Children's home run by Kent County Council in Ashford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC368763 1 SC368763 Registered provider: Kent County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This short-break service is jointly funded by the health authority and the local authority. The home provides short breaks for up to six children who have physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2021.

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Inspection date: 8 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 2 December 2021

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Inspection date: 8 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 8 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC368763 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

Weak and ineffective leadership and management within the wider organisation has continued to contribute to a range of shortfalls and failures in this setting.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, a requirement was made for the outstanding recommended actions from the fire safety risk assessment to be completed. These have been completed but the four high-priority actions from the new annual fire safety risk assessment, carried out in January 2022, have not. This indicates a repeated systemic failure to maintain the required levels of safety for the children using the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been an improvement in communication between the registered manager and the maintenance contractors. However, there remain significant delays in getting work completed. A key feature of this service, the indoor spa, remains out of use.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement was made at the last inspection to ensure that staff receive regular supervision. Although there have been improvements made to supervision arrangements and administration, regularity for all staff has not yet been achieved. The existing supervision policy does not fit with the make-up of the workforce for this service; for example, those who work only limited hours and those who only work at certain times of the year.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders are strongly committed to providing a high quality service. They lead a dedicated and highly attentive staff team whose members know the children well. They work closely with parents and carers to ensure that the children experience safe, fun and enriching stays. The sustained efforts of this team sufficiently make up for the identified shortfalls within the wider organisation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parents express confidence in staff to meet the complex needs of their children and say that they have peace of mind when their children are staying. Care plans are focused on the key areas of need and development for the children. The efforts of the staff team ensure that both parents and children benefit from the regular short breaks provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recently appointed member of staff completed a comprehensive induction programme. The requirement set in this regard at the last inspection has been met. A meaningful quality of care review was completed following the last inspection. This contained various analyses of data that resulted in several actions to further improve Inspection report for children’s home: SC368763 3 the quality of the service. The recommendation made in this regard has also been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC368763 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/03/2020 Full Outstanding 08/01/2019 Full Outstanding 16/01/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC368763 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 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)) 9 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) 9 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that supervision is regular. 9 June 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: SC368763 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kent County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sessions House, County Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ

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Inspector:

John Pledger, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC368763 7 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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