Children's Home run by Jasper Education and Support Services Limited in Essex

Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 1 Registered provider: Jasper Education and Support Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is run by a private organisation, provides care for up to six children. The home offers care and support through therapeutic services to children who have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in January 2021. There is an acting manager covering the post until a permanent manager is appointed.

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Inspection date: 9 November 2021

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 9 November 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been no registered manager at the home since January 2021.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager and staff demonstrate a clear and detailed awareness and understanding of the children’s complex needs and the plans for their care and support. Staff spoke of wanting the best for the children, and it is apparent that staff take time to form good relationships with children. However, recent incidents have put a strain on these relationships and staff are trying to rebuild trust and to lead by example.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Consultation with the children occurs through daily interaction with the staff, which enables them to actively take part in regular children’s meetings and therapy sessions. This support helps the children to express their views about their care, raise concerns and discuss the things that are important to them. However, from discussions with children during the inspection, it is evident that more focus is required by the staff team to have open and honest conversations about the recent staff changes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager is aware that there remain some shortfalls in record-keeping and is working with staff to address this. The electronic system is difficult to navigate in some areas, which has led to risk assessments for child exploitation not containing the most up-to-date information. Consequently, records lack clear guidance for staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing-from-home episodes have increased in recent months. On occasions, two children have gone missing together. The increase in children going missing from the home has exposed children to significant risks that include exploitation. When children do go missing, staff respond promptly and are resourceful in seeking them out. The staff make a concerted effort to keep in contact and locate children as quickly as possible. However, sufficient arrangements are not in place for independent return home interviews. This is a missed opportunity to gather information and to help the children make safer choices in the future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to manage behaviour that may cause harm to the child or others. Records are satisfactory, including how staff try to de- escalate situations prior to the use of restraint, with good managerial oversight to ensure that its use is proportionate and necessary. However, not all children are debriefed following interventions. Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 3 The recruitment and selection of staff are undertaken by the compliance manager. The procedures for new staff are inadequate and do not prevent unsuitable adults from being recruited to work with children. All necessary background checks are not reflected in the records retained at the home. Lack of suitable checks has led to serious safeguarding concerns and a failure to ensure that children are protected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not receive regular supervision, and annual appraisals have not taken place for all staff. Induction, although sound, has on occasion been undertaken and signed off by a member of staff who is in their probationary period. Not all staff have achieved a relevant level 3 qualification within the required timescale. Lack of effective supervision, appraisal and qualification means that staff do not receive the support that they need to provide good-quality care to children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff try hard to provide children with a welcoming and homely environment. The acting manager ensures that any damage and repairs are addressed in good time. Home improvements and redecoration continue to take place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Notifications of concerns to external agencies and Ofsted are now appropriate. When notifications are made, information is concise and clear. This provides sufficient information to describe events and the actions taken by the home in response to these events.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An independent person visits the home and produces monthly monitoring reports. The information contained in the reports gives a good overview of the home, the staff and the children who live there. The manager’s review of care is an informative document. However, evaluation and feedback from professionals, staff and the children are not included.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers acknowledge the shortfalls highlighted at this inspection. They have begun to implement measures to improve records and children’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has met six requirements from the last inspection. Two requirements are restated, in respect of staff qualifications and debriefing following incidents of restraint. The provider has met one of the recommendations, in respect of missing- from-care risk assessments. A recommendation in respect of children’s views about staff turnover has been restated. Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 5

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all children have up-to-date risk assessments to reduce the potential risk of child exploitation in all its forms. 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 31 January 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 6 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 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

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)(d)) 12 November

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual— 31 January 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 7 does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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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

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(b)(c)) 30 November

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Requirement Due date

within five days of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint, 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)(c)) 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the following items, which may be kept in electronic form, are kept in an accessible manner—

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Requirement Due date

children’s case records (see regulation 36);

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Requirement Due date

other records (see regulation 37). (Regulation 38 (i)(j))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the electronic recording system contains up-to-date information and can generate tasks associated with meeting the children’s homes regulations. 31 December Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that children’s views are considered when monitoring and reviewing the patterns and trends of the turnover of staff, whether agency or directly employed, and use such review to understand and address any negative trends. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.19)  The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review meets all the aspects stipulated in regulation 45. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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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.

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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) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Jasper Education and Support Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 22 The Ongar Business Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, Ongar, Essex CM5 0GA

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Inspector

Cathy Russell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2546196 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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