Children's home run by A & S Children’s Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2611288 1 Registered provider: A & S Children’s Services LTD

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to three children. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home cares for children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in February 2021.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is vacant, and a suitably qualified and experienced manager has been appointed to undertake this role.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this monitoring visit.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection on 11 and 12 April 2022. As a result, a compliance notice was issued under regulation 32 (fitness of workers). This monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the progress made against the compliance notice.

p.1

This monitoring visit

All staff recruitment files were made available for the monitoring visit, and these are now stored securely on site in the manager’s office. The manager is working closely with the administrator to ensure that recruitment of staff procedures continue to meet statutory requirements.

p.1

This monitoring visit

All staff recruitment files were reviewed and demonstrated that at least two written references were available and had been verified. In addition, gaps in employment history were also appropriately addressed. This demonstrates that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2611288 2 In addition, the inspector identified that progress has been made in relation to meeting some of the requirements raised at the full inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Arrangements are now in place for the secure storage of medicines in the home. In addition, a system for the monitoring and disposal of medicines is in place and staff have received training so that they are competent in the safe administration of medicines.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Systems are in place for recording the outcomes of fire alarm tests, the checking of fire safety appliances and fire drills. All staff have received fire safety training and the manager is working to ensure that all staff undertake fire marshal training. Children have been spoken to about the importance of understanding and following fire safety and evacuation procedures.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A system has been introduced for addressing maintenance issues in the home. Staff are responsible for regularly checking the home in relation to general health and safety and maintenance or repair work. This is reviewed by the manager and action is taken to address work identified. Repair work highlighted at the time of the last inspection has been completed.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has introduced simple formats for recording complaints, incidents of restraint and missing from care episodes. These formats will allow leaders and managers to monitor such activity accurately and evaluate the effectiveness of responses. Consequently, this will assist in the review of the quality of care provided to children and identify any improvements needed.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Supervision records are available on staff files and are up to date. Staff now receive a copy of their supervision records. The manager has used supervision and team meetings to support staff in understanding the expectations on them for recording and reporting, as well as the purpose of the new systems that have been put in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2611288 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/04/2022 Full Inadequate 08/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2611288 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.4

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)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) 20 July 2022

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. 20 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2611288 5 In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

p.5

Requirement Due date

and any actions that the registered person considers provided necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care for children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

p.5

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

p.5

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home. (Regulation 35 (1)(a))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the need for staff to have clear guidance concerning room searches and to record them effectively. 20 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2611288 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that where there is a possibility that a child will run away or go missing from the home, the child’s risk assessment is reviewed and includes strategies to reduce risk when the risks of children going missing increase. (‘Guide to Children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.24)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure the children’s guide is age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality

p.6

Recommendations

standards (2015)’, page 23, paragraph 4.21) In particular, that the guide clearly outlines the use of CCTV in the home.  The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. Where necessary they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues, and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14)

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: 2611288 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: A & S Children’s Services LTD

p.7

Inspector

Colin Bent, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2611288 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