Children's home run by Mutual Care Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2528486 1 Registered provider: Mutual Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This children’s home is registered to provide care for up to three children.

p.1

Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection two children were living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager has been in post since August 2021. They registered with Ofsted on 9 December 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 and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected and their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none. Inspection report children's home: 2528486 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/09/2021 Full Inadequate 26/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: 2528486 3

p.2

inadequate

The experiences of children in this home are mixed. One child is not making good progress because the care they receive at times is not good enough. This relates to ongoing concerns identified at previous inspections regarding how children are helped and protected. As a result of this inspection, a compliance notice has been issued about the safeguarding of children.

p.3

inadequate

The experience and progress for one child is not positive. Staff practice is ineffective at minimising risks and promoting their welfare. The child’s attendance at school has reduced, their self-care is poor and they regularly self-harm. Strategies to manage the child’s mobile phone use at night are not in place and this results in a poor sleep pattern.

p.3

inadequate

Risk assessments and plans do not provide staff with clear strategies to support a child effectively. Despite known risks of harm and concerns about the child’s emo- tional well-being, the inspector observed the child remaining in their room for many hours unsupported by adults. Staff were led by the child’s verbal responses and can- not assure themselves the child is safe by continuing solely with this approach.

p.3

inadequate

While plans for moving into the home have been managed well for some children, this has not been the case for all and resulted in one child moving out in an un- planned way. This is because risks were not identified effectively before the child moved into the home. As a result, their needs could not be met. Managers re- sponded promptly to move the child on due to the level of risk posed to the child and others.

p.3

inadequate

One child has recently moved into the home. In these early stages the child is being supported to settle into their new home. They told the inspector that they are pleased that they have been helped to change schools. They also spoke about activ- ities they enjoy, including horse-riding.

p.3

inadequate

The home is well-maintained. Staff have done well in developing areas of the home in line with the children’s needs. This includes a sensory garden and an area for arts and crafts.

p.3

inadequate

Children are provided with meaningful memory books, which include photographs of their time spent with family members.

p.3

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

Risks to children are still not always understood or responded to effectively. This has been a concern at the previous inspection. Care planning lacks a focus on prevention and this also limits the effectiveness of staff in keeping children safe. Inspection report children's home: 2528486 4 Since the previous inspection, managers have failed to make progress in ensuring that comprehensive safety planning is in place when children are out in the commu- nity. These arrangements lack robust oversight and potential risks have not been fully explored. Risks associated with one chid when in the community have in- creased.

p.3

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

Despite one child taking an overdose on two occasions, risk assessments do not de- tail this risk and actions that should be taken by staff. On one occasion, staff failed to take prompt action to seek immediate medical attention when the child said that they had taken an overdose of paracetamol. Medical care was not sought until the manager returned to the home the following day. This lack of swift action by staff at the time of the incident placed the child at risk of harm to their health and wellbe- ing.

p.4

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

Records show that there has been an incident involving one child smoking in their bedroom, without staff being aware. This has previously been raised as a shortfall and informed previous compliance and enforcement action taken.

p.4

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

Staff work tirelessly to support one child when they have self-harmed in the night. However, records do not evidence a clear safety plan to support staff to do this safely and effectively. In addition, staff discussed with the inspector responses that they had used with the child that were not recorded in the child’s case records. The manager has attempted to get specialist mental health support for the child. How- ever, this is not yet in place. As a result, current plans are not yet reducing the risk of self-harm.

p.4

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

Safeguarding procedures are not always followed when allegations have been made. On one occasion, there is no evidence that an investigation took place following an allegation against a member of staff. Neither had it been reported to Ofsted. The manager’s knowledge in this area was limited when speaking to the inspector. This needs urgent attention to ensure allegations are always responded to effectively moving forward.

p.4

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

Since the previous inspection, there have been no missing from home incident re- ports.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are significant shortfalls in the management and oversight of the home and in the quality of care that children receive. Insufficient action has been taken by leaders and managers to embed changes to staff practice. Improvements made at the previous inspection have not been sustained.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When incidents have occurred, management oversight is inconsistent and often weak. This means that the quality of care delivered to children is not reviewed effectively. At times, the registered manager has reviewed records and found that safeguarding procedures had not been followed in her absence. Inspection report children's home: 2528486 5 Children and staff do not routinely receive debriefs after incidents. This includes incidents when staff have been injured.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision. Feedback provided by staff to the inspector indicates that they feel supported by leaders and managers. Staff training is up to date. When issues relating to performance have been identified, this has been addressed by the manager.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new responsible individual has been appointed to the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Repeated breaches of regulation have been identified at this inspection. These relate to the protection of children and the quality of care. In addition, new areas of concern are identified and inform the requirements made. Ofsted will continue to monitor the home closely and undertake additional inspections. Inspection report children's home: 2528486 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation(12) (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must take urgent action to ensure that risks posed to the child in the home and in the 08 July 2022 Inspection report children's home: 2528486 7 community are fully understood and that staff are provided with clear strategies that reduce risk effectively.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

p.7

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.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.7

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child's relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iv)(v)(ix))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This directly relates to leaders and managers ensuring that the staff team is sufficiently skilled and experienced to un- derstand and support children’s needs and promote their welfare effectively. 5 August 2022

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; 5 September 2022 Inspection report children's home: 2528486 8 help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.7

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.8

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; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(v)(vii)(vii)(x))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans;

p.8

Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child's health and well-being needs; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child's well- being; (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)) 5 August 2022

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

promotes their welfare. 5 August 2022 Inspection report children's home: 2528486 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

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.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

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.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

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)(g)(i)(h))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the monitoring of care is effective in safeguarding children and promoting their well-being.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 5 August 2022

p.9

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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 children's home: 2528486 10

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Northams, St. Marys Road, Portishead, Bristol, Avon, BS20 6QP

p.10

Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2528486 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 looked after children, 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