Children's Home run by The Drive Care Homes Ltd in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 1 SC063689 Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and provides care for up to six children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted an application to be registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 28 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 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 improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection on 23 June 2021, four requirements and four recommendations were made. At this inspection, one requirement, in relation to safer recruitment, was found to be unmet. All other requirements and recommendations were met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s memories are captured in photos by staff and turned into life-story books for children to take with them when they leave the home. Children enjoy a variety of experiences which are broken down into social stories for some children, with small manageable steps.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from regular key-work sessions. Key workers discuss the progress that their key child is making. One child recently received a certificate for improved confidence. Another child received a distinction for their coursework at college.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s health needs are addressed promptly. For example, one child who had not visited a dentist for a several years was supported through a social story and visits to the surgery to get used to the environment. This led to a successful first visit to the dentist.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose for the home has been reviewed. This is reflective of the current services provided for children and has been sent to the regulator as required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has made improvements to the appearance of the home. Photos of children are proudly displayed in the lounge, and the garden has had a makeover. This now provides an enjoyable and pleasant space for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk management plans are regularly updated following any incidents. The manager ensures that she reflects with staff on any possible triggers or indicators throughout incidents. This learning transfers into current care plans and is shared effectively with staff. Therefore, staff are well informed to provide person-centred support to children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive frequent and reflective supervision sessions. Induction for new staff includes regular probation reviews and target setting. Consequently, staff are well inducted into the home and further supported with effective supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from a core stable staff team. The recruitment of more staff has seen the previously high amount of agency staff in the home decrease. This Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 3 provides continuity of care for children. However, not all staff have gained the qualification necessary in the required timeframe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a continuing failure to ensure that agency staff are vetted to the same standard as permanent staff. Managers took immediate action to rectify this during the inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/08/2019 Full Good 31/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or 30 June 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 6 in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

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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 children’s home: SC063689 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 18 Hatherley Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4BG

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC063689 8 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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