Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Inspection report children's home: SC425859 1 SC425859 Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is operated by a private provider, is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children with social and/or emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by an experienced manager who registered with Ofsted in February 2011.

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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.

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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 managers 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

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2019

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC425859 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2019 Full Outstanding 20/11/2018 Full Good 01/03/2018 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC425859 3

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improvement to be good

The registered manager does not challenge professionals when there are delays in arranging meetings to review plans to keep children safe. One child has not had their care reviewed and has not met with their social worker within the expected timescale. There have been delays for a child to meet with her social worker to discuss planning her move to supported accommodation. As a result, the child feels that she is not being heard and listened to. Furthermore, it is creating unnecessary anxiety for the child as she prepares to move on from the home.

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improvement to be good

Children receive support from staff to register with local health services and children access these services when required most of the time. One child has attended a routine vision check and collected new glasses but has not attended a dental check within the expected timescale. Staff talk to children about healthy relationships and sexual health and this work is ongoing. Children have good routines in place that promote good personal hygiene.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always have access to children’s education plans. For example, one child’s personal education plan has not been received by the home five months after it was reviewed. The deputy manager has made three requests to the responsible local authority, however, this has not been escalated by the registered manager. Delays in receiving information do not help staff to understand the current education needs for this child and whether they are getting the relevant support. Two children’s education attendance is good; one child has a part-time job and another is being supported by staff to apply for part-time work. When a child does not have access to school, staff work with professionals to find suitable learning provision that can support the child’s needs. This helps these children to make progress with their learning.

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improvement to be good

Children take pride in their bedrooms, which are well kept and personalised. However, the remainder of the home is looking tired. Some furnishings are ripped or broken and some decoration requires attention. There are picture collages on walls around the home, but these are mostly of children who previously lived in the home. Children now living in the home have told staff they would like these to be replaced with more up-to-date pictures of them.

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improvement to be good

A variety of activities are available for children to experience and enjoy. Most children choose not to access these as they enjoy spending time with friends in the community or enjoy being at the home and spending time with staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to develop skills to prepare them for adulthood, in line with the therapeutic and nurturing approach that staff provide. The home’s therapeutic approach is seen in the daily records. These are written in the form of letters aimed directly at children and use nurturing language. This creative way of documenting Inspection report children's home: SC425859 4 children’s day-to-day experiences and progress creates a lovely record for children to keep and look back on.

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improvement to be good

Children plan, budget for and prepare two meals a week with support from staff. For the remainder of the week, staff cook children’s meals and promote healthy eating. However, some children continue to eat a diet that does not support a healthy lifestyle. Staff help children to open bank accounts and apply for allowances to which they are entitled. This helps children to develop good knowledge and skills and financial independence.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to keep in touch with people who are important to them. This helps children to receive support from people who they care about.

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improvement to be good

Managers ensure that staff celebrate children’s achievements and differences. Staff arrange culture-themed nights to help educate children on diversity. Children have also completed some lovely artwork, on topics including sexuality and race. This supports children to learn about and accept difference and recognise discrimination. This empowers children to challenge inequality and contribute to developing a better society for everyone to live in.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager did not inform Ofsted about a child being at risk of exploitation. Measures that were in place to keep a child safe are no longer as effective as they once were and there are limited mechanisms in place to keep the child safe outside of the home. This is increasing her levels of vulnerability.

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improvement to be good

Some children spend a lot of time away from the home without staff seeing them. For one child, this is affecting their health. For example, one child is not at home at the time they should take their prescribed medication. There are no arrangements in place to try to encourage a routine whereby medication could be taken, and to take the opportunity to physically check on a child who is vulnerable when out in the community.

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improvement to be good

Risk management systems are in place but do not give up-to-date guidance for staff on all known risks. Incidents are recorded but staff are not curious about early warning signs and triggers. The registered manager does not evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used to manage risks. Two children have self-harmed, but staff have not recognised new triggers or taken actions which could reduce the risks of further harm. Staff act promptly when a child is hurt and offer medical attention and reassurance. They also share information with mental health specialists who support the child.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has not put clear monitoring systems in place that help children safely use their phones and the internet. Due to concerns about a child’s safety online, staff removed their phone. The child retrieved the phone from the staff office without authorisation and this was not discovered by staff until five days Inspection report children's home: SC425859 5 later. Staff talk to children to offer guidance when something unsafe happens and respond appropriately, but there are no boundaries around phone use or an increase in staff oversight when there are concerns.

