Children's Home run by Supporting Hands Care Services Ltd in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 1 Registered provider: Supporting Hands Care Services 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 company. It provides care and support for one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

The provider was issued with three compliance notices following the last inspection in March 2022 due to serious shortfalls. The notices focused on regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 13, the leadership and management standard and regulation 40, notification of a serious event. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 16/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 3

p.2

inadequate

The home was judged inadequate due to the failure of the manager to ensure that all the steps in the compliance notices issued following the last inspection were met. Consequently, some aspects of the compliance notices are re-issued.

p.3

inadequate

There is only one child living at the home. The child is making good progress and relationships with staff are developing from rarely speaking to staff to having detailed discussions and engaging in activities with staff. The child celebrated their birthday at the home and enjoyed a trip to a theme park with staff. They have visited the cinema several times. This engagement is leading to some trusting relationships.

p.3

inadequate

Staff respond well to the child’s day-to-day health. The child also engages in daily exercise with a member of staff and has made much progress. This is helping the child develop a healthier lifestyle.

p.3

inadequate

Further appointments with a specialist are awaited to better understand the child’s health conditions and whether additional support can be provided. However, not all the child’s worries and complaints about their health are monitored effectively or translated into their care plan. This does not ensure that the child is making maximum progress. The manager’s understanding of the child’s cultural needs is poor, and this has led to delays in them receiving appropriate hair and skin care.

p.3

inadequate

The child has aspirations to achieving in education and wanting to go to college. A review of the child’s education, health and care plan has identified the need for education but an insufficient number of hours for tuition have been offered. The manager is addressing this with the local authority and virtual school through the child’s education, health and care plan.

p.3

inadequate

Regular key-work sessions enable the child to speak to staff about any worries or concerns. This allows staff to ensure that the child has a good understanding of the risks and the reasons for the actions that they take to help keep them safe.

p.3

inadequate

The conditions of the legal order have been relaxed to allow the child more freedom in the home. The level of supervision has been relaxed and the lock on the kitchen door has been removed to provide ease of access.

p.3

inadequate

The child’s bedroom is personalised, and they have been involved in choosing soft furnishings for the home. However, the presentation of the rest of the home is dated and does not provide a homely environment for the child, who spends most of their time there. Some repair work is needed to make the home a comfortable, safe and relaxing place. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 4

p.3

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

Risk assessments have been updated to identify the current risks and how staff should respond. Progress made by the child means that the level of supervision has been relaxed. At times, staff undertake errands outside the home, such as shopping, and leaving the child with one-to-one staffing. This is usually managed safely, and when the child is settled. However, there is no record of the rationale showing how this is agreed or assessed.

p.4

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

There are no concerns relating to the child being missing from home. The missing- from-home protocol is detailed and informative should any situations arise. There have been no further restraints to evaluate. The manager has discussed the need for more detailed records with the staff, but this has not yet been actioned.

p.4

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

Ongoing discussions with the child about how to stay safe online take place and measures to monitor the child’s online access have improved. These include a new computer in the lounge, which staff monitor, and the Wi-Fi is switched off during the night. The child has disclosed inappropriate comments that were made online and shows insight into keeping themselves safe. However, not all staff have completed the child sexual exploitation and social media training to develop their insight further. There is also a reliance on the child disclosing any concerns. This does not promote the child’s safety online.

p.4

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

Room searches are not documented to show the actions taken by staff. This makes it difficult for the manager to evaluate their effectiveness and how safety improvements can be made.

p.4

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

There is no independent person available for the staff to speak to should they have any concerns about the provider or the manager. This does not promote an open culture of whistle-blowing. In addition, staff are still not fully competent in their knowledge of safeguarding practice and were at times unclear about the action they would take in the event of a safeguarding concern.

p.4

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

Health and safety checks are not always thoroughly undertaken to eliminate all risks, both within and outside the home. Not all fire doors close adequately. A cracked tile that caused potential risk was addressed during the inspection.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is spending more time at the home following the last inspection. Her day-to-day presence has been beneficial for both the staff and the child. Staff feel more supported in their daily decision-making and oversight. However, progress in addressing the shortfalls is slow.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all the steps in the compliance notices have been met sufficiently. The manager’s and staff’s understanding and insight about the children’s homes regulations are still developing. The manager has made some progress in Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 5 establishing systems to improve this, but this has been slow, and it is not having the desired effect.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Recruitment practice is still not safe or robust. The compliance notice has helped to improve the manager’s understanding of safe recruitment. However, she has still not completed the safer recruitment training to ensure that this becomes consistent practice and there are still gaps in some of the checks for agency staff. This does not provide assurances that only suitable and safe people are working in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Delays in receipt of the independent person’s reports have an impact on the timeliness of the regulator’s oversight. The manager’s internal monitoring of the home’s quality of care is weak. There are no established systems that provide an adequate overview of the quality of records. There is minimal evaluation from the manager of the quality of records, how risk is assessed by staff and the rationale behind some decisions. In addition, the child’s journey is not noted sufficiently in their records. These failures have not been recognised or challenged by the manager; this does not provide assurances that her actions are safe or effective. This aspect of the compliance notice is therefore reissued.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive supervision on a more frequent basis from the manager. Individual discussions about the quality of their records have taken place. However, the manager’s own supervision has still not been arranged. This does not ensure that she receives adequate support or challenge in her management and oversight. Team meetings have not taken place. This does not promote the opportunity for staff to share their experiences collectively or learn to develop their knowledge as a group. The manager is about to start her management qualification. Not all staff have commenced the requisite qualifications to develop their knowledge and understanding of working in residential childcare. This does not promote good outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iv)(vii)(c)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that the child is provided with haircare products that meet their cultural needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must check all fire doors to ensure that they close shut, cover the drain at the back of the house, ensure that health and safety checks are carried out robustly and any risks inside and outside of the home are eliminated. The decor in the home should be improved to promote a homely environment throughout. 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 7 The health and well-being standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.7

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)) 3 July 2022

p.7

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 promotes their welfare.

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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff have the opportunity to engage in team meetings and receive appropriate training to develop their skills and knowledge. 3 July 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 8 The registered person may only—

p.7

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 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, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.8

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)(b) (3)(d))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that full and satisfactory recruitment checks are completed in relation to agency staff to satisfy themselves that they are safe to care for children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

p.8

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.8

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

p.8

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must ensure that staff obtain the requisite qualification to develop their knowledge and understanding of working in residential childcare. 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 9 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.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must ensure that the registered manager receives appropriate supervision and staff have access to an independent person to enable whistle-blowing. 3 July 2022

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.9

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—

p.9

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must ensure that the independent person submits the reports to Ofsted after each visit to the home in a timely manner. 3 July 2022

p.9

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.9

Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that staff are familiar with record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This specifically relates to records relating to room searches and providing a rationale for their decision-making regarding staffing ratios. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, paragraph 14.3, page 62)

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: 2598804 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Supporting Hands Care Services Ltd

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ovenden House, Ovenden Road, Halifax HX3 5QG

p.10

Inspectors

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Parveen Hussain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 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

Inspectors

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

Inspectors

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

p.11

Inspectors

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

p.11