Children's Home run by Cumbria County Council in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061810 1 SC061810 Registered provider: Cumbria County Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by Cumbria County Council. The home can provide care to up to six children of either gender.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2018.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place to monitor four compliance notices that were served following the home’s full inspection on 9 and 10 November 2021. Following the full inspection, a decision was made to also restrict further admissions to the home. This was also monitored during this visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The first compliance notice was issued in relation to identifying, reviewing and responding to children’s health needs. In meeting this notice, the provider has ensured that a full and effective external review of children’s health and care plans has taken place. Action has been taken to respond to children’s individual health needs and children have received required treatment and assessment during this time. Leaders and managers have initiated structured daily routines and activities for children. Staff are aware of these and are implementing them. Because of this, children are benefiting from improved physical and emotional health. Further direct work is required to support children to understand and improve their own health and individual needs.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A second notice was issued in relation to bullying and positive relationships in the home. There were serious and significant concerns around bullying in the home and staff’s ability to support, direct and educate children. In meeting this notice, the manager has implemented structured daily routines, ensuring staff are spending Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061810 2 time with children. Relationships are built through increased one-to-one time, activities and improved routines and boundaries.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The inspector was able to observe improved recording and action following incidents of bullying. Staff had received additional training and external guidance in relation to understanding and responding to children’s behaviours. The manager has also ensured that staff have revisited both the bullying and behaviour management policies. This is supporting staff to respond to children better and has reduced incidents between children in the home. Further direct work is required with children in this area to support them to understand the impact and potential consequences of bullying behaviours.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A third compliance notice was issued in relation to the protection of children, specifically, the assessment and response to known risks, the home’s environment, and the monitoring of safeguarding arrangements in the home. Risk assessments have been improved and accurately assess all known risks. More specific, robust, and child-friendly procedures are in place which direct staff to respond effectively to incidents when children may display unsafe behaviours. Furthermore, in relation to incidents in which children have been missing, staff can demonstrate that their responses have been more effective, and children have received better help and protection.

p.2

This monitoring visit

To further strengthen the home’s approach to protecting children, senior leaders and managers have liaised with local police, creating a consistent, multi-agency response to help and protect children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home’s environment is now safe. Windows and damaged furniture have now been replaced. The inspector carried out a tour of the home at the time of inspection and found it to be in a good state of repair. Improved maintenance systems are in place which ensure the environment is checked regularly and that issues are recorded and monitored. This helps to ensure tasks are completed and that prompt action is taken to rectify issues identified.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The fourth compliance notice was issued due to shortfalls in management oversight, review and evaluation, staff sufficiency and skills. Leaders and managers have made progress in addressing staff sufficiency. It has been agreed that the home will have increased staffing ratios and several new staff have been appointed. Children have benefited from wider availability of staff. Due to increased staffing ratios, incidents have been managed more effectively and children have received increased supervision and support.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Significant improvements have been made to the home’s recording and reporting systems. This is improving the manager’s ability to monitor and review risk and the quality of care provided to children. External services have also supported the home to improve its monitoring systems. This has further helped the manager to respond to and rectify shortfalls in the care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061810 3 During this monitoring visit, shortfalls were found in relation to the direct work and education undertaken with children in several areas. A requirement was made to address this.

p.2

This monitoring visit

All compliance notices are deemed to have been met following this inspection. The home was also found to be adhering to the restriction of accommodation notice issued. The inspector was also able to view some of the additional progress towards meeting the requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection. Those which were not reviewed remain in place until the home’s next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061810 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/11/2021 Full Inadequate 05/03/2020 Full Good 09/05/2018 Full Good 02/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061810 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)) 10 December 2021

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, help children by undertaking direct work and education in relation to their needs and behaviours. Support them to understand decisions and behaviours and the impact that these may have on themselves and others. 30 January 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 10 December 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061810 6 (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at a previous inspection. Progress towards meeting this was not viewed during this inspection therefore, this requirement is restated. 10 December 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 10 December 2021

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061810 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cumbria County Council

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cumbria County Council, Cumbria House, 117 Botchergate, Carlisle CA1 1RD

p.7

Inspector

Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061810 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8