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improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing from the home. Staff contact relevant professionals when children go missing and stay in touch with them. On one occasion, staff did not undertake follow-up work with the child to talk about where they were when they went missing and what happened while they were away. Missing-from-care risk assessments do not give staff guidance on locations children might go to or people they may be with. In addition, staff do not always collect children promptly when they are found. This does not promote children’s safety and welfare and is not in line with the home’s missing-from-care policy.

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improvement to be good

Sanctions used by staff are fair and support children to develop socially acceptable behaviours. Staff mostly respond to children’s challenging needs in a therapeutic way. There have been no restraints since the last inspection.

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improvement to be good

Allegations are rare and such concerns about staff are promptly responded to by the registered manager. Changes to staffing arrangements while allegations are investigated ensure that children are kept safe while the registered manager reviews the concern raised with external agencies. Managers talk to children about incidents and explain the outcome of any concerns raised. This shows children that their concerns are taken seriously.

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improvement to be good

One new staff member has joined the team. The registered manager has good recruitment systems in place. This reduces the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable individuals.

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good

The registered manager takes a less active role in the day-to-day arrangements of the home and a very experienced deputy manager who knows the children and home well assumes this responsibility.

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good

The registered manager does not have effective systems in place to guide staff on escalating concerns to local authority professionals within reasonable timescales. As a result, staff do not always have access to up-to-date information and there are delays in reviewing children’s plans when there are safeguarding concerns.

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good

The home uses external monitoring systems to support the home’s development and independent visitor reports are now received by Ofsted within the required timescales.

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good

The registered manager carries out a monthly audit of the home. However, the report lacks detail and does not accurately reflect the home’s overall development. For example, the manager noted in the report that there are no concerns with the environment. However, inspectors found areas of the home that require Inspection report children's home: SC425859 6 redecorating. There is a large area of damp in the quiet lounge and window frames in the detached garage are rotten. There is no system to show that the registered manager has reviewed children’s risk assessments. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that plans provide staff with clear guidance and expectations for managing risk.

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good

There is a small skilled and experienced staff team. Managers ensure that staff undertake training that helps to develop their knowledge and skills. Except for one staff member, the staff team is qualified to level 3 in caring for children and young people. The one staff member is in the process of undertaking this qualification.

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good

When there are gaps in staff arrangements, the registered manager uses consistent care staff from agencies whenever possible. On occasions, the home does not operate within the agreed staffing levels. Children are made aware when staffing levels are low and they are asked by staff to return home on time. A shortage of staff sometimes affects the quality of care children receive.

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good

Managers appraise staff yearly. Supervision responsibilities are delegated across the management team and staff receive supervision regularly. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice, discuss the needs of the children and promote personal growth and development. This shows staff that they are valued and contributes to them feeling well supported.

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good

No complaints have been received. The registered manager has received positive feedback about the service provided to children from various individuals and professionals who have had contact with the home. Inspection report children's home: SC425859 7

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers and staff must escalate issues with a child’s placing authority when needed, for example when there are concerns about a child’s welfare and/or progress, when requests for support are not responded to and placing authorities are not meeting their statutory responsibilities. 25 November

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the home is well maintained throughout and managers respond to children’s requests about improving the environment. 25 November Inspection report children's home: SC425859 8 The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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 each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers need to ensure that work is undertaken with children to improve their diet and fitness and this is kept under review to consider its effectiveness. In addition, ensure that children are supported to attend routine dental appointments as advised in their healthcare plans. 25 November

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff have clear written guidance on managing individual risk that children may be exposed to. In addition, ensure that risk assessments and strategies used to manage risk are reviewed regularly and, when concerns are identified, timely meetings are held with relevant professionals to review how to manage and review these risks. 25 November Inspection report children's home: SC425859 9 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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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)(d)(h)) 25 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff record the actual time that medication is administered to a child and that they support children to establish routines to receive medication when away from the home. 25 November

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)) 25 November

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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 Inspection report children's home: SC425859 10 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: SC425859 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Roundhouse Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ventura House, Ventura Park Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3HL

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Inspectors

Helen Malanaphy, Social Care Inspector Fiona Roche, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC425859 12 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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