Children's Home run by BTTLR Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 1

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BTTLR LIMITED

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for one child who is experiencing emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since July 2021.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out following anonymous complaints received by Ofsted from current or previous members of staff. The complainants stated that staffing arrangements were not sufficient to meet the needs of the child and that there was a child protection matter which had not been managed appropriately. The complainants also raised concerns about a lack of money in the home to meet the child’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

Six managers have overseen the home since the last inspection. None have committed to applying to Ofsted to become the registered manager. Although there is an acting manager in post, Ofsted has still not received an application. This home has been without a registered manager since July 2021.

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This monitoring visit

Very high staff turnover has meant that the child has not experienced continuity of care. Nine staff have left since the last inspection on 18 May 2021. Staff from the organisation’s other children’s services have been used to cover staff vacancies. The child told the inspector that she is disappointed by the frequent changes of staff. She said: ‘I get used to staff changes, there has been loads, you try best to not get too attached.’ Current staffing arrangements do not enable the child to build strong relationships with the adults caring for her. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 2 Staff are not appropriately qualified. Out of the current team of six core staff, none hold the required diploma qualification. Most staff are new and have been appointed in the last four months.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s acting manager is dedicated and highly committed to the child. She has worked hard to provide consistency to the child. She regularly covers staffing vacancies herself. She works well over and above her working hours. However, this situation is not sustainable. She has not had a day off for a considerable period of time.

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This monitoring visit

The staffing situation is fragile and there is little contingency planning for staff absence. Staff report that they feel pressured to work extra shifts because there is no other option. There are many gaps in the staff rota in future weeks, so this situation is likely to continue. Low staff morale has a negative impact on the quality of care delivered to the child.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff are insufficiently trained in how to restrain children. Despite this, these staff have been involved in restraining the child. This leaves the child vulnerable to harm.

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This monitoring visit

When a staff member observed another member of staff interacting with the child in a way that they did not consider to be appropriate, they did not pass this on to managers for three days. The staff member in question continued to work with the child for two days and senior managers were unaware of this incident.

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This monitoring visit

On another occasion, the child made a serious allegation about a staff member. The acting manager, staff members and the responsible individual were all aware of the incident. However, they did not make the necessary safeguarding referrals for several weeks.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are not confident to raise safeguarding concerns with their manager or the organisation. Staff do not feel confident in the responsible individual. They say that he has not taken matters seriously and that he has not prioritised the child’s safeguarding needs.

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This monitoring visit

There are other examples of very poor practice in the home. There have been instances where staff members have not followed the child’s family contact agreements as set out by her social worker. They allowed a prohibited telephone call to take place, which caused the child great distress. This contributed to a deterioration in the child’s behaviour, resulting in her restraint and two missing from home episodes. During one period when the child was missing, she came to harm.

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This monitoring visit

Staff say that they do not have access to sufficient funds to purchase household items or to provide a range of activities for the child. There was no petty cash in the home on the day of the monitoring visit. Staff have purchased toiletries, towels Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 3 bedding, pens and paper out of their own money because there has been no money available.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted has issued two compliance notices to promote rapid improvement in safeguarding practice and management arrangements. In addition to this, three additional requirements have been set. The previous recommendation has not been met. This is in relation to the workforce development plan and is repeated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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 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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the homes child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vii)(b)(e)) 11 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 5 This is with specific reference to staff and leaders not passing on child protection concerns.

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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

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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

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;

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on feedback and experiences of children including complaints received; and

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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) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to leaders not passing on child protection concerns to relevant authorities, not responding to children’s complaints and not using review systems to make sure the home improves. This is also in relation to insufficient staff and not providing continuity of staff to the child. 11 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 6 The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs. (Regulation 31 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to continuity of care to children. 11 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to staff training in how to restrain a child. This also relates to performance management and supervision of staff. 11 April 2022

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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, sexual exploitation;

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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 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))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to a serious incident which was not notified to Ofsted. 11 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 7

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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: 2556338 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Shirley Road, Old Stone Factory, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 6BY

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Inspector

Caroline Brailsford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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