Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 1 SC013143 Registered provider: Barnardo’s Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home cares for up to six children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairment. The service is operated by a national charitable organisation.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2021 Full Good 19/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/06/2019 Full Good 08/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 3

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improvement to be good

The home’s physical environment has not been maintained effectively. Most areas of the home are not kept clean. Children’s privacy is compromised as some bedrooms do not have fitted curtains, despite being directly opposite other buildings. Some children’s bedding is not changed when children soil their bedding. Furthermore, the environment does not smell clean. Some children sleep on plastic mattresses irrespective of their personal care needs. Children do not live in a homely and domestic environment.

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improvement to be good

Children’s relationships with staff have been affected by various changes in the home’s leadership, management and staffing. One parent said, ‘The constant change of staff confuses her [child] and we don’t know who to talk to about her care needs since her link worker left.’ This was also confirmed by a social worker, who added, ‘There has been a large turnover of staff within the home. Some of the children have found this difficult.’

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improvement to be good

Children attend and engage well in school. Staff work closely with their schools to ensure that consistent approaches are used by them and school staff when supporting the children. Staff support children to engage in other fun forms of learning when they are not at school. They have creatively provided a French- speaking child with English and French translated word games to help her learn while at home. Children enjoy education, as it is provided in a playful and fun manner.

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improvement to be good

Children feel listened to and are confident to express their feelings and thoughts. A range of processes are used to communicate effectively with children. Staff also use their expertise and knowledge of the children to determine what they are communicating through their body language and mood changes.

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improvement to be good

Children engage in a range of creative and sensory-based activities that are carefully planned. They attend the local adventure park, visit the beach and local parks, go shopping and enjoy playing in the home’s beautiful sensory garden. However, on occasions, children are not able to attend planned activities due to staffing issues. This has resulted in children being unsettled due to sudden changes in plans and very limited positive stimulation.

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improvement to be good

Children complete tasks that are age appropriate and in line with their abilities. A parent said, ‘She [child] has made so much progress She could hardly talk when she moved to the home.’ Further positive comments include, ‘[Name of child] has developed good communication skills and is also able to write like a teenager should. She is also able to cook and clean.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 4

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff identify and understand the individual risks to children. However, risk assessments are not being updated and do not reflect risks and behaviours currently presented by children. These assessments do not have the manager’s oversight. Furthermore, there is no indication that they have been reviewed after significant events. As a result, children’s plans may always not guide staff to give up- to-date care.

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improvement to be good

Children do not go missing from the home. However, some of the protocols in place to guide staff in the event of children going missing have not been updated.

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improvement to be good

Secure relationships help staff to communicate effectively with children. They quickly identity, through non-verbal and verbal cues, moments when children struggle with their feelings and emotions. This ensures that children’s safety is always promoted by vigilant staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff work closely with child and adolescent mental health services to ensure that clear behavioural support plans are in place. This helps staff to identify and support children with their mental health needs. However, these plans have not been reviewed and annual assessments have not been completed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Plans have since been put in place for assessment processes to resume.

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improvement to be good

Children receive medication as prescribed. However, staff do not always follow required procedures when recording the administering of children’s medication. This means that the manager’s ability to review processes or spot any errors is compromised.

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good

Since the last inspection, this home has had several operational and management changes. The home has also experienced significant issues in staffing. Some experienced members of staff have left, leaving the home dependent on agency and new staff alongside existing staff. There are unmet requirements from the home’s last inspection, including in relation to staff sufficiency and continuity of care.

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good

A new manager has been appointed to the home and is currently applying for registration. The manager has identified and acknowledged the shortfalls in the home. They also recognise the impact that these have had on the children and staff. She has implemented a development plan with the aim of improving the care provided to children, and the support and retention of staff.

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good

The leaders and managers do not have clear processes in place to assess progress made by children. The home’s six-monthly quality report has not been completed since the previous manager was in post. The manager has not ensured that this Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 5 required quality review has taken place. Senior leaders have implemented a managers’ training and coaching programme to improve these shortfalls.

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good

The new manager has implemented a new supervision tracking system. Staff and managers are now receiving regular and meaningful supervisions and staff meetings. As a result, staff feel listened to and appreciate the availability of protected space and time to reflect on their well-being, practice and professional development.

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good

On occasions, leaders and managers have not notified Ofsted about serious events. This means that Ofsted has not been able to review the provider’s actions taken in response.

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good

Managers, leaders and staff have good, honest, open and regular communication with professionals and families. They challenge any decisions or actions that are not in the best interests of children. When considering new children, leaders and managers ensure that the needs of children currently living in the home are considered.

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good

The manager and staff promote equality, diversity and identity effectively. Children’s cultural and religious needs are met. The utmost diligence has been taken for one child who comes from a Muslim family. There is excellent support for him with religious and cultural needs. Staff are skilled in providing specific and culturally appropriate care to children. Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)) 30 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys, and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and 30 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 7 that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the homes workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspire s 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—

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager has oversight of children’s risk assessment records. 30 June 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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 30 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 8 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

the system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 30 June 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that medicines are administered and recorded in line with a medically approved protocol. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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 for children's home: SC013143 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barnardos, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford IG6 1QG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Kukielka

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Inspector

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC013143 10 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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