Children's Home run by Enhanced Young Persons Care Limited in Middlesbrough

Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 1 SC455864 Registered provider: Enhanced Young Persons Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to eight children with social, emotional and/or mental disorders, excluding learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There are two children currently living in the home. The inspector spoke to both children during this inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 19 January 2022

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/08/2019 Full Good 18/07/2018 Full Good 07/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 3

p.2

improvement to be good

The registered manager has recently returned to work following an absence of just over four months. Two senior staff, with the support of senior leaders, were in day- to-day charge of the running of the home during the registered manager’s absence.

p.3

improvement to be good

For around three months, the home was very unsettled. During this time, the children experienced and saw frightening incidents in the home. On several occasions, staff were unable to prevent the children from harming each other. Consequently, some children have been injured by other children. There has been a dramatic decrease in serious incidents of late. Children, staff and professionals say that the last few weeks have been settled and pleasant.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff demonstrate that they care about the children and understand that the children have suffered additional trauma. Staff provide the children with opportunities to talk about their experiences. This helps the children to explore their feelings and to feel heard.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are consulted regarding their care planning arrangements. However, the requests that the children make regarding their day-to-day care are not always included in their records. This sometimes leads to the children experiencing care that is not in line with their wishes and requests.

p.3

improvement to be good

When children face issues with attending school, the staff liaise with education professionals to help the barriers to learning to be understood. Staff gradually introduced a new education provision to one child. The consistently positive approach has helped the child to attend an introductory visit. Staff continually promote learning. This helps to send the message to the children that education is important.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to be healthy. Staff promote a good diet and provide the children with information to help them understand the benefits of healthy choices.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff recognise the importance of children maintaining their friendships. The staff put measures in place to help the children experience safe social time.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are provided with opportunities to pursue their chosen hobbies and interests. Staff take children on exciting trips, such as to theme parks and out for meals. These experiences help the children to have fun and to make happy memories.

p.3

improvement to be good

Some areas of the home have been updated and are very well presented. The children say that they have enjoyed picking new furniture and choosing colour Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 4 schemes. Other improvements and updates to the home are planned and necessary so that a good standard is seen throughout the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Risks to the children are not always effectively or swiftly reduced. The children have experienced multiple incidents when the staff have been unable to access the communal areas where they are. This is due to thumb locks being used on the interior of the doors to communal rooms, which are easily barricaded. When this was discussed with the registered manager, he responded immediately and removed them during the inspection.

p.4

improvement to be good

The children’s risk assessments do not provide sufficient information to help staff understand the context of the risks that the children face. The lack of detail limits the opportunity for staff to identify what might trigger the children’s behaviours so that they can intervene to prevent the behaviour escalating.

p.4

improvement to be good

There has been a spike in incidents of children going missing from the home. Staff follow the appropriate protocols when the children do go missing, and they make persistent attempts to find the children themselves. However, staff do not always complete the checks that have been put in place to help to reduce the risk of one child going missing. That means that there is not a proactive approach to keeping the children safe.

p.4

improvement to be good

A review of the records found that two serious incidents have not been notified to Ofsted. Additionally, staff did not consult with the appropriate safeguarding agency regarding an allegation until an external professional raised the need to do so. While it was established that the children did not suffer harm, this shortfall highlights that the staff do not always follow the safeguarding processes that are in place to help to keep the children safe.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff use the input of the fire service to support children who display fire-setting behaviour. This helps children to learn about the dangers of this behaviour and how to stay safe. Staff also support children to learn about the dangers of smoking and provide information and key-worker sessions to help to promote the children’s safety and well-being.

p.4

improvement to be good

One complaint has been received. The responsible individual took the complaint seriously and processed it appropriately. They have used the complainant’s views to identify how to improve the staff’s practice.

p.4

improvement to be good

The registered manager and the responsible individual have devised an action plan, which they are implementing to improve the care and protection provided to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior leaders have failed to ensure that a suitable matching process and the induction procedures were followed during the admission procedure for one child. Additionally, they have failed to consider the concerns raised by staff regarding admitting a child during an extremely turbulent time. This demonstrates that senior leaders do not always prioritise the needs of the children already living in the home. Consequently, the children experienced a period of further trauma and distress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff still do not receive regular supervision. One member of staff has not received a supervision session for just over seven months. When staff are supervised, they use this to share their views and to highlight and challenge barriers that they face. However, the response that they receive does not always effectively address the issues that they have raised. This limits the possibility to use the staff’s input to raise the standard of care that the children receive.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior leaders do not ensure that the statement of purpose is reviewed when there are changes to the management arrangements for the home. One professional explained that the lack of information about the changes to managerial arrangements was poor and left them unclear.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is no effective system in place to ensure that a quality of care review report is completed within the required timescale. The significantly delayed report, which was provided to the inspector during the inspection, does not include an action plan. This means that this process is not fully utilised to drive improvement forward.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that there are effective communication systems. Most professionals say that they experience communication issues with the information that they receive both verbally and documented. One professional said: ‘The records I receive are often contradictory, and staff often don’t seem to know what’s going on.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Six requirements were issued following the last inspection. There has been insufficient progress made in relation to four of these, which are reissued. This demonstrates that there are continued shortfalls. A further three requirements are issued under regulations 12, 14 and 16 to address additional shortfalls raised. Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement is reissued. 5 June 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 5 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 7 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) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(b))

p.6

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.7

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)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The elements of this requirement that are reissued are (1)(a)(b) (2) and (h).

p.7

Requirement Due date

The elements of this requirement (2)(a) and (b) specifically relate to leaders implementing effective communication systems and to ensure that the staff work as a team. 5 June 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to— 5 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 8 ensure the effective induction of each child into the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that an impact risk assessment is completed prior to children moving into the home, which is used to assess the risks to and from the children already living in the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This also specifically relates to ensuring that the necessary consents are obtained from relevant individuals prior to children being placed.

p.8

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. The registered person must—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 5 June 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that supervision occurs in line with the organisation’s policy.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement is reissued. 5 June 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s case records are kept up to date.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement is reissued. 5 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 9

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children and that they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that Ofsted and other relevant persons are notified if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in regulation 45 at least once every six months. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the regulation 45 review report identifies any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

p.9

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: SC455864 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Enhanced Young Persons Care Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Enhanced Young Persons Care Limited, 1 Fox Street, Sunderland Road, Gateshead NE10 0BD

p.10

Inspector

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC455864 11 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.10

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.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11