Children's home run by Back on Track Children’s Services SE LTD in Dover

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473404 1 SC473404 Registered provider: Back on Track Children’s Services SE Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to five children with learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are no children currently living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 16 September 2020.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 26 January 2022 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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This monitoring visit

On 7 December 2020, the provider was issued with a condition to give Ofsted three months’ notice of its intention to operate the home and admit children. In accordance with the condition, the provider informed Ofsted of its intention to look after children, and so a monitoring visit was conducted on 26 January 2022 to assess the home’s readiness. The inspector identified areas of weakness which resulted in three requirements being made. These were in respect of fire safety, the statement of purpose and staff recruitment.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has responded to these requirements and this monitoring visit was undertaken to review the provider’s progress in meeting these requirements. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473404 2 The provider was able to demonstrate that the actions recommended from the fire risk assessment have all been actioned. Consequently, this requirement is met.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have conducted a review of the home’s statement of purpose against the skill set of the staff team. Consequently, the provider has submitted an application to Ofsted to vary the conditions of the home’s registration category, so that children with learning difficulties can be accommodated. During this monitoring visit, senior leaders demonstrated a clear vision and rationale for this change. This takes into account the skills and previous experience of the manager, who has attended a fit person interview with Ofsted for this home and is currently awaiting the registration decision.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector further examined the recruitment practice that led to the requirement being made at the previous monitoring visit. The inspector identified that the information relating to the specific recruitment example was fragmented and unclear because of gaps and omissions in the provider’s policy and procedural guidance for staff recruitment. In addition, the complicated way in which recruitment information is stored in a variety of places does not lend itself to the easy retrieval of this information. Therefore, although the findings of this visit are reassuring with regard to recruitment, the shortfalls in the guidance for senior staff risk similar omissions occurring in the future. Consequently, a requirement is made for the provider to review and update its staff recruitment policy and guidance. This will be further explored at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473404 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/11/2018 Full Good 13/12/2017 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473404 4

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, review the current recruitment policy and procedures to be clear about processes, roles and responsibilities. 1 April 2022

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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: SC473404 5

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Campbell

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Inspector

Sophie Wood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC473404 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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