Children's Home run by Budwood Limited in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 1 Registered provider: Budwood Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in September 2021. This is the first inspection undertaken by Ofsted. The provision is registered to care for up to two children who may have some behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 2

p.1

Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Four children have lived in the home since it opened. Two children moved at short notice because leaders and managers appropriately recognised that they could not meet their needs safely. Two children are currently living in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children do not always receive care consistently in line with their care plans and with the therapeutic model that senior leaders aspire to deliver. For example, following a prolonged incident overnight, staff locked the lounge and kitchen doors the following evening. This resulted in children leaving the home in the middle of the night Staff were not aware that children had left the home, and this left them vulnerable and compromised their safety. Not all serious incidents of this nature are notified to Ofsted as required.

p.3

improvement to be good

On occasions, managers give children warning letters about their poor behaviour One child received a three-page list of house rules to sign on the day they moved into the home. These approaches do not sit comfortably with the homes therapeutic model.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are being supported to have positive visits with family and friends. Children enjoy this time and staff look at safe ways to promote more time for visits. Most risk assessments in respect of time spent with family and friends are in place. This helps staff understand their roles and responsibilities. However, one risk assessment is missing. Managers acted during the inspection to rectify this.

p.3

improvement to be good

Although children have not lived here for long they have started to build positive relationships with staff. Children can identify an adult who they can talk to should they have any worries or concerns. Staff interacted positively with children and were clearly highly enthusiastic and motivated to provide good care.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff help children to attend education and work is under way with other agencies to find the right provision and support for the children. One of the children is currently taking their mock GCSEs and with support is having discussions and making plans for their further education.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are helped to move into the home in a well-planned way. Staff visited the child who moved in recently, and the child then visited the home. Professionals and family members told the inspector that the child is happier here, as they are nearer to family.

p.3

improvement to be good

Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 4 Children told the inspectors that they feel safe living here. They like the staff and feel cared for.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff do not always respond quickly enough or demonstrate appropriate levels of curiosity to ensure children’s safety. For example, on one occasion staff became aware that one of the children had someone in their bedroom, staff failed to intervene to ensure the safety of the child.

p.4

improvement to be good

Not all incidents involving children are managed well. For example, children recently got up at night and made a mess by throwing food around the house. Staff did not immediately get out of bed. The children remained up and disruptive through the night until they went to their rooms on their terms.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children do not go missing often, but when they do, staff do not always look for them. Some staff said that this was a responsibility for the police. When children go missing, staff work hard to maintain telephone contact with them to encourage them back home. Staff communicate quickly with other agencies and family members. They keep them up to date with what is happening.

p.4

improvement to be good

Effective action is taken when concerns are raised about staff. Referrals are made to the local authority designated officer and internal investigations capture the voice of the child. This results in clear safety plans.

p.4

improvement to be good

Fire drills take place on a regular basis. However, the current fire safety records do not provide sufficient information for managers to consider how to achieve quicker evacuation or ensure that all staff have taken part.

p.4

improvement to be good

The arrangements in respect of medication are effective. Medication is stored safely, and records are accurate.

p.4

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers work well with other agencies when there are concerns about the safety of children. Risk management meetings take place regularly, information is shared and strategies to reduce the risk are devised. For two children this work was not successful, and leaders and managers appropriately served notice for them to move on. Leaders and managers reviewed the reasons for these placements ending and used the information in making decisions about which children could move in next.

p.4

good

Since the home opened six months ago, leaders and managers have had difficulties with establishing a stable staff team. Senior leaders are responsible for the day-to- day running of the home, in addition to their other roles within the company. This has resulted in weaknesses, in particular, in the oversight of incidents involving children. As a result, some poor practice is not always identified or challenged. Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 5 Additional management support is now in place and several new staff have been appointed. At times, agency staff have been used to ensure the home has the right level of staffing. Leaders have a realistic plan in place to bring about much-needed stability and consistency for the children.

p.4

good

Newly appointed staff have undertaken an induction programme, including relevant training. Further training is planned to ensure they have all the required skills. Employed staff receive regular and meaningful supervision. Team meetings are used to talk as a group about practice and reflect on some of the incidents. Agency staff do not currently receive supervision, even if they are involved in a significant incident.

p.5

good

Written records in respect of the children’s lived experiences are not always clear. Some documents leave the reader with several unanswered questions. There are good electronic systems in place to help staff understand childrens needs. These systems are only as good as the information recorded. One system identifies progress made by children.

p.5

good

Leaders have not ensured that the home has a full and accurate record of visitors to the home. The current system does not enable managers to understand who has visited, why or for how long. Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff provide care in line with the therapeutic model adopted. 30 April 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 7 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.6

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)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that incidents are managed effectively, and managers have clear oversight and identify and act upon shortfalls in practice.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Ensure that when children go missing, staff do all that they can to ensure their early and safe return.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff fully understand what is expected of them and how they should respond to children’s needs and presenting behaviours, whatever the time of day.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff only use the police to manage behaviours as a last resort.

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.7

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; 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 8 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)(e)(f)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers have robust oversight of all aspects of practice and act when necessary.

p.8

Requirement Due date

Ensure staff understand what is expected of them and act quickly when they fall short of expectations.

p.8

Requirement Due date

Ensure that records are up to date, reflect all the children’s needs and risks and that staff fully understand these.

p.8

Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers can satisfy themselves that all staff have taken part in an evacuation and that fire drills can inform practice. 30 April 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. (Regulation 37 (1))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure the home has a visitors book in line with regulation. 30 April 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.8

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.8

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(e)) 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 9

p.8

Recommendation

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

p.9

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: 2643390 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 12 West Links, Tollgate, Southampton, Hampshire SO53 3TG

p.10

Inspectors

Tracey Ledder, Her Majesty’s Inspector Paula Lahey, Regulatory Social Care Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2643390 11 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.

p.10

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspectors

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

p.11