Children's home run by Kent County Council in Maidstone

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC068511 1 SC068511 Registered provider: Kent County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is a purpose-built home that is run by a local authority. It offers a short-break service for up to six children who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2016.

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This monitoring visit

The home was inspected on 23 and 24 March 2022 and was judged to be inadequate. Five requirements were made. A compliance notice was also served in relation to regulation 25. This compliance notice was issued due to leaders not taking sufficient action following commissioned fire risk assessments where significant failings were found, specifically in relation to the safety of the fire doors. Following that inspection, leaders made the decision to close the short-breaks service to allow the required work to be completed.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notice. The remaining four requirements set at the last inspection were not reviewed because their original due date for completion has not yet passed. They will, therefore, remain in place.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector met with senior leaders to review the action that had been taken following the last inspection as well as having a thorough tour of the site to see what work has been done in response to the issues raised.

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This monitoring visit

The tour of the site showed that all the required work identified at the previous fire door assessment has been completed or work has been done to mitigate this while new doors are awaiting delivery and installation. Leaders and managers confirmed that by closing the service to overnight stays, this allowed both time and space for the required work to be undertaken safely. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC068511 2 Personal emergency evacuation plans have been reviewed. These clearly demonstrate how children will be safely looked after in the event of a fire. These are supported by updated risk assessments that have been composed specifically in relation to individual bedrooms. All staff are required to read and sign these.

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoken to were clear about the renewed fire risk assessments and evacuation plans. Not all staff had read the newly devised plans, but this was due to some only just coming in on shift.

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This monitoring visit

The local fire service has visited the home to complete a safety check. The fire service has communicated with the provider that the level of risk is now low.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have identified potential strategies to avoid any future lack of follow-up to fire risk assessments. However, these plans are provisional and have not had time to be tested.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice is met. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC068511 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2022 Full Inadequate 10/03/2020 Full Outstanding 22/01/2019 Full Outstanding 23/01/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC068511 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 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

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)) 30 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 30 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)— 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC068511 5 has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5)) 30 April 2022

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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: SC068511 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kent County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Kent County Council, Sessions House, County Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ

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Inspector

Mark Newington, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC068511 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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