Children's Home run by 1848 Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2623368 1 Registered provider: 1848 Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider and provides care for up to two children. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has resigned. The registered manager’s post is currently vacant.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State 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 inspection on 12 April 2021.

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Inspection date: 23 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 23 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2623368 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

Since the previous inspection, the registered manager has left. Attempts have been made to recruit to this post; however, these have not been successful. More action is needed to recruit a new manager. Since January 2022, the responsible individual has been in day-to-day charge of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, four requirements and three recommendations were made. Of these, two requirements and one recommendation have been met. The remaining requirements are repeated and a further three requirements have been made as a result of this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home in an unplanned way. Notice was given to move both children because care staff could not meet their needs or keep them safe. The one child who continues to live in the home told the inspector that the impact of the other children’s behaviours increased her anxieties and left her feeling unsafe at times.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite previously witnessing high-risk behaviours and police involvement in the home, the child currently living in the home has met all her care plan targets and is progressing well. Her attendance and engagement at college are good. When she is not at college, she volunteers for St John Ambulance and at a local equestrian centre. A contributing factor to the child’s progress has been the stability of staffing throughout the year, despite the difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have been looked after by staff who have not been provided with regular formal supervision or sufficient training. Leaders and managers have not prioritised the importance of supporting staff or ensuring that they are compliant with basic mandatory training. Staff confirmed that since managing the home, the responsible individual has provided them with a supervision session.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders’ and managers’ monitoring and oversight remain ineffective. Weaknesses identified at the previous inspection have not been rectified, nor have sufficient actions been taken to address the recommendations set by the independent person. In addition, safeguarding notifications have not been completed and shared with Ofsted within the required timescales.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, a new electronic reporting system has been introduced. Staff are currently being trained to use this system. The responsible individual told Inspection report for children’s home: 2623368 3 the inspector that he hopes this new system will provide leaders and managers with better oversight of the operation of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care plans and risk assessments have been reviewed. These documents now reflect the children’s current needs and include the views of the child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual advised the inspector that he intends to keep the home as single occupancy until a new manager has been recruited and the shortfalls identified at this inspection are rectified. Inspection report for children’s home: 2623368 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2623368 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 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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; 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)(a)(c)(d)(f)(g)(i)(h)) 16 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2623368 6 In particular, the registered person should ensure that the manager’s and independent visitor’s monitoring are effective.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development.

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Requirement Due date

Receive practice–related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all staff should receive regular practice-related supervision and complete all the basic mandatory training and specialist courses to meet the needs of the children they care for. 16 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 16 April 2022

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Recommendation

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that Inspection report for children’s home: 2623368 7 distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, ensure that the children’s records are factually accurate, clear and concise, and terminology used is not institutionalised. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2623368 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Bank Buildings, East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AJ

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2623368 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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