Children's Home run by iMapcentre Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 1

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iMapcentre Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately run. It provides care for up to nine children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager in post has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 4 and 5 May 2022.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to assess the progress made by the provider to meet the steps set out in the compliance notices issued under section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 8 (the education standard), regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and regulation 35 (behaviour management policies and records). A notice to restrict accommodation of any further children until 1 August 2022 was also monitored during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation. Two children remain living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

One child continues to make progress in his education and now attends for an additional day. However, his education plan created by the home has not been updated to reflect his progress and no report is on file from his most recent personal education planning meeting.

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This monitoring visit

The other child remains on roll at a school but is not attending while a new provision is confirmed. A new provision has been identified but the provider has served notice on the child’s placement and therefore plans are stalled until the child moves. The child’s activity plan includes informal education activities, and records show that he engages in activities to promote his basic skills and independence. However, he does Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 2 not have an education plan that has been developed in the home which provides a coordinated approach and structure to his learning.

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This monitoring visit

The provider requests children’s personal education plans, and education, health and care plans from their respective placing authorities. However, they have not been sent and the provider has not escalated their concerns to more senior local authority managers. This means that the staff have limited information on which to plan informal education for a child who is not attending school.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments are updated in response to incidents and provide strategies for the staff to follow to minimise risks. Children have individualised personal evacuation plans in place in the event of fire.

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This monitoring visit

Training for staff to manage known specific risks and vulnerabilities for individual children, such as pica traits, has not yet taken place although it is scheduled. Staff are trained in first aid; however, records show that they do not always seek medical advice promptly when an incident occurs, which potentially puts children’s health at risk.

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This monitoring visit

Remedial action was taken promptly to replace a damaged window restrictor following an incident. One restrictor was seen to be damaged during this visit and the staff immediately alerted the maintenance team to repair it. Daily checks are now being introduced to make sure that restrictors are securely attached. However, Ofsted was not notified of the original serious incident when a child was able to leave his window to access a restricted area.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight of records is improving and identifies how practice can be improved, including the need for additional training. The manager has devised an audit tool for the responsible individual to use as additional management oversight for the home. However, children’s files are not consistently reviewed by senior care workers to ensure that they are up to date. Meetings are held to review children’s plans with key members in the organisation, but it is unclear if this results in changes to plans as updates are not indicated in children’s files.

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This monitoring visit

Managers review any incidents following the use of physical intervention to drive improvements to practice. However, inconsistencies in recording are not always identified and addressed.

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This monitoring visit

Debriefs now take place with staff members involved in physical interventions. Children’s well-being is monitored if they do not have the verbal or cognitive capacity for staff to speak to them after a physical intervention takes place. The manager plans to improve the observational record to provide additional narrative information.

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This monitoring visit

Several issues in the home environment need to be addressed, including replacement of flooring and carpeting, accidental damage to a window and redecoration. Ofsted acknowledges that there are currently delays in obtaining materials to make repairs. Some repairs cannot be completed until a child moves Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 3 from the home. However, this means that none of the available bedrooms are ready for children to move into currently.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has demonstrated sufficient progress to meet the notice served under regulation 35. A requirement has been made about recording the duration of physical interventions. New notices have been served under regulations 8, 12 and 13.

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This monitoring visit

The restriction of accommodation remains in place to allow the provider to make the necessary improvements to meet the compliance notices and improve the physical environment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/05/2022 Full Inadequate 03/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/06/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 4

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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, the 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

*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

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;

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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)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that risk management plans are in place that meet children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. The registered person should ensure that the staff identify and respond to risks as recorded in children’s plans. The staff should take 28 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 5 appropriate action to keep children safe and ensure their well-being. The home’s environment should be maintained to ensure that it is a safe and suitable place for children to live in.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the staff receive training that is relevant to the specific needs of children. Individuals with responsibility for reviewing and monitoring children’s plans and care should do so promptly to ensure that all staff deliver care in response to children’s changing needs and progress. Leaders and managers should ensure that there is effective oversight of recording and practice to drive improvement. 28 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 staff— 28 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 6 help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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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;

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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. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should create an education plan that documents any learning that staff complete with children. Education plans for children attending school should be reviewed and updated. Current relevant education plans should be obtained that inform the home’s plans. Leaders and managers should continue to escalate concerns regarding delay in identifying an appropriate school to support children’s learning and development.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, a record should be made on each occasion where a measure is used to manage a child’s behaviour, which includes the duration of the measure used. Leaders and managers should evaluate the record to identify any improvements to recording and practice in behaviour management. 28 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 28 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 7 understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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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;

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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)(iii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, staff must follow children’s individualised plans to ensure that children’s care promotes their welfare and accords with their relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must obtain all relevant plans and reports relating to children to ensure that the staff deliver care that meets placing authorities’ expectations. 28 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is an organisation or a partnership. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)) 28 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 8 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.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 28 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the independent person appointed carries out a rigorous assessment that identifies areas of practice improvement and regularly considers the views of stakeholders. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that consideration is given to the frequency of supervision. Staff’s performance should be appraised formally on an annual basis to drive improvements in practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraphs 13.1 and 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that electronic records, for example in relation to recruitment, are easily accessible to individuals who legitimately need to view them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)

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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: 2613341 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: iMap School, Barrowmore Estate, Barnhouse Lane, Great Barrow, Chester CH3 7JA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anthony Yearsley

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Inspectors

Karen Willson, Social Care Inspector Nicola Shaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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