Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473699 1 SC473699 Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large private provider. It provides care for up to six children. The provider states in their statement of purpose that they provide care for children with EBD (social and emotional difficulties).

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has recently left the home. Interim management arrangements are in place.

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Information about this children’s home

Following the full inspection on 12 October 2021, two compliance notices were served with regard to regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. This monitoring visit was carried out to evaluate the progress made against the steps set out in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

A new management team has recently been appointed. They are working in close partnership with senior managers in implementing change and the development of the home and staff team. Staff describe feeling more supported and better equipped to work with the children. Staff benefit from reflective supervision and additional training to develop their skills and knowledge. A new system for monitoring and auditing children’s files is being implemented and is yet to be embedded in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation has provided specialist support to staff. This support has consisted of staff training, and guidance for staff in assessing risk and implementing risk management plans. Children’s plans have been reviewed, updated and shared with relevant external professionals. However, there are examples of risk arising from recent incidents that have not been fully reviewed by staff or shared with external Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473699 2 professionals. Follow-up work with children has not always been completed. This means that some concerns and risks have not been adequately addressed, and children may not fully understand the consequences of their behaviour on themselves and others.

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This monitoring visit

Communication between the staff and external professionals has improved. Managers at the home are now taking a pro-active role as part of a multi-disciplinary team. This means that concerns are being shared with a wider network of professionals and as a result, children are safer. There is better understanding of children’s risk factors and the impact of these in the home and community. As a result, senior managers have assessed that they can no longer meet the needs of one of the children in the home, and an alternative placement is being sought.

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This monitoring visit

Children are more positive about the home and describe things as being better. There has been a reduction in incidents recently, and staff are working in a more holistic way. Staff are carrying out work with the children to support them to understand internet safety and how to keep themselves safe online. Additional training is being undertaken with staff to improve the standard and quality of their targeted work with children.

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This monitoring visit

Sufficient progress has been made against the compliance notices, and these are now deemed to be met. Some shortfalls were identified, and these have been set as requirements. Not all of the previous requirements were evaluated at this visit, and these have been restated and will be considered at the home’s next inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473699 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/10/2021 Full Inadequate 27/08/2019 Full Outstanding 16/10/2018 Full Outstanding 12/12/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473699 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 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

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to preparing and equipping children with relevant life skills for moving into independence and semi-independence provisions. 10 January 2022

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; 10 January 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473699 5 have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to children’s risks being recorded, evaluated and assessed, taking into account guidance from external professionals, and that these are regularly reviewed and updated.

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; 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)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to management oversight, review and auditing of children’s plans, risk assessments and direct work. It also relates to using monitoring systems to support development of the home. 10 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once a month. 10 January 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473699 6 The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the independent person’s review of the home being sufficiently robust and evaluative in identifying and raising concerns.

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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: SC473699 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen, Worcestershire B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Pradip Panchmatia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473699 8 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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