Children's Home run by Worcestershire Children First in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548571 1 Registered provider: Worcestershire Children First

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home was previously owned by the local authority. It was re-registered in October 2019 when the local authority moved to be a wholly owned limited company. It is registered for up to four children with learning disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in December 2021. There is no permanent manager in place. As an interim measure, two managers from the provider’s other services are providing management oversight.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was made in response to concerns raised with Ofsted regarding health and safety risks in the environment and insufficient staffing levels to meet the children’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the visit, three children were living in the home. One child has recently left the home.

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This monitoring visit

The interior and exterior of the home have sustained some significant damage. However, action to rectify this has been slow. For example, the glazed front door was damaged several weeks ago. The safety film is insufficient and ineffective, and shards of glass were protruding. This presented an unnecessary risk to children. In a further example, one child had damaged their wardrobe doors and these had been removed at their request. However, sharp hinges had been left in place. The provider took prompt action during this inspection to rectify these hazards.

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This monitoring visit

A child’s bedroom was found to be dirty and there were food items and bin bags containing rubbish on the floor. The window had a build-up of mould and the safety catch was broken. Staff were unsure when the bedroom was last cleaned. They were Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548571 2 also unsure when the food was obtained and how much the child had eaten. This shows a lack of care and attention to children.

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This monitoring visit

The garden is in a poor state of repair. Broken fencing, an exposed appliance meter and dirty standing water in the water play area mean children do not have access to a safe, enclosed therapeutic space as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not had good enough oversight of the quality of care provided to children. Ineffective monitoring systems do not enable managers to understand and respond to issues in the home. Staff and managers have failed to ensure that the environment is a safe, homely and inviting place for children to live in and progress.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not ensured that staff receive appropriate training to meet children’s complex needs. Poor management oversight and a confusing training record means some staff have not received important training in autism, exploitation and medication. This means that some staff do not have the skills and knowledge to deliver good-quality care to children.

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This monitoring visit

The home has sufficient staff. Regular agency staff work at the home who are familiar to the children. However, staff rosters do not provide an accurate record of which staff have worked in the home and when.

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This monitoring visit

The home has been without a registered manager since December 2021. A lack of consistent and effective leadership has contributed to shortfalls identified at this inspection. The provider has appointed an interim manager, who was due to start work at the end of April 2022. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548571 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/11/2021 Full Good 03/08/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548571 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

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

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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)(iii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that hazards that may cause injury to children are identified promptly and made safe without delay. 29 April 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

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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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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)(c)(h)) 22 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548571 5 In particular, that staff receive training to meet children’s complex needs, managers have systems to oversee training and they monitor effectively the quality of care provided to children.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i) (2)(a)(b)) 22 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to point 4 in schedule 4, that an accurate copy is kept of the roster of persons working at the home and a record of the actual shifts worked. 22 May 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: 2548571 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Worcestershire Children First

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP

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Inspector

James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548571 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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