring visit identified that management tasks were being completed by a number of different managers. Clear and consistent oversight of practice is lacking. As a result, there is insufficient scrutiny of records and restraint techniques.

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This monitoring visit

Despite serious concerns being raised by inspectors at the full inspection about the vetting of staff, managers have failed to ensure that agency staff staying and working at the home have the necessary employment checks to meet the requirements of regulation. Managers have delayed in taking action to assure themselves that staff have the required checks to demonstrate that they do not present a risk to children. Following this monitoring visit, senior leaders took action to address gaps in vetting processes. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 2 At the last inspection, serious failures in the monitoring for agency staff who were sleeping in the home while not on duty were identified. Following that visit, a risk assessment around these arrangements was then put in place. Worryingly, agency staff who were not on duty were sleeping in the home between shifts, and this had

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This monitoring visit

become routine. Managers knew that this risk assessment is not being followed and failed to act on this. The managers are unclear about which adults are in the building overnight and where they are sleeping. A system for monitoring who is staying overnight in the building was not made available to inspectors. Since this monitoring visit, staff who are not on duty no longer sleep in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Some action was taken to address shortfalls following the full inspection. An action plan is in place. Managers have some protected time to complete management tasks. Some agency staff have received supervision. However, progress has been too slow. There is a lack of clear and consistent oversight by managers.

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This monitoring visit

Managers had not reviewed restraint training of agency staff to determine if techniques used are suitable for use on children. Records of incidents of restraint are being reviewed by the wider professional team, but there is a lack of rigour. Two sets of records are kept about incidents of restraint. Inconsistencies between these records had not been identified. These records lack clarity around who led the restraint and how the child was moved to a floor hold. Consequently, the review of restraint practice is inadequate.

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This monitoring visit

Serious incidents occur that result in damage to the home and injuries to staff. There are periods where fewer restraints occur; however, the child is sometimes held on the floor. Records do not evidence if the child’s views are sought following some incidents. For example, the child was injured during a restraint, but there was no record of a discussion with the child about what happened. Staff have taken some steps to try and seek feedback, but this practice is not yet embedded.

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This monitoring visit

The requirement around making sure a fire door in the kitchen is accessible for children using a wheelchair has not been actioned. This requirement is restated.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders are working closely with the new manager and the staff to address shortfalls. Progress with meeting the steps set out in compliance notices will be monitored closely by Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/08/2021 Full Inadequate 11/09/2019 Full Good 24/01/2019 Full Good 18/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 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 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 home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments are updated, read, signed and followed by all staff. 29 October 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

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 29 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 5 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is effective oversight and monitoring of the service.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, care planning records must be kept up to date in order to ensure that staff are able to meet the current needs of young people.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 29 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of a fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager and senior leaders must drive forward plans that ensure that the fire door in the kitchen area is accessible for wheelchair users.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 29 October 2021

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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 29 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 6 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, the manager should ensure that the required checks have been completed on all staff working in the home, including agency staff.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

a description of the measure and its duration;

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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

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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")— 29 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 7 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)(iv)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to the recording of restraints.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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 address: Accounts Payable, PO Box 727, Truro TR1 9GP

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Inspectors

Angela Weston, Social Care Inspector Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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