Clare Lodge

Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 1 SC033362 Registered provider: Peterborough City and Cambridgeshire County Councils Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this secure children’s home

This secure children’s home is operated by a local authority and is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict children’s liberty.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The home can accommodate up to 16 children aged between 10 and 17. It provides care for children accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989, who are placed by local authorities. At the time of the inspection, 8 children were accommodated at the home.

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Information about this secure children’s home

Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Information about this secure children’s home

Admission of any child who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State, under section 25 of the Children Act 1989.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The commissioning of health services at this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

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Information about this secure children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since May 2013.

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Inspection date: 10 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 13 October 2021

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Inspection date: 10 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 10 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 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

At the last inspection on 13 October 2021, Ofsted made five requirements and three recommendations. One requirement relates to a shortfall in managing medication and one was in relation to education. There were also two recommendations made in relation to education. Ofsted will consider progress to address these requirements and recommendations at the next full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have a voice in how they are cared for. They have ready access to an independent advocate and their views are sought by managers and staff. This means that they can influence routines and behaviour plans and make choices in areas such as activities and menus. They can share their feelings and concerns with different members of staff with whom they have strong relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff efforts are undermined by significant shortfalls in the monitoring and evaluation of practice. Consequently, children at this home are not protected effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Members of staff have applied physical restraint when the criteria for its use have not been met. Managers have subsequently failed to monitor the reports after these events or have not identified the shortfalls in practice when they have reviewed them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records of incidents of restraint have not been reviewed by managers promptly. Children’s views and the process of debriefing with children and checking their welfare after these incidents have not been recorded. Consequently, it is difficult to assess whether children have been supported appropriately or had their well-being protected after these incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Checks on children have not been made in line with risk assessments which have assessed their levels of vulnerability as high when they are in their rooms. The risk assessments outline the time intervals in which children need to be checked, and these have not been consistently implemented. This means that the children are at increased risk of self-harm and are not supported or supervised in line with their assessed needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection on 13 October 2021, a recommendation was made in relation to responding to children’s complaints promptly. The monitoring and recording of these remain inconsistent. Some records do not evidence that children are satisfied Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 3 that their complaints have been resolved. A requirement is made in relation to this shortfall.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, a requirement was made in respect of staff seeking children’s views about identifying ways to manage their behaviour and the use of inappropriate language. Records show that this has been addressed. Members of staff involve children in their behaviour management plans and reward them for their improvements and successes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement was made at the last inspection about sharing information with managers or external agencies about any concerns regarding staff conduct. This has been addressed. Records show that issues are shared promptly with managers who then share them with the relevant safeguarding agencies. Action plans are implemented effectively. Consequently, the children’s well-being is protected in these instances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have continued to be resilient and determined to support the children during the demands placed on them by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the shortfalls found at this inspection, relationships are seen to be warm and caring. A child said, ‘I know I’ve done well. I cope much better since I came here.’ Staff have adapted to the challenges and shortages of staff to ensure that children’s care has not been overly disrupted or compromised. Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/07/2019 Full Inadequate 30/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 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 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

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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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; 28 February 2022 Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 6 help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders must urgently revise the curriculum to ensure that it is ambitious and provides sufficient structure, support and interest to ensure that children attend education regularly.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated

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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

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

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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 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)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand and follow the actions set out in children’s risk assessments to keep children safe from harm. 10 April 2022 Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 7 *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

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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

undertake a written review of current monitoring and review systems which are in place to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. This review must make clear what actions are being taken/have been taken to make the required improvements to monitoring and oversight in the children’s home. Within this review, include specifically how incidents of physical restraint and welfare checks on children are carried out in line with risk assessments, and how they will be monitored;

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Requirement Due date

provide guidance and support to any member of staff who undertakes any monitoring on behalf of the registered manager. 10 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

*Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home. 10 April 2022 Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 8 Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff and managers understand the legal criteria for carrying out physical restraint with children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that medication is administered when it has been prescribed;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that effective and timely actions are taken when fridge temperatures are outside the acceptable range;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that medication is stored at appropriate and safe temperatures.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 15 November

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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

a description of the measure and its duration; 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 confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular: 10 April 2022 Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 9 ensure that there is consistent and timely recording of meaningful debriefs with the staff and children when such incidents have occurred and that the records include evidence that the children’s welfare has been checked and promoted.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records show how complaints made by children have been resolved. 10 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the ethos of the home supports each child to learn. In particular:  use children’s starting points to set targets and plan learning logically to help children develop their knowledge, skills, behaviours and confidence sufficiently so that they know more, remember more and can do more over time;  ensure that children achieve qualifications that help them to progress successfully to the next stages of their education, training or employment; Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 10  ensure that children receive high-quality, impartial careers information, advice and guidance so that they understand the options available to them for their next steps;  ensure that education, care and health staff work together to promote high and consistent expectations of what children can achieve, working collaboratively when children are not in education so that there is continuity

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Recommendations

and consistency of approach. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role that they play in the training and development of staff at the home. In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that education staff receive high-quality and relevant training and development activities to enable them to teach children with complex needs effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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 secure children’s home: SC033362 11

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider: Peterborough City and Cambridgeshire County Councils

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Secure children’s home details

Registered provider address: Scott House, 5 George Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 3AD

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Inspectors

Paul Taylor, Social Care Inspector Shaun Common, Senior Officer, Secure Estate Inspection report for secure children’s home: SC033362 12 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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