Children's Home run by PCF Residential Childcare Ltd in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 1 Registered provider: PCF Residential Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children who may experience behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A registered manager has been in post since the home opened in February 2021.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken following concerns raised with the regulator about staffing levels in the home and the impact of this on children, and the actions of directors.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the visit, the registered manager was no longer working in the home and was due to leave the organisation shortly. In addition, the responsible individual had left the service in March 2022. A new manager has been appointed and began her role on the day of the inspection. She will be completing her application to register with Ofsted in due course. A new responsible individual has also been appointed and is due to start her role shortly. As a result of this staff turnover, a director has taken more of a role in the running of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found serious and widespread concerns in respect of the protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. As a result, a notice restricting accommodation and three compliance notices were issued.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of inspection, one child was living in the home. The experiences of another child who had recently moved on from the home were considered as part of this visit.

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This monitoring visit

The child living in the home is making good progress. She has good attendance at school and staff encourage her to develop her interests. There has been a reduction Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 2 in incidents involving this child since the last inspection. The child told the inspector that she feels safe living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

During the visit, the inspector identified significant shortfalls in the care and protection of the child who has recently left the home. Managers have not ensured that they carried out a prompt and thorough review when they were no longer able to meet children’s needs and keep them safe. This resulted in one child’s placement ending abruptly and meant that he moved on without adequate preparation or planning for his next steps. The child told the inspector that this had been difficult for him as the move coincided with school exams.

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This monitoring visit

When a child displayed behaviours that indicated he was struggling with bereavement and loss, this was not explored with him. Managers did not ensure that he was spoken with about support available to him. The same child was not well supported by staff with his physical health needs. As a result of poor planning and review of children’s needs, children have not received crucial support with their physical and emotional health.

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This monitoring visit

Managers do not recognise safeguarding concerns and respond to them appropriately. For example, when a child displayed behaviour that would cause concern and leave him vulnerable, this was not followed up. In addition, when a child made two disclosures of a safeguarding nature, managers did not know if one of these disclosures had been reported to safeguarding agencies. For the disclosure that was reported, there is no evidence that this had been followed up, to understand what action was taken. Furthermore, managers were unable to identify how the child had been supported following the disclosure and if any actions were needed to keep the child safe. As a result, prompt action was not taken to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have failed to complete risk assessments that consider all known information about children. Risk assessments are not updated to include new and emerging risks. For example, there was no risk assessment or guidance for staff to follow despite significant concerns about one child’s use of drugs and alcohol. In addition, staff do not have clear guidance to manage risks associated with children’s use of the internet and child exploitation. Staff do not consistently monitor children’s internet use and one child had unmonitored access to multiple electronic devices. This lack of effective support leaves children at risk and vulnerable to harm.

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This monitoring visit

Records relating to health and safety of the environment are not well organised and this leaves managers without easy access to important information. Weekly health and safety checks have not taken place consistently. This shortfall has not been identified by managers. In addition, action has not been taken to repair broken window restrictors on one child’s bedroom window, despite the child who occupied that room having high risks associated with going missing from home and exploitation. This poor practice compromises children’s safety. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 3 Managers have not ensured that staff receive adequate training, guidance and support to meet children’s needs. For example, staff have not completed all mandatory training. Only 50% of staff have had training in first aid and two staff have not had safeguarding training. One of these staff members has worked in the

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This monitoring visit

home for 18 months and the other member of staff for seven months. This failure to prioritise and monitor staff training does not promote children’s welfare.

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This monitoring visit

During the inspection, managers could not locate staff supervision records and they were unable to demonstrate that staff had received supervision and support. It is not clear that staff are receiving adequate guidance to help them to care for children and keep them safe. Additionally, staff have not been provided with adequate support and opportunities for reflection during what has been a difficult period in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Existing monitoring systems have not been used effectively and this prevents managers from identifying shortfalls in care planning, recording, quality of care and safeguarding practices. Management oversight is inadequate and managers are not acting to keep children safe and improve their experiences.

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This monitoring visit

External monitoring is not strong. The independent visitor who visits the home monthly has failed to identify shortfalls that have had a negative impact on children’s experiences, welfare and safety.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff do not ensure that visitors sign in and out of the home so that a clear record is kept. Furthermore, managers do not keep clear and accessible records relating to staff rosters and so it is not easy to understand who has worked at the home and when.

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This monitoring visit

Managers fail to notify Ofsted of serious incidents, in line with regulation. The inspector identified five incidents that had not been reported to Ofsted. This is the third consecutive occasion that a requirement has been raised about this shortfall. This continued failure in leadership prevents the regulator from having all the information to oversee practice in the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 5

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers sharing and escalating concerns about children’s care and care planning. 24 June 2022

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(c)) 24 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 6 This specifically relates to managers ensuring proactive action is taken to meet children’s physical and emotional healthcare needs.

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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

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;

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 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)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments contain up-to- date information and clear guidance for staff to follow, that managers and staff understand and follow child protection procedures and that health and safety measures are taken as needed and clear records are kept about these measures.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. A compliance notice has also been issued. 24 June 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— 24 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 7 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. 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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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;

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that staff have had the necessary training to carry out their role. In addition, that managers maintain effective oversight of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. A compliance notice has also been issued.

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Requirement Due date

*The care planning standard is that is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to— 24 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 8 manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that arrangements are in place to regularly review children’s plans so that these continue to meet their needs. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. A compliance notice has also been issued.

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 24 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 24 June 2022

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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. (Regulation 33 (1) (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to all employees receiving practice- related supervision. 24 June 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; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 24 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 9 This specifically relates to managers ensuring that people who visit the home sign in and out. In addition, that managers can access and review staff rosters.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 24 June 2022

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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

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s wellbeing.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b) (5)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the independent visitor is providing sufficient external monitoring of the home to support improvement and help to promote children’s welfare. 24 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2622281 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PCF Residential Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 37 Copthorne Road, Wolverhampton WV3 0AB

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Inspector

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2622281 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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