Children's home run by Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 1 Registered provider: Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned. The home provides care for one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 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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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 manag- ers requires improvement to be good

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 3

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improvement to be good

The children’s experiences have been varied. This is due to high levels of instability and frequent incidents in the home and in the community. This has had an impact on the children’s ability to build trusting and secure relationships with all of the staff and professionals.

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improvement to be good

There were no children living in the home at the time of the inspection, which had an impact on the inspector’s ability to fully ascertain children’s views. From reading records of the inspector was able to ascertain that key-work sessions, speaking with staff, family, and professionals, one child was making some progress until he became aware of plans for him to move from the home. As a result, his behaviours escalated significantly.

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improvement to be good

Matching children’s suitability to the home, before they are admitted, is not effective. This has had a significant impact, and has led to two placements ending. The provider has taken some steps to address this, and new systems have been implemented to assist the future matching of children to the home. These systems are still being embedded.

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improvement to be good

Children did have one-to-one key-work sessions, formal and informal, and were supported to engage with a range of professionals. However, children’s views were not captured during formal children’s meetings or consultations. This means that the children are not consulted effectively on the running of their home.

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improvement to be good

From speaking with staff and reading files, children did engage in some positive activities in the wider community. Children had activity planners. One child had been playing football, and had been go-karting and to Go Ape, which they had enjoyed.

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improvement to be good

Children’s educational progress is varied. One child had engaged with his education plan within the home initially, and had successfully completed mock exams.

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improvement to be good

However, another child’s plan of education was not in place. This led to the child not having the structure and routine that education can provide. The provider has acknowledged this, and plans are in place to help improve educational outcomes.

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improvement to be good

The children’s health and developmental needs are supported by staff, and staff make relevant referrals to access specialist support for children. Staff work in partnership with the looked after children’s nurse and other health professionals.

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improvement to be good

Professionals and family told the inspector that the staff ensured that the children could continue to build their relationships with their family members by engaging in positive family time. Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 4

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improvement to be good

Children have behaviour support plans and risk assessments in place. These are reviewed regularly by the manager, in consultation with social workers and other agencies. This helps to ensure that risks are identified and addressed.

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improvement to be good

There have been numerous occasions when staff have not been able to manage the children’s behaviours safely. This has resulted in an increase in the number of serious incidents. The inability to manage these situations leaves children at risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not routinely support the children to develop an understanding of how their behaviours can affect themselves and others. As a result, children continue to display risk-taking behaviours which could lead to them being criminalised.

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improvement to be good

Staff have supervisions and are able to access training. They also work in partnership with other professionals. This supports staff in their roles. However, the infrequency of team meetings and supervisions means that any changes to children’s care are not communicated effectively to all staff. As a result, staff are not well informed about how best to support the children.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing from the home, the staff respond and follow the children’s risk assessments. The staff search local areas where children are known to go, and work in partnership with other agencies and the children’s families to reduce the risk. However, despite this, missing-from-home incidents remain a concerning feature, with children leaving the home without permission on a regular basis. This exposes children to a risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Ahigh number of incidents have been notified to Ofsted. However, there have been concerns about the clarity of the information provided, and updates with regard to ongoing investigations are not always forwarded to Ofsted. This hinders Ofsted’s ability to monitor the safeguarding practice in the home.

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good

The manager is child centred in her approach. She provides her staff with a clear vision and positive support. She is accessible and staff described her as a positive role model, both for them and the children.

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good

Staff access regular training, supervision and team meetings, and have handovers. This helps to support the staff’s developmental needs. However, supervisions and team meetings are not frequent enough to support the staff. This means that opportunities to support staff development are not used effectively. Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 5 The manager has monitoring systems in place. She uses the information from the independent visitor’s reports and the responsible individual’s monthly audits to improve her oversight of the home, the children and the staff’s progress.

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good

The manager makes use of a workforce development plan. The plan has clear aims and objectives, and shows that the manager understands the strengths and areas for development in the home. This means that she is focused in improving the children’s outcomes and experiences. There is a clear action plan with agreed timescales.

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good

Staff have been recruited safely. The manager works in partnership with human resources to ensure that all relevant checks have been made on all staff working in the home.

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good

Professionals said that the manager works in partnership with other agencies, and is proactive in ensuring that children’s holistic care needs are being met. Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 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, 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 in 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)) 31 December

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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.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that updates on any ongoing investigations are shared, and that the information provided is clear and detailed. 31 December Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 7

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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) Regula- tions 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 38 Sherwood Road, Worksop S80 1QW

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Inspector

Noel Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 9 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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