Children's home run by Seva Childcare Ltd Assurance visit report: 2548794 9

Inspection report children’s home: 2548794 1 Registered provider: Seva Childcare Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a private provider and offers care for five children. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home cares for children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was conducted on site and involved meetings with children and staff, including a teacher who works with both children. Written and telephone discussions were held with two placing authority social workers.

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Inspection date: 10 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 10 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2548794 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. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

COVID-19 procedures are effective. Staff work hard to keep the home clean and ensure that all visitors are tested prior to entering the home. These measures help to minimise the risk of children and staff contracting the virus.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has addressed the four requirements and two recommendations from the last inspection. This has led to improvements in staff training, staff retention, case recording and management support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make progress. One placing social worker commented that they had seen an improvement in behaviour, a reduction in physical restraint and better school attendance. Another placing social worker attributed the progress achieved by his allocated child to an ‘increasing comfort’ felt in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to benefit from well-planned contact with their parents. These arrangements enable children to stay in touch with people who are important to them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff retention has improved. Eight additional staff have joined the home since the last inspection. As a result, children are experiencing a better consistency of care. However, the recruitment of new staff is not consistent with regulation. For example, managers have not ensured that gaps in a person’s employment history have been followed up. Records do not show that references have been verified. These shortfalls limit the ability of the service to carry out a full assessment of potential staff’s suitability to work with children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are benefiting from a more comprehensive training programme. For example, all members of staff are now working towards or have achieved the Level 3 diploma in residential childcare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Case recording and risk-assessment practice is better. Case recordings now offer a more evaluative account of children’s progress. In addition, risk assessments fully reflect the input and recommendations of key professionals, such as psychologists. This supports the improved monitoring of children’s development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager now benefits from improved levels of management support. The home has successfully appointed a new deputy manager. The deputy manager began working in the home in July 2021 and has previously worked with one of the children living in the home. The registered manager values the additional assistance, Inspection report children’s home: 2548794 3 and this has allowed her to improve the levels of supervision and performance appraisal offered to staff. Inspection report children’s home: 2548794 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2548794 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 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;

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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

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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

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that references are verified and that all gaps in employment are fully explored. 10 February 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2548794 6

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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.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: 2548794 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2548794 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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