Children's home run by A & S Children’s Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 1 Registered provider: A & S Children’s Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to three children. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home cares for children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager were registered by Ofsted in February 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 8 November 2021

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s overall experiences and progress are limited by poor management oversight and leadership. This impacts on the quality of care provided to children and has resulted in an inadequate inspection judgement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are ineffective arrangements in place for the safekeeping of medicines. There is no safe place for medication to be stored. However, children’s basic healthcare needs are met through communication with appropriate services. Key-work sessions focus on healthy relationships, sexual health, healthy eating and self-care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child-friendly versions of two guides need revision to include clarity for children about how they can contact Ofsted. Furthermore, a recommendation made at the previous inspection, that information relating to use of CCTV at the home should be included in the children’s guides, has not been met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Despite this, staff know the children well and have built trusting relationships with them. Key-work sessions and children’s meetings enable children to express their wishes and feelings. Children get on well with each other, and staff and managers work to promote positive communication in the home. This helps children to settle into the home well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

A social worker for a child who has recently moved into the home reported that the child likes living at the home and has settled in well. The child is engaging well with the staff team and was given the opportunity to choose her own key worker. Since moving into the home, the child’s routine has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child is making good progress in their education. Another child is not currently attending school, and there is a tutor in place to support this child. There is good communication between the children’s schools and tutors and the registered manager, and this enables the manager and staff to support children with their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children benefit from a range of social and recreational activities. The children recently enjoyed a trip to Thorpe Park and also take part in specific activities of interest, such as boxing, going to the gym, to the cinema and going shopping.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The registered manager and staff understand the significance of children keeping in touch with their family and friends. Children are supported to speak to and visit the people who are important to them . Staff and managers help children to understand the positive impact of family and friends, but also to be aware of any possible negative influences.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children’s risk assessments are not always updated to reflect their current risks. Although the registered manager was aware of potential criminal exploitation risks for Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 4 one child in particular when they are missing from the home, this was not included in the child’s risk assessment. This does not demonstrate that risk assessments contain up-to-date information and strategies to help staff to safeguard children effectively.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The incidences of children going missing from care have reduced. Staff and managers have benefited from training from local police on the ‘Philomena protocol’ which supports the safe return of children at risk of going missing. Consequently, staff and managers are working to agreed protocols and are able to respond more effectively when children go missing from care.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There is a lack of management oversight in the recruitment and vetting of new staff. Recruitment files are currently held in the home of the administrator and inspectors were unable to view all recruitment files as part of the inspection. However, two recruitment files that were made available did not comply with regulatory requirements and it was confirmed that safer recruitment procedures are not being followed. This means that there is the potential for unsuitable staff to be appointed, which poses a risk to children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not met the requirement raised at the last inspection relating to providing guidance for staff on room searches and the recording of such action. Consequently, this does not provide clarity for staff and children in terms of respecting privacy.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

No fire drills have taken place in the home and the manager and staff did not appear to understand that they must ensure that fire drills are undertaken at suitable intervals. This places children and staff at risk of harm as there has not been an opportunity for the manager and staff to address any possible challenges with the safe evacuation of the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The registered manager has failed to meet the requirement raised at the last inspection in relation to him completing updated safeguarding training. However, all staff have completed safeguarding training. Staff know how to respond appropriately to concerns around safeguarding. The registered manager has contacted the local authority designated officer to clarify areas of concern.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Behaviour support plans provide clear guidance to staff on the potential triggers for children’s behaviour and include a range of strategies to help staff to respond and de- escalate situations. Staff had recently undertaken restraint training and reported that this has been beneficial. However, restraint is not a feature of this home, with no incidences reported in this inspection period.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff and managers are aware of the risks relating to children’s use of social media and online activity. Staff manage children’s access to the internet through password protection for the communal computer. The internet hub is controlled through a traffic light system that alerts staff if children access unsuitable websites that have not already been blocked. Furthermore, there are limits on the use of the internet during the school week. Staff talk to children about the dangers of trolling and the use of social networking services. Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is due to leave his role. Leaders have successfully recruited a new manager who is due to start working at the home in the coming weeks. Leaders and managers have not provided effective oversight of the home since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The management monitoring and review systems are weak and do not demonstrate that leaders and managers consider the impact the home is having on the experiences and progress of children. Monitoring reports provided to Ofsted do not meet regulatory requirements. They do not include analysis of the quality of care provided, action planning to make improvements or the views of key stakeholders, specifically children. In addition, these reports are not sent to Ofsted within the required timescales. Some of the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have not been fully addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

File audits are not undertaken routinely. Essential children looked after documentation was not available on one child’s file. The registered manager provided the inspectors with templates for a care plan and progress chart which could be used to demonstrate how the home is meeting the needs of children in line with the local authority plan. However, the templates were not currently being used. Therefore, it is unclear as to how staff and managers consider children’s progress or plan for children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been a small number of complaints made in this inspection period, which have been dealt with appropriately. However, one significant complaint against a member of staff was not centrally logged. Therefore, complaint records do not provide an accurate reflection of all complaints made and the management response to these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is still no completed workforce development plan in place, despite this being raised as a recommendation at the previous inspection. Staff report feeling supported to carry out their roles and describe working collaboratively with each other. The previous suspension of the home affected all who were working at the time. One staff member reported that, ‘the manager and staff had now learned from the mistakes.’ However, another staff member said, ‘More team-building exercises were needed to build up morale and bring back the energy back that was once here. I feel that the home is lacking a spark, and this could be due to staff, including myself, not being motivated anymore.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Although the supervision matrix and discussions with staff demonstrate that regular supervision of staff occurs, this is not consistently recorded on staff files and a record is not always made available to staff. Staff report that they find the support and supervision they receive to be positive. However, two senior staff members have resigned after reactive verbal exchanges with the same child in the home. This raises questions about the quality of preparation and support offered to staff to help them Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 6 to reflect on how their own feelings and behaviour may be affected by the behaviour of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers, leaders and staff all commented that the home would benefit from ‘a brighter outlook’, ‘improved decor’ and ‘a splash of colour’. The registered manager indicated that this will be one of the actions for the new manager and should involve children in choosing appropriate images for walls, such as inspirational statements. However, the registered manager also reported that general maintenance issues identified as far back as August last year, some of which they felt could potentially lead to accidents in the home, had still not been actioned.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff and managers challenge others when there are concerns in respect of meeting statutory requirements, such as the timeliness of children looked after reviews. Staff and managers work positively with schools, health and mental health well-being agencies. Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 7

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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,

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff recruitment files are accessible.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they have at least two suitable written references that have been verified for all staff working in the home. 27 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— 27 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 8 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

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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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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

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

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Requirement Due date

and any actions that the registered person considers provided necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care for children. 31 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 9 After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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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

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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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) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 27 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)) 27 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the following items, which may be kept in electronic form, are kept in an accessible manner—

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Requirement Due date

records of complaints. (Regulation 39 (3)) 27 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out— 27 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 10 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home. (Regulation 35 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the need for staff to have clear guidance in relation to carrying out and recording room searches.

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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

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

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(c)) 27 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. In particular, ensure that the guide clearly outlines the use of CCTV in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.21)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home. In particular, the training matrix Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 11 must be kept up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure a note of the content and/or outcomes of

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Recommendations

supervision sessions is kept and that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff are supported and have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. When necessary, they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogue and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14)  The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records (regulation 36) are kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: 2611288 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A & S Children’s Services Ltd

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Inspectors

Colin Bent, Social Care Inspector Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2611288 13 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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