Children's Home run by Paramount Children Care LTD in Leicester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 1 Registered provider: Paramount Children Care Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to four children who may be experiencing emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since the home opened in March 2021.

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Inspection date: 18 January 2022

Date of last inspection: 15 September 2021

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Inspection date: 18 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 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 declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two requirements set at the last inspection have not been met within the given timescales. One of these requirements related to potentially unsafe staff recruitment procedures. Although the matter has now been addressed, the actions of managers were not prompt enough.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The other requirement related to a lack of management oversight of the quality of care. This requirement is repeated. Care arrangements, maintenance systems and performance management systems have not been adequately overseen by the registered manager or the responsible individual. Managers have not recognised or addressed weaknesses in the operation of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation made at the last inspection about staff not having formal supervision meetings with their manager is also unmet. There are still some staff who have not had appropriate supervision meetings with their manager. Potential concerns about some staff members’ practice have gone unnoticed by managers and therefore have not been addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children’s bedrooms are unhygienic and poorly maintained. Staff and managers have failed to ensure a basic level of cleanliness in bedrooms. As a result, children have not been provided with a nurturing, positive home environment. Staff and managers have not developed effective strategies to support children to maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Other parts of the home also appear uncared for. Damage is not repaired quickly enough. There are few ornaments or other homely touches. Some communal areas have not been cleaned to a high standard. As a result, children do not learn to take pride in their environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is evidence that some children are making progress in some areas. For example, one child has started going to the school of their choice, and there are reports of some very positive relationships between staff and children. However, significant improvement is required before children receive a consistently good quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

To support rapid improvement, Ofsted has issued two compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to staff passing on child protection concerns, and to hazards in children’s bedrooms and bathrooms. 18 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 18 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 5 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

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

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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to the quality assurance and monitoring of quality of care to the children.

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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. 18 February 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 6 (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to making sure that safe recruitment procedures are followed.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)) 18 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 supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. This is in relation to making sure that shortfalls in staff performance are addressed in supervision. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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 for children’s home: 2627088 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Paramount Children Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 60 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FB

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Inspector

Caroline Brailsford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2627088 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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