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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2589440 1

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Solo Independent Living Adolescent Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned and managed home provides care for one child aged between 12 and 18. 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 registered with Ofsted in June 2021. The registered manager left in August 2021. A new manager was appointed in January 2022. They have not yet registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

At the interim inspection on 7 December 2021, serious and widespread shortfalls were identified. As a result, two compliance notices were issued under regulations 13 and 32. This visit was carried out to assess the progress made in meeting the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The child continues to make progress. Staff advocate on their behalf and have built positive relationships. In addition, the child is doing well in his education and is increasing the time he spends with his family.

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This monitoring visit

The support from the manager to staff has improved. Team meetings take place weekly and give staff an opportunity to review plans in place for the child. The manager also addresses any shortfalls in staff practice or recording. This means that staff have a greater understanding of their responsibilities in caring for the child.

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This monitoring visit

Supervision sessions take place regularly. They are detailed and provide staff with opportunities to discuss their own development, the team dynamics and the child. The manager has a clear plan in place to ensure that all supervision sessions take place in a timely manner to support staff further. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2589440 2 The manager has completed a full audit of recruitment files, and an action plan is in place to address any gaps. However, the inspector found that the current manager had given references for three of the other staff just prior to formally starting. This is not safe recruitment practice and had not been identified by the manager or responsible individual. This was addressed on the day of the visit and no safeguarding concerns arose. Further safe recruitment training is planned for the manager and responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has not reviewed or made any changes to the child’s existing care plan or risk assessments. Staff do not have written documentation to follow if they are unclear of plans. This also means that new staff would not have up-to-date information about the child’s assessed risk. This could potentially leave a child at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents have not been reviewed, which means that changes to risk assessments or identification of any shortfalls in practice are unknown. This is despite it being raised recently by an independent visitor. This does not limit the chances of reoccurrence or provide staff with preventative steps to take.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has repeatedly failed to share information with the independent visitor and the inspector at the previous visits. This has limited their ability to review information and identify shortfalls. This has prevented improvements being made to the home.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice for regulation 32 is met but with a requirement made to help embed practice. Some aspects of the compliance notice for regulation 13 are met. However, a further compliance notice has been issued to address the remaining shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements made at the interim inspection were not all reviewed. Therefore, these are repeated and will be assessed at the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/12/2021 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2589440 3

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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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 happening and how to record if they do have to work together to ensure transparency. 10 April 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;

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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)(e)(h)) 10 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2589440 4 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

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)(d)) 10 April 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

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: 2589440 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solo Independent Living Adolescent Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 211a, Dean Clough Industrial Park, Halifax HX3 5WP

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Inspector

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2589440 6 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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