Children's Home run by Support and Sustain Care Ltd in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 1 Registered provider: Support and Sustain Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been at the home since it was registered in July 2021. She is working towards a level 5 diploma in leadership and management

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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.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 23 February 2022

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 3

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inadequate

Leadership and management and safeguarding arrangements in the home are inadequate. This has had a negative impact on the overall experiences and progress of children. As a result of this inspection, Ofsted has issued a compliance notice under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard).

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inadequate

One child lives in the home. They require high levels of supervision and specific arrangements for safeguarding the child are in place. This is due to significant risk from self-harming behaviours and going missing from home. However, staff do not always follow risk management plans. This has resulted in avoidable significant incidents which have resulted in the child hurting themselves. As a result, the child’s safety has been compromised, which has had an impact on the child’s overall experience of living at the home.

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inadequate

While some parts of the home are homely and personalised, this standard is not consistent throughout. There are some areas of damage in the home, which require repair work and cleaning. The manager took immediate action to address some urgent repair work, to avoid risk to the child.

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inadequate

Information contained in health plans is confusing and information about an allergy is not clearly documented. The management of medicines in the home is poor. Staff administer medication without the training and competence to do this safely. A staff member did not know what the child’s medication was for and what the side effects could be. This places the child at unnecessary risk. However, the staff do support the child to attend health appointments and the child is in the process of getting access to specialist support to meet their complex needs.

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inadequate

Despite the shortfalls, the child has made some progress since arriving at the home. There have been no episodes of going missing and although there have been avoidable self-harm incidents, these have reduced.

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inadequate

Staff promote the child’s education well and the child attends an education provision suitable to meet their individual needs. The child now attends school every day. This is a positive achievement and the child has begun to form friendships there.

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inadequate

The child has developed positive relationships with some staff and enjoys some positive experiences. For example, they like cooking with staff and going to the park. However, changes to the staff team do impact on the consistency and quality of care that the child receives. Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 4

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

Risk management practice is poor. Managers and staff do not understand and manage risk consistently well. This has left the child vulnerable to harm. Staff do not always follow guidance set out in risk assessments and risk management plans which are designed to reduce the risk of the child harming themselves. This has resulted in a recent incident when the child was able to gain access to knives and scissors and cause injury to themselves.

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

Managers have failed to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to understand their role in protecting children. Staff have not received training necessary to help them understand and act on safeguarding concerns. Not all staff know who they should report safeguarding concerns to externally. Staff have not had training to equip them with essential knowledge regarding self-harm and child sexual exploitation. This means that staff do not have the skills and knowledge to understand and respond to the complexity of the child’s needs and the risks that they present. This leaves the child vulnerable to harm.

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

Failures in fire safety precautions put children at risk. For example, directions about the storage of flammable material had not been followed and fire doors did not close or have smoke protection strips installed. Furthermore, the home’s fire risk assessment had been completed by an inexperienced member of staff and contained information about a different children’s home. As a result of these shortfalls, some immediate action was taken by managers to safeguard the child and others. A referral was made to the fire service during the inspection and a visit to assess the fire arrangements was scheduled for the following week.

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

Managers have failed to ensure that the environment is maintained to a safe standard. A known issue with the main office door had not been addressed until requested by the inspector. Crumbling plasterwork in the bathroom had gone unnoticed and had not been considered as a potential tool for the child to self-injure. Broken concrete in the garden had not been noticed. An open garage contained hazardous liquids. Hazards in the physical environment of the home could pose a risk to the child’s health and welfare.

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

Managers fail to recruit staff safely. Records lack the required detail, such as proof of qualifications, references and a full employment history. This means that managers do not know if the staff are appropriate adults to work with children.

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

Staff have only used one physical intervention with the child currently living at the home. However, the record was not completed in the required timescales and the staff were not spoken to about what had happened. This lack of management oversight means potential concerns and learning from incidents are missed.

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

Staff complete some focused and specific work with the child. For example, staff have supported the child to understand healthy relationships, after they entered a relationship with a peer at school. This supportive approach helps to improve the Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 5 child’s knowledge and understanding of risks and how to manage these. However, this work is undermined by the shortfalls identified during this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Ineffective monitoring systems do not enable managers to understand and respond effectively to issues in the home. As a result, staff’s poor practice goes unchecked and is not responded to in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Ofsted raised six requirements at the last inspection. Managers have failed to take action to meet these requirements. This does not assure Ofsted that effective action is being taken by managers to improve the quality-of-care children receive. Five of these requirements have been restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers and staff do not keep children’s records up to date, including those relating to significant incidents. This includes documentation related to the child’s self-harming behaviours. This impedes the manager’s ability to ensure that staff follow policies and procedures that help to keep the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the home registered in July 2021, several staff have left. There are now insufficient numbers of trained staff members to meet the child’s needs. Several shifts have been covered by the registered manager, responsible individual and the director. On multiple occasions, there has not been a staff member trained in medication or self-harm caring for the child. These shortfalls compromise children’s safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Additionally, only one staff member has received training in the home’s model of care. This means that there is an inconsistent approach to the delivery of care and staff are not fully able to deliver the planned care and outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Arrangements for staff supervision and induction are poor. Currently seven members of staff are in their probationary period. Some staff have received no supervision from the manager and have not had induction meetings. This means that staff do not understand the requirements of the role or receive adequate guidance to support them in caring for the child and keeping them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has not ensured that the statement of purpose has been reviewed and updated. As a result, it still does not include information about the arrangements for staff supervision and an accurate reflection of staff’s training and qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s review of the quality of care has not considered the strengths and weaknesses of the service, nor does it set out a plan for improvement in the next reporting period. Additionally, the views from important people involved in the care of the child have not been obtained. This lack of oversight and review means that the manager has not considered how to improve the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home operates an electronic system for recording and reporting. Staff have access to this on their personal mobile phones, including outside working hours. The Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 6 manager has not considered the potential data protection and safeguarding risks this could pose. The manager took immediate action to rectify this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is committed and wants the home to do well. Staff describe her as supportive and approachable if they have concerns. An external professional involved with the home commented positively on the registered manager’s communication with them. Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 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 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 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; ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (2)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff having an in-depth understanding of the home’s model of care and using it in their practice to support children to make good progress.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 24 July 2022

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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 that staff—

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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; 24 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 8 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

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)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that all staff undertake safeguarding and self- harm training, that risk assessments are reviewed and understood by staff and that hazards in the environment are noted and made safe without delay.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

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)) 30 September Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 9 In particular, ensure that systems for monitoring and review are effective in highlighting and addressing shortfalls in the delivery of care.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 24 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that only trained and competent staff administer medication, including controlled medication, and that appropriate records are kept, in accordance with the home’s policy. 24 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the fire risk assessment is reviewed by a competent person.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 30 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children— 24 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 10 the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of the children; and

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Requirement Due date

the person is physically and mentally fir to manage the home; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has –

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Requirement Due date

level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England). (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that gaps in full employment are explored and that references are sought and verified. 24 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

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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)(a) (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 24 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 11 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.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(c) (5)) 24 July 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 electronic records are held at the home in accordance with data protection principles. IT systems should ensure the safe storage of these records. This relates to staff accessing the electronic records system on personal mobile phones when not at work. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept, to enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. This relates to ensuring child and staff debriefs take place and are recorded within timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’,

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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: 2603750 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Support and Sustain Care Limited

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Inspector

James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2603750 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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