Children's Home run by Flying Spur Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report for children's home: SC470585 1 SC470585 Registered provider: Flying Spur Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for six children who may have experienced neglect and/or emotional abuse or had traumatic experiences that have left them vulnerable.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2017.

p.1

Inspection date: 21 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 8 November 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 21 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 21 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC470585 2

p.1

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 sustained effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. Experiences and progress of children since the full inspection have been mixed.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have addressed two of the four requirements from the last inspection. However, appropriate action has not been taken in relation to two requirements, and these are restated. Managers have taken steps to address three of the five recommendations. One is now raised as a requirement, and the recommendation in relation to the internal quality of care review has not been considered in this inspection, so it is restated. Two further requirements are raised in relation to the shortfalls identified in this inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has moved into the home since the full inspection. The group dynamic risk assessment completed in advance of this child’s move was of poor quality. It failed to consider all the information known about the child. It also did not consider how the child’s needs could affect the children already living at the home and vice versa. Some children are subject to similar risks to the child who moved to the home. A failure to consider how children’s needs could affect each other meant that strategies to manage these risks were not put in place.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s risk assessments are variable in quality. For some children, assessments are clear and include strategies for staff to help keep the children safe. However, one child’s risk assessment does not include information relating to significant risks around child exploitation and incidents of missing from care. Appropriate strategies to manage these risks are not included. Poor-quality risk assessments mean that staff are not provided with suitable guidance to manage risks to children.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children build positive relationships with staff. Staff use these relationships to manage behavioural incidents in ways that help children at times of distress. Incidents of missing from care are managed well, with staff being proactive and responding in line with children’s plans. Managers work effectively with external professionals to develop strategies to reduce risks relating to children going missing. One child has had a significant reduction in missing-from-home episodes in recent months. Their social worker said that staff have worked hard to build relationships that help the children to feel more secure at their home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s progress in education has been mixed. Staff have supported one child well at a new school, resulting in a positive start for them. However, some children’s school attendance has been low. Children’s education plans are lacking in detail in relation to how staff encourage their educational engagement and what they do on Inspection report for children's home: SC470585 3 days when children are not at school. Children’s records show an inconsistent approach from staff in how children are encouraged to attend education and have positive routines.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment checks for agency staff have not always been completed. While managers have challenged agencies to gain this information and stopped staff working at the home when this was not forthcoming, some staff have worked at the home before confirmation of any of their recruitment checks has been received.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff said that they feel well supported and that managers are available and approachable. However, staff supervisions have not taken place regularly. Six regular staff members have only had two supervisions since the last inspection. This means that staff are not always being provided with the right levels of support that they need to meet children’s needs effectively.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s rota does not always show when agency staff have been working. This means it does not provide an accurate overview of which staff are at the home each day.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Work has been completed to improve the home’s environment since the last inspection. The home is now well decorated throughout.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements have been made to the home’s location risk assessment so that it now includes local crime statistics. This helps to ensure good oversight of risks to children in the local area. Inspection report for children's home: SC470585 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/10/2019 Full Good 19/06/2018 Full Good 14/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC470585 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.5

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(viii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s education plans include strategies to support them to attend education, and when children are not attending education, that staff work with them to support appropriate routines and to engage in education at home. 25 April 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 25 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC470585 6 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

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

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)(iii)(v)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that group dynamic risk assessments consider how the needs of children moving to the home may impact on those already living there and vice versa, and that children’s risk assessments include all known risks to children and strategies to manage these.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is, in part, restated.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.6

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(d)) 11 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC470585 7 In particular, use monitoring systems to check that agency staff have had all the required checks prior to their deployment.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 25 April 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is an accurate record of persons working at the home and a true record of the actual rosters worked. 11 April 2022

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review meets all the aspects stipulated in Regulation 45. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

p.7

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.

p.7

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: SC470585 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Flying Spur Limited

p.8

Inspector

Joe Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC470585 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.

p.8

Inspector

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9