Children's Home run by Solo Independent Living Adolescent Care Services Limited in Rotherham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 1 Registered provider: Solo Independent Living Adolescent Care Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned and managed home for one child aged between 12 and 18 years old. The home aims to support the child to develop their social and life skills, to help them integrate safely into the community and move on to independence.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in June 2021. The registered manager left in August 2021. The acting manager resigned in October 2021. No acting manager is in post.

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Inspection date: 7 December 2021

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 December 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 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 is no registered manager in the home and no interim management arrangements. The arrangements shared with Ofsted previously by the responsible individual have not been adhered to. The lack of management oversight has led to significant shortfalls in the running of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leadership and management of the home are poor and have declined since the full inspection. However, the child living in the home has continued to make significant progress. He also has advocates and external professionals visiting him and is fully aware of his right to raise any concerns. This helps to protect him from the shortfalls identified.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child has built positive relationships with the staff team and will accept their support. This is helping to ensure that his voice is heard and that plans in place are in line with his wishes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risks for the child have reduced. He understands the concerns others have and is engaging with staff to work to reduce the risk of harm to himself and others. There have only been two minor incidents since the last inspection, which were managed well by staff. As a result of this positive improvement, the child is now on reduced staffing levels and is no longer subject to a deprivation of liberty order.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incident records do not have sufficient management oversight. This means that incidents have not been reviewed, which means that changes to risk assessments or identification of any shortfalls in practice are unknown or not addressed. This does not better protect the child from harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual advocates on the child’s behalf to ensure that his needs are met, particularly regarding education and his health. In addition, family time is encouraged and supported. Family feel a part of his life and are happy with the care provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has failed to ensure that staff are supervised in line with the statement of purpose, including newer staff members that should have fortnightly supervision. This does not support the staff to develop their skills and knowledge or to identify areas of improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 3 The provider’s internal monitoring systems are not used. The provider has no oversight of documentation or of staff practice and therefore has not made the changes needed to improve practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has failed to share information with the independent visitor and the Ofsted inspector at the previous visit, which has limited them from being able to review information and identify shortfalls. This has prevented improvements being made to the home. Furthermore, this has the potential to have a negative impact on the child’s experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a high turnover of staff. Although some core staff remain, most are not yet qualified. The training matrix is not up to date and not all staff files are in the home to check qualifications. There is no system in place to identify training needs for staff and whether these have been addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment processes are unsafe. Family members are employed without clear evidence that they have applied or interviewed for the position or that the selection and recruitment processes have been undertaken by someone objective. A new manager has been recruited. However, the interview process was not undertaken by a person with relevant experience or knowledge. Some staff files were not at the home to view as they were at the responsible individual’s home. This does not demonstrate safer recruitment and is not safe practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual has invited a person into the home on more than one occasion prior to all checks being returned. This puts children at risk of harm. The proposed manager visited the home prior to interview and has subsequently been presented as the manager to professionals and has attended the child’s care review. This is unsafe practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been minimal changes made since the full inspection. This contradicts the responsible individual’s action plan. The responsible individual acknowledged that they have not made the changes required to be compliant with regulations. Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 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

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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that there is a clear risk assessment in place for any family and friends working together, including efforts made to avoid this and how to record if they do have to work together, to ensure transparency. 6 February 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 promotes their welfare.

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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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 6 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 6 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(h))

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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. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 6 February 2022

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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 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

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and 6 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 7 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

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)) 6 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all people visiting must sign in and out when they are on the premises, including the responsible individual. Rotas must be accurate, stored securely and available. 6 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose is regularly reviewed and kept up to date, including changes of staffing. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 8 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 for children’s home: 2589440 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solo Independent Living Adolescent Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 West Park Road, Girlington, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD8 9SG

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Inspectors

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Steve Guirey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2589440 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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