Children's Home run by Worcestershire Children First in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548569 1 Registered provider: Worcestershire Children First

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home was previously owned by the local authority. It re-registered in October 2019 when the local authority moved to be a holding company. It is registered for up to four children who have suffered adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home was judged declined effectiveness at the interim inspection in March 2022. As a result of the concerns identified at this inspection, three compliance notices were issued in relation to regulations 7, 12 and 13 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015. In addition, a notice restricting accommodation was issued. Five requirements and three recommendations were raised in all.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit examined the progress made by the home in meeting the three compliance notices and the notice restricting accommodation. It also considered one of the other requirements.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The notice restricting accommodation has been complied with and remains in place.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the way in which children are provided with opportunities to express their views, helped to access independent advocacy and supported to understand the complaints procedure. When one child requested a change of key worker, this was actioned. Another child requested pet rabbits to support him with feelings of anxiety and these were purchased for him. Children are reassured that their wishes and feelings are listened to, and the compliance notice in relation to regulation 7 is deemed to have been met. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548569 2 Since the last inspection, one child’s missing episodes have decreased. The manager makes sure that return home interviews are completed when children have been missing from home. Communication between staff and the independent person completing these interviews has improved. The manager has created a missing-

p.1

This monitoring visit

from-home tracker to monitor missing episodes. This helps the manager to have better oversight of missing-from-home incidents and actions taken to support children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home generally presents as well maintained and homely. However, the condition of one child’s bedroom was poor. Surfaces had not been cleaned and the bedroom had a stale smell. The child had been struggling emotionally and this was affecting his motivation to clean his room. A lack of support to help children to maintain their bedroom does not help to improve children’s feelings of self-worth. In addition, there is a piece of carpet missing in the home’s games room. This has been discussed on previous inspections and remains unaddressed.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff still do not take effective action when they identify that a child is at risk of harm. For example, one child reported that he had experienced an incident affecting his health. However, staff did not seek medical advice for the child. On another occasion, managers did not ensure that strategies were in place to support a child and keep him safe when staff became concerned that he was drinking alcohol in the home. Failure by managers and staff to take appropriate and timely action in response to concerns compromises children’s safety and well-being.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The inspector found that risk assessments designed to support children’s safety are not updated to include new and emerging risks. For example, managers had not updated risk assessments to include guidance for staff about how to respond to children misusing alcohol and presenting as being under the influence of alcohol. Managers have not ensured that there is clear guidance for staff about the strategies they are expected to implement to reduce the risk of harm to children. The absence of up-to-date information in risk assessments, as well as strategies to mitigate and manage risk, leaves children vulnerable and at risk of harm.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The quality of managers’ monitoring and oversight is inconsistent. Despite new monitoring systems being in place, managers have failed to identify shortfalls in safeguarding practice and take actions to address these shortfalls. This does not promote children’s welfare or help staff to improve and develop their practice when needed. As a result of this inspection, compliance notices in relation to regulations 12 and 13 have been issued again. The notice restricting accommodation remains in place.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Regulation 14 and the three recommendations made at the last inspection were not reviewed and remain in place to be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548569 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 09/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548569 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that maintenance is carried out promptly and that children’s bedrooms are maintained to an adequate standard of hygiene. 19 June 2022

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)) 19 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548569 5 In particular, ensure that each child has a thorough and up- to-date risk assessment and that staff are able to respond effectively when children are at risk of harm.

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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; and

p.5

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)(c)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers review, implement and make use of monitoring and review systems to ensure that shortfalls in the quality of care are identified and acted on. In addition, ensure that incidents are thoroughly reviewed and that this informs plans to improve the care children receive. 19 June 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 9 May 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548569 6 that arrangements are in place to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers, including senior managers, take timely and effective action to review the placement of a child when they are no longer able to meet their needs. This was raised at the previous inspection and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

p.6

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice to minimise potential risks to children from unsuitable people caring for them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. This should include and take account of information sourced from consultation with relevant agencies. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548569 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Worcestershire Children First

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2548569 8 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.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8