Children's home run by Mutual Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2528486 1

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since August 2021. They registered with Ofsted on 9 December 2021.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection in June 2022. A compliance notice was issued following that inspection. At that time, the inspector found shortfalls in practice to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to review actions taken by leaders and managers to address the areas of compliance.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken action to strengthen partnership working with relevant agencies to inform risk management plans for children. This includes revised protocols relating to self-harm and proactive responses to increase children’s safety in the community. In addition, there are robust actions planned to restrict a child’s internet access during the night when they have a new phone. This is to keep the child safe and reduce the impact of disturbed sleep.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments provide clear information about risks posed to children. In the main, they provide staff with strategies to follow in response to children’s needs. Some areas lack specific detail that is needed to ensure that a consistent approach is promoted across practice. For instance, not all staff were clear about the arrangements relating to checks of the children’s bedrooms. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2528486 2 Since the previous inspection, children’s care has improved. The inspector observed staff checking on the child in their room at regular intervals to ensure that they were safe. While staff communicate with the child to encourage them to get up, this is not always effective. The manager described other strategies being considered with the child’s social worker to increase support for the child to develop healthy routines.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reflected on the culture of care in the home. This has led to action being taken to improve children’s care. Staff are valued and have been involved in this process. As a result, they are invested in changes being made.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual is developing in their role. They have increased their oversight of the home’s effectiveness. They told the inspector that they plan to complete audits that will measure progress in line with the home’s improvement plan. In addition, a change of independent visitor is planned to increase scrutiny and challenge to ensure that improvements are sustained.

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This monitoring visit

Training for managers and staff that has progressed over this period has had a positive impact on care. For example, the manager’s increased awareness of the risks associated with self-harm has appropriately informed risk management plans and actions. The responsible individual told the inspector that training is being sourced for managers and staff to develop their knowledge and skills relating to the safeguarding of children.

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This monitoring visit

Sufficient action has been taken by the provider and the actions listed in the compliance notice are met. However, some changes are not fully implemented to measure the impact on children’s experiences and progress. As a result, there is no change of judgement from the previous inspection. The requirements from the previous inspection will remain until they can be reviewed at the next full inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/06/2022 Full Inadequate 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 for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2528486 3

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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

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

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

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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 8 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2528486 4 community are fully understood and that staff are provided with clear strategies that reduce risk effectively.

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as

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Requirement Due date

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

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))

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Requirement Due date

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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training 5 September 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2528486 5 targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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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; and

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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))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

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

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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

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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

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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. 5 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2528486 6 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

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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

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))

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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.

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

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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: 2528486 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2528486 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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