Children's home run by Jamores Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 1 Registered provider: Jamores Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home which provides care and accommodation for up to three children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in February 2020. The manager was registered with Ofsted at the same time. This is the home’s first full inspection.

p.1

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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on February 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 2

p.1

Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected. Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care that meets their needs. This means that children have good experiences and make steady progress. Children and staff have positive relationships with each other. A child said: ‘All staff are OK. But I really get on with [staff member’s name], she understands me more and will tell you the truth. Straight up.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are treated with respect and dignity. They have good opportunities to share their wishes and feelings about the home and how it is run. Staff encourage children to make day-to-day choices. For example, children choose how to personalise their bedrooms and even which of the bedrooms they prefer as their private space. Children’s meetings and key-work sessions ensure that children contribute to shaping the service.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children settle in quickly when they move into the home. Staff ensure that they understand how the home is run and staff’s expectations of them. Children receive good information about the home when they arrive. However, the children’s guide does not include clear information about making complaints or the contact details of key organisations children can approach if they have concerns.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s learning outcomes are very good. Staff ensure that their communication and advocacy with school and college professionals are regular and effective. This ensures that children attend appropriate educational or training resources. In one child’s case, staff were persistent in securing an apprenticeship that he had identified. Staff support children to prepare curricula vitae (CVs) and for job interviews if they are seeking employment. This is so that care and support are provided in line with targets identified by the local authority.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the pandemic, staff ensured that children attended remote classroom lessons or had access to tutors. Staff supported children with their homework and independent study. This helped to improve their educational attainment. Children’s general and educational achievements are celebrated. This motivates children to focus on their learning and development.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Older children are prepared well for adulthood. Staff support these children to develop daily living skills, such as shopping, meal preparation, budgeting and household chores. However, staff do not formally assess children’s independence skills. This is useful to gauge how well tasks are completed, and what daily skills need further development. For one child, whose partner is expecting a baby, key- work sessions focus on preparing him for parenthood.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to live healthy lifestyles. Staff register children with primary care services and encourage them to keep medical appointments. This ensures that children follow recommended medical treatment plans. As required, children have Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 4 access to specialist healthcare professionals, such as child and adolescent mental health services and sexual health services.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good support that promotes their positive mental health. They can work directly with the organisation’s therapists or, if they prefer, with external mental health professionals. The staff team receives regular training and support to help them work with children who have mental health support needs. This approach to care is largely effective. Children’s self-esteem, confidence and emotional well-being show improvement the longer children remain in placement.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children say that they feel safe with staff. Children’s safety and well-being are at the centre of practice at the home. Staff protect children from neglect, harm and abuse. Staff have a clear understanding of the organisation’s child protection policies and procedures. This helps to keep children safe.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments identify known and anticipated risks to children. Staff keep these under review and up to date. Assessments include plans that help to reduce risks. This is particularly the case for self-harming incidents. Additionally, staff receive bespoke training in this area of their work. This has been effective in reducing self- harming incidents.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

In the recent past, some children have frequently been away from the home without staff permission or have been missing. Staff and children’s professional networks are aware of why this is the case and there are joint strategies in place. This is to help reduce the number of episodes of going missing.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff set boundaries which offer children structure to help to keep them safe. For example, staff strictly adhere to procedures for one child when he is out in the community. The child and professionals are aware of steps staff will take if the child does not remain in contact with them while away from the home. The effectiveness of these plans is enhanced by a written agreement that outlines the action staff will take in certain scenarios. This helps the child’s understanding of risks posed when he is missing.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff conduct bedroom searches if they believe bedrooms to contain objects that may pose a risk to children. Room searches are conducted appropriately and in line with the home’s policies. As required, staff observe children in their rooms at regular intervals. This is to check that they are safe and not causing harm to themselves.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff supervision of children is effective, and staff manage children’s behaviour well. Since the last inspection, there have been few critical incidents. Staff promote positive behaviour and they do not restrain children.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Managers deal with complaints against staff and between children sensitively and fairly. However, not all records of complaints confirm that children are informed of complaint outcomes. Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 5 The home’s premises are undergoing a programme of redecoration and refurbishment. This is to make the home a comfortable, nurturing environment. Staff conduct regular health and safety checks to confirm that the building is safe. Children are comfortable with their surroundings and help to make decisions about the home’s decor.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership of the home is strong. The registered manager is supported by a deputy and receives good support from the home’s responsible individual and the director. The registered manager is appropriately experienced and qualified to lead the team. Leaders and managers have high expectations for children’s achievements.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s monitoring and review systems are robust. Managers undertake regular monitoring exercises. These explore most aspects of the running of the home and offer some insight into the quality of the service. Areas identified for improvement are highlighted in development plans.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good support from their line managers. A member of staff said:’ Being my first job in a home, I have been given great support and supervision throughout my time here.’ However, there are gaps in the frequency of some staff supervision. The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has led to an increase in the use of agency staff. This is gradually reducing due to a successful staff recruitment campaign.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that staff are recruited in line with safe recruitment policies and most required checks are in place. However, managers do not consistently evidence certificates of staff’s formal qualifications. This does not confirm the suitability of staff to work with children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction of new staff prepares them well for working with children. Staff training opportunities are relevant and wide-ranging. During the pandemic, staff completed a programme of online training. The organisation’s therapists provide regular therapeutic training sessions for the staff team. Managers ensure that staff receive bespoke training that addresses children’s complex needs. A good illustration of this is staff training focused on the use of ligatures.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers prioritise the needs of children. The home’s care planning process is effective. Children’s outcomes improve from their starting points and their experiences are positive. Staff are passionate and sensitive in their care of children, and they are familiar with children’s complex needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is meeting the aims and objectives as stated in its statement of purpose. Managers and staff share good working relationships with other professionals and parents. This ensures that all parties are aware of placement issues and developments. Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 6 An independent reviewing officer said: ‘The staff work well as a team. There is good communication with the wider networks, but what I find refreshing is that they take learning and feedback on board to improve the standard of service.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 7

p.5

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document. (Regulation 7 (2)(c)) 1 December 2021

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(b) (2)(b)(iii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This relates to staff’s formal assessment of children’s daily living skills. 1 January 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 1 December 2021

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— 1 December 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 8 employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.7

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,

p.8

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; and

p.8

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)(d))

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. This relates to children being advised of the outcome of their complaints. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should ensure that no more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night at the home, should be from an external agency. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.17)

p.8

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: 2566238 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Thames Innovation Centre, Studio 52, Veridion Way, Erith DA18 4AL

p.9

Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2566238 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10