Children's home run by Kites Children Services Limited in Colchester

Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 1 SC029560 Registered provider: Kites Children Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of two children’s homes operated by a private provider. The home provides specialist therapeutic care and treatment for up to six children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 7 September 2021. An interim manager is in place and is in the process of applying for registration with Ofsted.

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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 and young people are not protected or their welfare is not safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 3

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inadequate

This inspection was conducted following a complaint raised to Ofsted. The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the provider in response to the allegations were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgement.

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inadequate

Significant weaknesses in the safeguarding procedures and managerial monitoring mean that children are not safeguarded effectively. Despite these shortfalls, most children routinely attend school and enjoy a range of activities.

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inadequate

There are five children at the home. One child requires intense one-to-one support. After this child moved to the home, another three children moved into the home in quick succession. The levels of support required by one child, coupled with staff shortages, have reduced the amount of support and quality time that the staff have for the other children.

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inadequate

Children’s bedrooms are in a poor state of repair. The flooring is worn and old. One bedroom on the second floor is not suitable for the child. Window openings are limited with safety restrictors and the room does not have ventilation, resulting in a very strong odour. The child rarely leaves the home and spends long periods in the bedroom. The manager and staff have failed to provide a hygienic or healthy environment for this child.

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inadequate

The washing machines are both used for soiled clothes and bedlinen. One child has a health condition that requires separate laundry facilities. Managers have failed to ensure separate and hygienic facilities.

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inadequate

A new independence programme has been implemented for the children. Staff have provided some support sessions during which they have introduced independence goals and actions. These goals have not been followed up, which does not encourage children’s participation. The staff provide support and one-to-one sessions; however, these are not held often enough. This means that children may have worries or difficulties that they cannot share.

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inadequate

Four of the children attend school daily and have made progress in their academic attainment and attendance.

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inadequate

The outreach team organises activities in the local community. The children attend a variety of groups that encourage their musical talents and sporting interests. Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 4

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

The staff do not understand their duty to report and refer safeguarding concerns to protect children. There has been a systemic failure to report and refer several allegations made by a child. Four different staff have used the electronic recording system to upload discussions that disclose significant risks. The staff did not make the interim manager and children’s social workers aware of these allegations. This is despite a child writing down his concerns about another child. These concerns were not investigated, leaving a child feeling unsafe and uncomfortable at the home.

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

A family member raised a concern about a child being hit by another child with a stick. The interim manager has failed to follow this up. There is no investigation record or outcome. A record of conversation identifies that two children are bullying one child. The staff have not followed this up, which shows a lack of concern and professional curiosity. The lack of effective action has meant that children are not protected from peer-on-peer abuse and do not have opportunities to resolve their differences.

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

There has been an incident of a child taking cigarettes from the staff office. The record of a separate incident indicates that a child gave another child a vape. The vape was produced by the child and given to the staff, who recorded this without recognising a concern. There are no investigations into how these items were obtained by the children despite the risk that they pose to children.

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

Children rarely leave the home without the staff being aware. Generally, children do not go missing from the home. The occasional incidents are very short in duration and local to the home.

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

The staff do not use physical interventions. The staff rely on good relationships and rapport with the children to defuse incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been no registered manager since September 2021, and a team manager has recently left. The appointed manager has responsibility for another home. The manager is attempting to manage both homes. This has failed to provide effective management and oversight of this home. This does not provide safe or well-planned care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite having no registered manager and some staff shortages, three children were moved to the home in quick succession between November 2021 and December 2021. There have been seven weekend shifts since then that were not staffed in line with children’s agreed ratios. To compound this, during January 2022, a high number of agency staff were used. This does not create a sense of stability for children who require routine-based care. This shortfall has reduced the quality of children’s experiences and put them at risk of harm. Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 5 Managers do not provide staff with enough support. Team meetings are irregular; there have been only three in seven months. There are two staff who have not had regular supervision despite being new to their roles. The supervision records do not evidence that the manager initiates safeguarding discussions, despite the ongoing serious child protection investigation. The manager has no oversight of which staff

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

have had supervision. Most of the staff have not had an appraisal within the required timescales. This fails to ensure that all staff have the support and guidance that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff do not know how to use the home’s electronic recording system. Records that detail serious allegations and bullying are not classified as such. The manager is not aware of these records and therefore there is no review or follow-up. This fails to protect the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent person rarely consults with families or placing authorities. The independent person’s visits are extremely short. The reports fail to highlight any of the identified concerns. These shortfalls reduce the effectiveness of this external monitoring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s review of care is overly positive. Despite an external investigation into harmful behaviour between children, the manager’s report is largely positive. There are no views from staff, children, parents or social workers to contribute to the findings. The actions are vague and lack timescales or specific targets. This does not provide learning outcomes that drive improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Overall, managerial monitoring and oversight are not effective. There is not enough time for the manager to monitor events at the home or properly support the staff. These shortfalls have contributed to children being at risk of harm. Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met. (Regulation 10 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the laundry facilities are organised to meet children’s health needs. 27 June 2022

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that managers and staff possess the skills and knowledge to take the necessary action to address 27 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 7 safeguarding incidents in line with the home’s safeguarding/child protection policy and procedure in order to reduce risks to children;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s managers and staff regularly review and assess the well-being of all children, taking any necessary action to safeguard children;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff report and refer safeguarding concerns in line with procedure;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all children’s bedrooms are clean, hygienic and well ventilated to provide a safe and comfortable environment.

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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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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

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)(d)(e)(g)(ii)(h)) 27 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 8 In particular:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that management arrangements for the home are effective, the home’s manager is accessible and has daily oversight of the management of the home and provides appropriate support and supervision for all staff;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staffing provides continuity of care, and that all staff, including agency staff, understand and possess the skills to meet the needs of all children and ensure they are effectively safeguarded;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that there are sufficient staff on every shift to meet children’s needs in line with agreed staffing ratios;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that internal and external monitoring is robust and scrutinises practice, children’s experiences and outcomes, including through complaints, and the support that staff receive;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that appropriate action is taken in response to feedback, and complaints received and the shortfalls identified through monitoring are acted on to drive improvements.

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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 ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 29 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and 29 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 9 the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (4)(a)(b))

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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 system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(a) (5)) 29 September

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. In particular, implement the independence programme and provide more regular support sessions to review independence targets. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)

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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: SC029560 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kites Children Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Langham, Colchester CO4 5PX

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Inspector

Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC029560 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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