Children's home run by Tressell Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2540658 1 Registered provider: Tressell Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children who may have emotional and social difficulties or learning disabilities. It is operated by a private company.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in December 2020. An interim manager has applied to Ofsted for registration.

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Inspection date: 17 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 26 October 2021

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Inspection date: 17 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2540658 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. 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

Shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home are potentially compromising the home’s capacity to make sustainable improvements. There is nothing to show that the failings found at this inspection have led to children suffering harm. However, if these failings are left unchecked they may have the potential to do so.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been without a permanent registered manager since December 2020. The interim manager and responsible individual have struggled to address many of the requirements made at the last inspection. Consequently, weaknesses remain in the protection of children, recruitment of staff, management oversight and monitoring of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The practice in relation to helping and protecting children needs to improve. One member of staff has not received training in the home’s safeguarding procedures. This person was not confident in knowing what they must do if they have concerns about children’s safety. Suitable arrangements have not been put in place to manage the risks when a child has made an allegation about a member of staff. This may have left children and the member of staff involved vulnerable. The responsible individual failed to notify Ofsted without delay that an allegation had been made about a person working at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recruitment of staff is not always carried out in line with procedures that are designed to minimise potential risks to children’s safety. Written references are not always verified to check the person’s suitability and proof of identity is not always kept in the member of staff’s records.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have failed to identify that some staff have not yet completed important training relevant to the children in their care, including in autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the use of a child’s rescue medication. Likewise, the staff duty rosters do not provide an up-to-date record of who is working at the home and the actual time worked by the manager and staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Nevertheless, improvements have been made regarding the shortfalls found at the last inspection in relation to the quality of induction of staff working at the home and practice-related supervision of staff. Staff have a clear understanding of their responsibilities, and their practice and performance is routinely evaluated by the interim manager. Staff now have the information, including up-to-date care plans and education, health and care plans, that they need to understand children’s needs and care for them effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2540658 3 Children live in a warm and nurturing home. They receive individualised care that is helping them to make progress in every aspect of their lives. Children are healthier, able to express their wishes and feelings, take part in a variety of activities outside the home and develop positive relationships with friends outside of school.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are developing the skills to manage their emotions and frustrations without showing unwanted behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are caring and enthusiastic. They know the children’s characters and personal needs very well. Staff listen to children and respond to their views and wishes appropriately. Consequently, children are building trusting relationships with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand each child’s vulnerabilities and remain vigilant to keep children safe from harm. They respond appropriately when they have concerns about a child’s welfare, including the risks from using social media and the internet. Staff have the skills and knowledge to help the children to be safe online and know how to ask for help.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Likewise, staff understand how children’s particular medical conditions may affect their lives. Staff make sure that children always get the care, advice and treatment they need to be healthy. They are helping a child to overcome her fears about going to health appointments.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interim manager’s thorough review of children’s medication identified shortfalls and strengthened the arrangements. This included making sure that staff were retrained in managing medication and had their competency assessed. The interim manager pursued a review of a child’s medication and changes to the child’s treatment have had a positive impact on their emotional health and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2540658 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/03/2020 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2540658 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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 April 2022

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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 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2540658 6 promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(b)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4 and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2540658 7 In particular, ensure that the records include a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, a record of the actual rotas worked, and a record of any persons who work at the home at any time.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 18 March 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: 2540658 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tressell Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 41, Price Street Business Centre, Price Street, Birkenhead CH41 4JQ

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Inspectors

Nick Veysey, Social Care Inspector Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2540658 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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