Children's home run by Active Young People Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2624223 1 Registered provider: Huntercombe Young People Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for children who have a learning and/or physical disability. The home offers long- term residential placements and short-break services for up to nine children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 28 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 18 November 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 28 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 28 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2624223 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.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent 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

There are six children currently living in the home. During the inspection, the inspector met all of the children.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection in November 2021, some action has been taken to address the six requirements and one recommendation made at that time. However, five of the requirements are not fully met and are reissued. One additional requirement has also been raised as a result of this inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safer recruitment checks are completed. The registered manager now explores gaps in employment history. This provides assurance that staff are suitable to care for the children.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s needs and risks are now fully assessed before their admission to the home. Where possible, children will spend time in the home on a short-break basis before admission. This means the manager can determine whether the needs of the child can be met by the home. For one child who has recently moved into the home, his social worker has described the change in him as ‘unreal’.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care and consideration are taken when children move on from the home. One child’s move on was delayed until the managers were reassured that she had the right placement to meet her needs. This avoided the child being moved to an emergency placement, which is likely to have been very distressing for her. The staff team worked closely with the child’s new care team, and this ensured a seamless transition.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has ensured that the records and recording systems are more child centred. These better reflect the voice of the child and their day-to-day experiences. The health needs of the children are more clearly set out in individualised care plans that are regularly reviewed and easier for staff to follow. However, staff recording within care plans is not consistent and not always signed. This is also the case for some children’s gastrostomy feeding charts. As a result, some entries are confusing, and there is a lack of accountability.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are individualised and detail actions required to reduce risks. However, they do not always have management’s oversight, and therefore, the appropriate level of scrutiny is lacking. For one child, an action identified to reduce harm is not always followed during the night. This means he is not always safeguarded effectively. In addition, while risk assessments are regularly reviewed Inspection report for children’s home: 2624223 3 and updated, risk ratings are not always current. For example, the COVID-19 infection is no longer as high a risk as it was in January, when the home experienced an outbreak.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On one occasion, when staff did not follow the company’s safeguarding policy, the manager acted immediately to address this. Debriefs were carried out with the staff involved. All staff were reminded individually of the policy and the required actions, and this was reiterated in a team meeting.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has introduced improved body maps, and he has oversight of those that are completed. However, injuries that are identified when children have been returned from the care of others are not always followed up. This means it is unclear how an injury has occurred and therefore whether any action needs to be taken to safeguard the child.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Supervision is still not provided regularly for all staff, and team-meeting attendance is poor. The manager has taken steps to address team meeting attendance before this inspection. Both of these shortfalls impact on the quality of care the children receive.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some staff have not completed refresher training within the timescale. Therefore, they may be lacking up-to-date knowledge. This also limits the number of staff who can, for example, administer medication and gastrostomy feeds to children.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the manager has put improved monitoring systems in place, he has failed to identify or address the shortfalls raised. As a result, these systems remain ineffective. The manager has recently spent limited time in the home, and this has undoubtedly impacted on his oversight and capacity to undertake necessary tasks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624223 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2624223 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)) 10 May 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

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)) 10 May 2022

p.5

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— 10 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2624223 6 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure staffing ratios and the manager’s availability at this home are correctly reflected in the statement of purpose. 10 May 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.6

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff attend mandatory refresher training within timescales and that all staff receive regular supervision. 10 May 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.6

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 10 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2624223 7

p.6

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: 2624223 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Huntercombe Young People Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Morton House, Morton Road, Darlington DL1 4PT

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Maureen Richardson

p.8

Inspector

Emma Ridley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2624223 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