Children's Home run by PCT Care Services Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 1 SC471856 Registered provider: PCT Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to six children aged between eight and 18 who may have experienced trauma or neglect.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2019.

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 requires improvement to be good

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: 15 December 2021

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/12/2021 Full Good 24/10/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2019 Full Good 13/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 3

p.2

improvement to be good

The children have some positive experiences at the home, but progress has been limited. A recent change in group dynamics has caused some unsettlement. Staff and children are trying to adapt to these changes.

p.3

improvement to be good

Currently, three out of the four children at the home are not attending school. This reduces children’s life chances and opportunities to learn. The child who is attending school is excelling. The child’s teacher said, ‘The child’s progress is due to the consistency and care from staff, particularly the management team.’ The management team has worked hard to ensure that the child is provided with opportunities to learn in accordance with the child’s preferred learning style. This has led to the child reading more frequently.

p.3

improvement to be good

Improvements have been made in the standard of children’s bedrooms. However, the communal areas in the home require update. Ripped wallpaper, stained carpets and marked flooring reduce the homely feel. Except for the resources that children have in their bedrooms, games and recreational items are kept in the staff office and are not freely accessible to children. The lack of such items feels institutional. Children have to ask for games from staff as they are not available in the communal areas.

p.3

improvement to be good

There are some positive relationships between children and staff. However, the staff lack a consistent approach to addressing swearing and verbal aggression. There is no consistent approach to behaviour management. These consistencies mean that children experience variable responses from staff. This is confusing for children and can more easily lead to children favouring certain staff, depending on their behavioural expectations. Opportunities are missed to model to children preferred and expected behaviours.

p.3

improvement to be good

Two children have lived at the home for a long time and clearly have a sense of belonging at the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff provide children with fun activities such as going to funfairs, skating and shopping trips.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have provided children with some excellent one-to-one sessions. One session on sexual health and development was an exceptional piece of work. This session supported the child in a sensitive and honest way. It was informative and enlightening, evidencing that the child had established a positive relationship with the staff member. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 4

p.3

improvement to be good

The inspector was aware during this inspection of a serious incident concerning the children that had occurred since the last inspection. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the provider in response to the incidents were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been two occasions when safeguarding concerns have not been referred in line with the home’s policy. The manager was aware that one safeguarding concern was not referred in line with procedure, and subsequently alerted the local authority designated officer of this. A safeguarding concern that was highlighted at the inspection has been referred retrospectively.

p.4

improvement to be good

On one occasion, staff failed to safely store an item that a child subsequently used to cause harm to themselves. Since this incident, there have been no further occurrences of staff failing to store items that could be used to cause harm. However, lessons learned following this incident have not been taken forward to inform practice. Lack of managerial review and oversight of incidents reduces the capacity for safeguards to be improved.

p.4

improvement to be good

Incidents of self-harm are sensitively supported by staff and good recording is made highlighting what action staff took to support the children’s health needs. Staff are trained in self-harm awareness. This improves the quality of support that staff can offer to the children.

p.4

improvement to be good

The location risk assessment and children’s individual risk assessments are not consistently updated to reflect current and emerging risks. Consequently, staff are not provided with consistent guidance to support the children. Three staff members had different approaches to reducing risks relating to children smoking and the storage of children’s lighters. The lack of a cohesive staff approach is confusing for children as the rules change dependent on the staff’s view. No risk assessment was in place at the time of the inspection relating to smoking and the storage of lighters. This oversight fails to keep children safe. All children at the home smoke. Risk assessments were created during the inspection, but only once identified as a shortfall by the inspector.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children infrequently go missing from the home, and when they do staff respond appropriately, doing all they can to encourage the children’s safe return. The police carry out safe and well checks with the children after they have been missing. However, the manager has failed to pursue return home interviews by placing authorities.

p.4

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, no restraint was used until the beginning of April 2022. Use of restraint is reasonable and proportionate. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 5 One child’s parent said that the staff have been influential in encouraging their child to cease misusing substances. The staff have made good links with a service that provides guidance and training to staff on substance misuse. Links with such services ensure that staff are sufficiently skilled in identifying signs of substance misuse and enable them to provide children with the support that they need.

p.4

good

The manager is well liked and respected by the staff team. He is an integral part of the team. He has good relationships with the children and has a caring, child- centred approach. The manager works shifts to support the staff team. However, this has led to some managerial and safeguarding tasks being overlooked.

p.5

good

The manager met one requirement and one recommendation from the last inspection. These relate to staff training and responses to children’s health needs. However, he has failed to address three requirements and one recommendation raised at the last inspection. A further two requirements and three recommendations have been raised at this inspection. This does not give assurance of effective management of the home.

p.5

good

The manager has failed to sufficiently monitor restraint records and the effectiveness of sanctions. This reduces the manager’s capacity to review themes and trends in behaviour and ensure that sanctions imposed are proportionate.

p.5

good

Two children have door monitors that are activated at night. There is a surveillance policy in place; however, the manager does not have written consent from social workers to permit the use of the monitors. Therefore, the home is operating outside of its policy.

p.5

good

Not all staff have received supervision in line with the home’s policy. This shortfall was raised at the last inspection. The home has been quite unsettled since the start of April 2022. Opportunities have been missed to support and guide staff at a time when additional support would be beneficial.

p.5

good

Low-level issues are responded to by the manager effectively. This prevents low- level concerns from escalating and enables children to feel heard.

p.5

good

A police liaison officer said that the management team works effectively with the police. Requests to the police for support have recently become more frequent. The police liaison officer deems requests made for police involvement as necessary to safeguard children and staff.

p.5

good

The manager advocates well on behalf of children and has challenged other professionals when they have not met their statutory duties. This ensures that children’s rights are upheld. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 6 The management team has identified that, on occasion, language used by staff in records is not child-focused. Interventions have been made to improve the standard of records to ensure that they are written in a non-stigmatising way. Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 7

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.7

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(viii)(x)(b)) 3 June 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 3 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 8 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)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff update children’s risk assessments and location risk assessments following incidents and that clear strategies are in place to reduce risks to children. In particular, ensure that children smoking, and the storage of lighters, is safely assessed.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that restraint records are monitored, sanction records are reviewed for their effectiveness and door alarm consents are obtained.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 3 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 requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 3 June 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

p.8

Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the 3 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 9 placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located. (Regulation 34 (2)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring prompt referral of safeguarding concerns and allegations to the local authority designated officer, following the correct procedure.

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive, and which provides appropriate boundaries in relation to children’s behaviour. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. In particular, ensure that communal areas are maintained to a good standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in

p.9

Recommendations

place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that learning from incidents is shared with all staff to improve practice, particularly in relation to the recent incident of self- harm. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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: SC471856 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: PCT Care Services Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Hall Farm, Silfield Road, Silfield, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 9NH

p.10

Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC471856 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