Children's Home run by Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 1 Registered provider: Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited Interim 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 children’s trust on behalf of a local authority. It is a residential home for children with autism spectrum disorders and moderate to severe learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations have been investigated by the police. Although these investigations have been concluded, disciplinary and legal processes are ongoing. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements. The staff involved are not currently working at the home.

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Inspection date: 24 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 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

Managers’ communication with parents and professionals is often poor. Some important information is not shared with parents or professionals. In other cases, there have been unnecessary delays in sharing information. For example, parents have not been promptly provided with information about issues in the home that have affected their child. External professionals also confirm management weaknesses and poor communication.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Poor decisions have been made when a child told staff that they were hungry during the night. These decisions meant that the child was not given food. Although the strategy was designed with the best interests of the child in mind, it was not appropriate to the needs of the child or their level of understanding. There had been no consultation with external specialists before the strategy was introduced. Since consultation has taken place, the child is now provided with appropriate food when they wake up feeling hungry.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A lack of robust monitoring meant that managers did not review the practice of regularly giving a child over-the-counter pain relief medication. Staff did not always take steps to ensure that the child required this medication. Systems have now been changed to prevent this happening again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management of some incidents has been reviewed and evaluated by a manager who was involved in the incidents. This does not provide impartial and independent oversight. Senior managers have not identified this shortfall. Additionally, not all incident records have been signed and dated by the overseeing manager as required, to confirm that they have been evaluated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the majority of cases, the home’s independent visitor does not see children during their monthly visits. This is because the independent visitor comes to the home when children are at school. As a result, the independent visitor cannot make a proper assessment of the quality of care. In light of the particular vulnerabilities of the children, this shortfall significantly weakens safeguarding practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Repairs to the home continue to be slow. This means that potential hazards are not dealt with promptly. For example:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 A damaged and ineffective fire door has been left without proper repair for three weeks at the time of the inspection. A date for the repair had not been set. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 3  A water-damaged wooden door in a child’s en suite shower room is unsightly and could present a hazard to children who might pick at the rotting wood and put it in their mouths.  Drains in children’s en suite shower rooms are dirty, and most have lost their covers.  Newly installed lighting in some communal areas does not meet the needs of the children because it is too bright. The sensory needs of the children were not properly considered when approving this lighting. Staff have addressed this by purchasing lamps.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have taken steps to give children an additional communication method to tell staff if they are unwell or in discomfort. However, very little work has been undertaken with children to help them to understand how to use this. Specialists in this area have not been consulted about how to help children understand the system.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records of daily logs are not accurate and do not fully reflect the child’s day. The home’s daily logs do not give an accurate picture of a child’s health and well-being. This has the potential to further weaken information-sharing processes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite these shortfalls, there have been improvements since the last inspection. The dedicated and committed staff team has invested considerable time and energy in refurbishing a number of areas of the home. They have found creative ways to bypass weak maintenance arrangements, often carrying out decorating and maintenance tasks themselves. This means that the home environment is much more pleasant and child-friendly. Taller children now have new double beds that are more suited to their needs. Children say that they love their new beds. Children’s bedrooms have been redecorated and new flooring has been put down. Children also now have access to a newly refurbished and fully functioning sensory room. The sensory room is a very good resource.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Interactions between staff and children were observed to be warm and nurturing. Children’s communication methods are understood, and staff are attentive to children’s needs. Supervision levels are appropriate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff know children’s preferences, likes and dislikes. A good range of toys, games and craft activities are available to children. Staff make sure that each child is able to take part in regular activities and takes regular exercise. All children have been on a short break or holiday with staff and thoroughly enjoyed their time away.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding systems are improved because recruitment vetting procedures have improved and an advocate now visits the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Suitable facilities are now provided for children to speak to their parents or family at any reasonable time. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that there is good communication with all external professionals and parents. It also relates to ensuring that specialist services are consulted when issues arise for children, to ensure that effective strategies can be implemented quickly. 31 March 2022

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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; and

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the maintenance arrangements in the home. 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 6 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 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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to hazards within the home, such as the damaged fire door and the water-damaged door to a child’s en suite bathroom. 4 March 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

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; and

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to management oversight of staff, ensuring that medication is given appropriately to all children. 31 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to records that are not signed or dated and children’s daily logs. 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 7 The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the independent visitor often not seeing children during their visits. 31 March 2022

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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: 2616670 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: One Angel Square, Angel Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 1ED

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Inspectors

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Philip Cass, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 9 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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