Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 1 SC483688 Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children. At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID 19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected, their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection: none

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2019 Full Good 11/07/2018 Full Good 11/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/04/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 3

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inadequate

The home is failing to provide safe and effective care and support for the children currently living there. This has affected the quality of their experiences and the progress they are making.

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inadequate

Incidents of bullying have not been managed well. Children have not been supported to reflect on these incidents to learn from and improve their behaviour. In some instances, younger children have suffered verbal and physical abuse from older children. The staff have not been able to manage relationships effectively, to prevent children from harming each other. Some areas of the home are not decorated or maintained to a good standard. At the time of the inspection, there were hazards in the home environment, including broken outdoor toys, which could cause harm to children and staff. There is a large garden and extensive grounds; however, outdoor areas are not a nice space for children to enjoy. Dring the inspection, there were items of rubbish in the garden, including a discarded Christmas tree. One child spoken to said that ‘the home is falling apart’.

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inadequate

Some children have not had positive experiences of moving on from the home. The matching of children to the home has not been carefully considered to understand the potential impact of the needs, risks and behaviours of children moving into the home on those already living there. This has had a negative effect on children’s experiences and, for one child, led to them leaving the home sooner than anticipated.

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inadequate

There has however been a positive outcome for one child, who has recently started a new school after an extended period of non-attendance. However, for another child, education progress has not been good. Staff are failing to implement effective routines and boundaries to support this child, who is currently being home educated. The child is not consistently completing work that has been set by school. Furthermore, the child is not being supported with a morning routine that will prepare them for when they transition to their new school. Professionals raised concerns about poor communication from the home as well as concerns that the child was not well prepared for their school day. When the child was still attending their school, teachers reported that they were often late and appeared ‘unkempt’. This does not support children to engage positively or make progress in education.

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inadequate

Another child has made a positive transition to independent living. Records reflect that the child was supported to develop the necessary skills to help prepare them for this move. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Safeguarding practice in this home does not promote the safety and welfare of the children sufficiently.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The registered manager and staff do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. They have not taken timely and effective action to protect children. For example, one child made an allegation about a staff member. Information provided to the local authority designated officer does not correspond with information in the home about the same incident. The manager could not explain the irregularities in the information that had been shared. Failing to provide the designated officer with full and accurate information about safeguarding concerns means that opportunities to intervene and keep children safe could be missed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Poor-quality risk management plans do not provide staff with clear guidance about how to manage existing and emerging risks to children. The plans contain conflicting information, and these do not support staff’s understanding of what the risks to children are or how to keep children safe. Furthermore, risk management plans have not been updated when new risks are identified, which has left children at risk of harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There has been a high turnover of staff. This has resulted in children being cared for by staff who are inexperienced and lack the knowledge and skills to meet the children’s needs. Many staff have not been able to manage children’s behaviours. This has resulted in incidents of bullying in the home and a lack of structure or age- appropriate boundaries to support children in their lives. Furthermore, staff are not consistently following the strategies in children’s relevant plans. Children’s behaviours have escalated due to the inconsistent and ineffective approaches by staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Physical intervention practice is not safely supporting children who are experiencing crisis in their lives. Records of restraint do not contain sufficient detail about the actions taken by staff to de-escalate incidents or clear information about the type of holds which have been used and for how long.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Furthermore, records are not clear about the actions taken when children have complained about a restraint. The inspector identified several records which required more information and should have alerted the manager that further enquiry was needed. For example, during one restraint, a child was held on the floor and stated that they could not breathe. The manager did not challenge this practice or question why medical advice was not sought for the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Some documents in the home detail that staff have intervened physically to manage children’s behaviour. Not all instances have been documented as a restraint, despite Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 5 staff recording that they have guided and moved children. For example, on one occasion, a child was moved out of the road by staff, including using the hoop on their backpack to pull them out of the road. This incident was not recorded as a restraint and therefore the manager has not reviewed the effectiveness or appropriateness of the measure used. This lack of both recording and oversight does not keep children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Although managers have reviewed documentation relevant to the physical intervention of children, they have missed key information that would require further investigation. This does not ensure that restraint practices used are necessary and proportionate and only used as a last resort to keep children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Bedroom door alarms are being inappropriately used as a routine measure for all children, irrespective of their individual needs. One child’s risk assessment stated that the ‘child hasa door alarm fitted to their bedroom door to alert staff to any unwanted access or exit of their bedroom. These alarms are activated at night.’ The use of monitoring systems in this way is not appropriate or in line with the home’s own policy or statutory guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Serious shortfalls in the leadership and management of this home are compromising the experiences and progress of children living there.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children have been at risk of harm due to ongoing poor safeguarding and behaviour management practice. For example, one child was reported to have been struck in the face by a member of staff during an incident. The records do not reflect what support the child was offered following this assault or how their welfare was ascertained. Furthermore, the record of the discussion held between the manager and the staff member involved after the event does not clarify how the child was struck in the face and what action has been taken to ensure that this does not happen again.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The majority of staff in the home are inexperienced. Although staff have received an induction, the manager has not provided effective supervision to support staff’s understanding or development of good practice. This means that children are being cared for by staff who have not developed the skills or had the experience to manage their complex behaviour. One professional reported that inconsistencies in staff approaches have caused incidents for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all staff have received training in matters that are specific to the needs of children living in the home, such as self-harm training. There has also been a high turnover of staff, which has affected the continuity of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Professionals spoken to raised concerns about poor communication with the home, which has had a negative effect on children’s progress and experiences. One professional stated that, despite reiterating the importance of a meeting for one child, the staff member that conducted the meeting was new to the role and not Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 6 prepared. This meant that important information could not be gathered to support ongoing care proceedings for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 7

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

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

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(viii)(x)) 27 March 2022

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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. 27 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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; and

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(d))

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 27 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 9 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)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

*The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)) 27 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 27 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and 27 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 10 the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 11 confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC483688 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Emma Thornton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483688 13 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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