Children's Home run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035499 1 SC035499 East Riding of Yorkshire Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates and runs this home. The home provides medium- to long- term residential care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2019 but has been redeployed elsewhere since July 2021. The deputy manager is undertaking day-to- day management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

At the full inspection on 19 and 20 October 2021, there were serious and widespread concerns relating to the care and protection of children, and leadership and management of the home. As a result, compliance notices were issued under regulations 12 and 13 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the progress made to meet the compliance notices. This visit established that the provider has made some improvements but has failed to fully address two concerns outlined in the notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the inspection in October, three children are still living at the home and no new children have moved in. Two new care staff have been employed, which has enabled the provider to cease the use of external agency staff. This means children are cared for by staff who are familiar to them, and who know how to support them.

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This monitoring visit

A senior manager has worked alongside the acting manager to review documents and processes to understand why shortfalls happened. This has resulted in the provider introducing new documents and work practices which are more effective. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035499 2 Children’s safety plans are now regularly discussed as a team, and managers check that staff understand and implement them. Since the full inspection, there have been further incidents in the home when children have been distressed and have sought to leave the home. On these occasions, staff have followed plans correctly. As a result, children are increasingly safe.

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This monitoring visit

Steps have been taken to ensure that the home is hazard-free. Staff inspect the home daily and remove any items which could pose a risk to children. This is now an established part of the day-to-day routine in the home.

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This monitoring visit

There are strategies to control what children access via the home’s Wi-Fi, but this does not extend to use of the internet via their personal phones. Children therefore continue to be exposed to risks online, including accessing harmful imagery. This does not promote the safety of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are monitoring staff practice more closely by providing regular reflective supervision sessions for staff. However, there is still an absence of consistent on-site management. This does not provide access to sufficient in-person guidance and direction for staff.

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This monitoring visit

During the course of the monitoring visit, it was established that the provider was using withdrawal of electricity from a child as one method of managing their behaviour. The senior manager showed a limited understanding about the appropriateness of this action, which is neither proportionate nor reasonable.

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This monitoring visit

In summary, the action taken by the provider to address the steps in the compliance notices has not been sufficient to meet them in full. The aspects will be reissued. One requirement and two recommendations were not considered during this visit and will therefore be carried forward. A breach has also been identified through the withdrawal of electricity and a new requirement made. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035499 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/10/2021 Full Inadequate 19/11/2019 Full Good 05/02/2019 Full Good 23/10/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035499 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

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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi)) 23 January 2022

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) 23 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child. (Regulation 19 (1)) 23 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035499 5 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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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 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 23 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislation, such as alarms and food hygiene. However, in doing so, the home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that, in accordance with schedule 1, paragraphs 19 and 20, the following elements of the workforce plan are included in the statement of purpose: the staffing structure; the experience and qualifications of staff and the arrangements for supervision of staff practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.10)

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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: SC035499 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: East Riding of Yorkshire Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Room AF97, Goole Council Offices, Church Street, Goole, East Yorkshire DN14 5BG

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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035499 7 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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