Children's Home run by Solo Independent Living Adolescent Care Services Limited in Rotherham

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2589440 1 Registered provider: Solo Independent Living Adolescent Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned and managed home provides care for one child aged between 12 and 18. The home aims to support the child to develop their social and life skills, to help them integrate safely into the community and move on to independence.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2021. The registered manager left in August 2021. A new manager was appointed in January 2022. They have not yet registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

At the interim inspection on 7 December 2021, serious and widespread shortfalls were identified. As a result, two compliance notices were issued under regulations 13 and 32.

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This monitoring visit

On 11 February 2022 Ofsted completed a monitoring visit to assess whether the compliance notices had been met. During this visit, there was evidence of some improvements, but shortfalls remained. Ofsted reissued the compliance notice under regulation 13.

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This monitoring visit

On 11 April 2022, a further monitoring visit was undertaken. The purpose of this visit was to assess the progress made to meet the compliance notice. The inspector found that the provider had failed to make improvements under regulation 13 and further shortfalls have been identified under regulation 12, the protection of children standard.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has not reviewed or made appropriate changes to the child’s risk assessments. This means that staff do not have access to up-to-date information Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2589440 2 about the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. This does not adequately protect the child from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not appropriately implement effective strategies to safeguard and protect the child living in the home. For example, staff do not have an understanding of the agreed protocol for the safe storage and use of a ligature cutter. This is not safe practice and does not adequately protect the child from potential harm.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has failed to ensure that an accurate care plan is in place or that staff have the information they need to support the child. In addition, the acting manager has not challenged the local authority to ensure that updated information about the child is shared. This means that important information is lost and does not enable the manager to drive forward improvements in staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has failed to support the child to have an appropriate level of independence. Care and support plans offer no clear rationale around the reasons for depriving the child of their liberty. For example, the child’s risk assessments state that the child is not to have free time other than going to a local shop. The reason for this is not clear. Therefore, the staff do not fully understand how to best support the child to become more independent.

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This monitoring visit

The manager does not record and share information quickly with the staff team. For example, the most recent team meeting took place on 8 March 2022. However, a record of this meeting was not made available to staff. In addition, daily handover records contain no information of any recent concerns or the child’s risks. This means that staff are unclear on how to support the child.

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This monitoring visit

Repeated shortfalls have been identified in the quality of recording and the reporting of incidents. This means that the provider does not have appropriate oversight of significant events. Furthermore, the child’s risk assessment was not updated. As a result, staff do not have appropriate strategies to minimise the potential risks or to be able to support the child.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has failed to respond to recommendations made by the independent visitor, despite stating that these have been met or actions were in place. This means that poor practice continues.

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This monitoring visit

The child has made some progress. They continue to have positive relationships with staff and are seeing their family more regularly. This is promoting the child’s well- being and supporting them to rebuild positive relationships.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the findings at this inspection, a restriction of accommodation notice, a notice of proposal to cancel the home’s registration and two compliance notices have been issued. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2589440 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/12/2021 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2589440 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

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

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)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(b)) 29 May 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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 29 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2589440 5 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose is regularly reviewed and kept up to date, including changes of staffing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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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: 2589440 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solo Independent Living Adolescent Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Gatehouse, The Ridings Business Park, Hopwood Lane, Halifax HX1 3TT

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Inspectors

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Mrs Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2589440 7 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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