SC 040491

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 1 SC040132

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Cornwall Council

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This registered children’s home operates as a short-break service and is run by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has left. A new manager is working in the home and has not yet applied to register.

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This monitoring visit

During a full inspection on 16 August 2021, Ofsted judged the home to be inadequate. Serious failures in staffing arrangements, vetting of agency workers, and restraint oversight and recording practices were identified. At the full inspection, seven requirements were raised. A further monitoring visit was completed on the 5 October 2021. Six requirements raised at the August inspection were found to not be met and a compliance notice was served. This monitoring visit is to review the progress in respect of the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

A new manager has been recruited and intends to register with Ofsted soon. Senior leaders and managers are taking effective action to address the shortfalls identified in August. The child has moved to another home. They are cared for by a combination of staff from the home and agency staff. The required recruitment checks are in the process of completion for all staff working with the child.

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This monitoring visit

Training for staff has been sourced and is in the process of being delivered to ensure all staff have the skills to meet the needs of the child. Recording systems have been strengthened. However, as the child is no longer in the home, these changes are not yet embedded. Similarly, the embedding of management oversight regarding physical interventions and practice cannot currently be seen. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 2 No children are currently staying at the home. There is a clear plan to develop the home in readiness for returning to a short-breaks service in the early part of next year. This includes ensuring that all areas of the home are accessible for wheelchairs. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/08/2021 Full Inadequate 11/09/2019 Full Good 24/01/2019 Full Good 18/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 4

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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

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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments are updated, read, signed and followed by all staff. 29 October 2021

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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—

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 29 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 5 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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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)(a)(c)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is effective oversight and monitoring of the service.

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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

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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, care planning records must be kept up to date in order to ensure that staff are able to meet the current needs of young people.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 29 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

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,

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Requirement Due date

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; 29 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 6 the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that the required checks have been completed on all staff working in the home, including agency staff.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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)(a)(iv)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to the recording of restraints. 29 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 7 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Accounts Payable, PO Box 727, Truro TR1 9GP

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Inspectors

Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040132 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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