Children's home run by Lavender Grove Cares Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 1 Registered provider: Lavender Grove Cares Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children aged between five and 18 with complex social and emotional needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since June 2021 and is in the process of applying to be registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

p.1

Inspection date: 27 October 2021

Date of last inspection: 28 September 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 27 October 2021

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 27 October 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 2

p.1

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 declined in effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and the staff have experienced a turbulent and unsettled period recently. This does not provide children with stability and is detrimental to their well-being. One child said that they feel unhappy and that the staff treat her differently. This child has spoken to their social worker about moving to another home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four staff have resigned since the last inspection. This number of changes is unsettling for children who need to maintain positive relationships with a consistent team of staff. The manager is covering some shifts and using agency staff. However, this does not provide good continuity of care. The manager is in the process of recruiting new staff.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been allegations about the conduct of some of the staff and managers. One member of staff arrived at the home unfit to work and told the other staff on shift. These staff failed to report this to the on-call manager until several hours into the shift. Staff’s failure to follow safeguarding procedures left children in unsuitable care.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A serious incident in which a child gained access to a knife was reported to the responsible individual and the manager. However, the incident was not recorded properly. The incident is currently under investigation.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two significant safeguarding incidents. These have been reported to all the relevant agencies and are currently under investigation. In addition, several practice issues have been raised with Ofsted that indicate safeguarding concerns and these are currently being investigated by the organisation.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff do not keep detailed and clear records. Information on the staff rota and in the logbook does not match the names and times of the staff working at the home. This means that it is difficult to see if the home is adequately staffed. This could limit the effectiveness of any review of records in the future. This forms part of a previous requirement from the last inspection, the due date of which has not yet passed. The requirement is therefore restated.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has begun to take some action to address the shortfalls highlighted at the last inspection. However, there has not been sufficient time to address these and embed the changes in practice. Therefore, the seven requirements and four Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 3 recommendations raised at the last inspection have been restated. In addition, one further requirement has been identified at this inspection.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.4

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Requirement 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iv))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full inspection and is restated. 5 November 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)) 5 November 2021 Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 5 In particular, ensure that children have a current personal education plan.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Requirement 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, staff must understand their role in taking immediate action to keep children safe. Risk management must consider all factors relating to risk and implement adequate measures to mitigate these risks. 20 November 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments are updated and kept where staff can find them.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full inspection and is restated. 5 November 2021

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 5 November 2021 Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 6 promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.6

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full inspection and is restated. 5 November 2021

p.6

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”)—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.6

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)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the full inspection and is restated. 5 November 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation (Regulation 39 (3))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, complaints by children should be followed up comprehensively and within the required timescale. 5 November 2021 Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 7 This requirement was made at the full inspection and is restated.

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a well- maintained, homely and domestic environment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children are not subject to unnecessary invasion of their privacy. In particular, give children the chance to comment on records of room searches. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 19, paragraph 3.36)  The registered person should maintain good employment practice. In particular, ensure that a reference from the last employer is obtained. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear record-keeping. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.7

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.

p.7

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 for children's home: 2569520 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lavender Grove Cares Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Gothic Cottage, Moreton Road, Ongar, Essex CM5 0EZ

p.8

Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 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.

p.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9