Children's Home run by Zone Central Ltd in Greenwich

Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 1 Registered provider: Zone Central Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to six children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home cares for children with autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulties, and/or complex health needs and/or physical disabilities. The service provides two places for short breaks and four long- term placements.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 30 June 2021. The home has not had a registered manager since 30 September 2021. The current manager has been in post since 14 March 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or 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.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 1 March 2022. Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 2 Two compliance notices were issued on 8 March 2022, under regulation 12 and regulation 13. Following a positive monitoring visit on 12 April 2022, the compliance notices were judged to have been met. Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 4

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inadequate

The quality of care continues to be poor, which is compromising children’s overall experiences and progress. This has resulted in a second inadequate inspection judgement.

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inadequate

Poor routines and staff’s lack of effective and meaningful engagement with children are hindering children’s progress and positive experiences. For example, staff are not supporting or encouraging one child to leave their bedroom, engage in their home tuition or providing them with the opportunities to participate in educational or social activities. Leaders, managers and staff are not promoting healthy lifestyles in the home or ensuring that children’s educational and social needs are promoted.

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inadequate

Children continue to be offered limited opportunities to take part in activities out of the home. The inspector had been informed at the monitoring visit on 11 April 2022 that one child had started to go swimming with the support of staff. However, during this inspection, there was no evidence that the child has been swimming with staff at all. Additionally, there was no evidence that the child had been taken out on any activities since the monitoring visit. This demonstrates ongoing shortfalls in how staff help children to enjoy and achieve, as well as weaknesses in the manager’s monitoring of children’s activities.

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inadequate

The conditions of a child’s bedroom have deteriorated significantly since the monitoring visit on 11 April 2022. The bedroom has a strong odour and continues to be cluttered with rubbish and fast-food packaging. This poses a health and safety risk to the child. Additionally, the physical environment of other areas of the home is poor. In the short- break service, inspectors found that one bedroom had two large holes in the wall and the window restrictor was broken. In the second bedroom, the curtain pole was broken and there were no curtains to provide privacy or block out light to help children to sleep. In both bedrooms, the walls and carpets were dirty and stained. Neither bedroom had adequate space for children to store their belongings. Staff informed inspectors that children keep their belongings in their bags. This does not create a home-from-home environment for children when they attend for short breaks.

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inadequate

Children’s views are now sought through key-work sessions and a ‘grumbles’ box. For non-verbal children, there are forms that use pictures and their preferred communication style. Children’s complaints are recorded and responded to by the management team. This gives children better opportunities to share their views and helps them to feel heard.

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inadequate

Staff support children to have positive endings when they leave the home. Two children who have moved on from the home were supported with the transition by using social stories and pictures. Staff held a party for the children to celebrate and say goodbye. This helps children to move on positively to their new home. Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 5

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

Safeguarding practice is compromised by shortfalls in staff practice and poor management oversight.

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

Staff are not always sure about children’s whereabouts and at times they have not been aware when children have been at risk of harm. For example, on a number of occasions, one child has been found outside the home early in the morning with no shoes or coat on. This shortfall in staff practice does not help to keep children safe.

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

Managers do not ensure that staff are skilled at supporting children when they are distressed, or that staff are able to de-escalate dangerous situations when incidents occur in the home or the community. For example, when a child ran away from staff in the community, staff did not manage this situation safely, which resulted in the child being placed at significant risk. Additionally, due to staff not having the skills to manage incidents effectively, there are a high number of incidents that require the use of physical intervention.

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

Children’s risk assessments are not reviewed and updated following significant incidents. This means that staff are not aware of the current risks posed to children and how to manage them safely. Consequently, children are not helped and protected effectively and risks do not reduce for them.

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

Concerns about children’s use of mobile phones are not managed appropriately. There is no clear risk assessment in place for a child who the manager has concerns about in relation to accessing adult material on their mobile phone. The strategy for managing this is to not provide the child with credit for their phone. Consequently, the child is not able to maintain regular contact with their family.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management of the home are not effective and do not ensure that the necessary improvements are made for children. Management oversight is not robust and staff practice has not improved. Staff do not receive regular supervision or appraisal to review the quality of care they are providing to children. Additionally, the requirements raised at the previous inspection have not been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff still do not receive regular professional supervision of their practice. For example, some staff have only received one or two supervision sessions in the past six months. Furthermore, staff who have worked at the home for over one year are yet to receive an annual appraisal. This demonstrates that managers do not sufficiently monitor and review the quality of care provided to children or provide staff with appropriate support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s records are not updated with important information. Staff report that communication is an ongoing issue in the team. This was backed up by poor records that lack clarity and accuracy, out-of-date care plans and risk assessments for children, and no discussion about incidents or children’s progress in team meetings. This does Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 6 not demonstrate that the managers and staff have the required information to provide children with consistent care that meets their needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not notify Ofsted of all significant incidents as required. This failure to report serious incidents compromises the regulator’s external oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not continually review the suitability of children’s placements and the impact of the care provided to them. As a result, children do not make good progress and their outcomes are not improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are now offered suitable training to meet the needs of the children in their care. This has improved staff’s understanding of the children’s individual needs. However, not all staff have been able to attend the training. Additionally, managers and staff do not review the effectiveness of the training in supervision. Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 7

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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

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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

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; and

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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)(ii)(iii)(b)(d)) 8 July 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—

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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— 8 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 8 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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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)) 8 July 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— 8 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 9 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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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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)(ii)(v)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, children should be provided with structured routines during school hours when they are not in education.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 8 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare; 8 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 10 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

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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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

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Requirement Due date

that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

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Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and

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Requirement Due date

is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix) (3)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies; 8 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 11 participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(b))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 for children's home: 2634929 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Zone Central Ltd, 4 Cedar Park, Cobham Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne BH21 7SF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Patricia Jarrett

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Inspector

Leanne Grant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2634929 13 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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