Children's Home run by Caterpillar Care Services in Solihull

Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 1 Registered provider: Caterpillar Care Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to two children who may experience behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager holds a level 5 qualification and was registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

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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/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 9 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: 2540092 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 3

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inadequate

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Children’s progress is hindered by shortfalls in safeguarding practice and leadership and management. As a result of these concerns, two compliance notices, under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, were issued.

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inadequate

Children do not move into the home in a planned way. Before one child moved into the home, the registered manager did not effectively consider the child’s compatibility with the child already living in the home. This lack of planning has contributed to an escalation of risk-taking behaviours by both children, which has resulted in both being at risk of significant harm.

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inadequate

The registered manager has failed to ensure that children are provided with care in line with the statement of purpose. This is because staff are not trained to provide children with the required therapeutic care. As a result, staff are not equipped to meet children’s emotional welfare needs.

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inadequate

The registered manager has not ensured that all information relating to the children is available. For example, accurate and up-to-date documents in relation to delegated authority, family contact arrangements and a deprivation of liberty order were not available to staff. This means that staff are not provided with the required information to understand how best to care for children.

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inadequate

One child is accessing education full time, however, the other child does not have an identified education placement. The registered manager has been ineffective escalating this issue. Therefore, children are not consistently receiving the educational input they require.

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

Staff do not take effective action to safeguard children because they do not consistently follow agreed plans and strategies to keep children safe. On one occasion, this contributed to a child going missing from the home. As a result, this child was exposed to an avoidable level of risk of harm.

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

Staff do not consistently follow procedures when children go missing from the home. Staff do not always follow children or immediately report them missing, despite the children’s significant vulnerabilities. Furthermore, records of the actions taken by staff are incomplete. They do not clearly indicate the details surrounding when children have gone missing and when this has been reported to the police. Before the inspection, the registered manager had not identified staff’s inconsistent approach to responding to and recording missing-from-home incidents. Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 4 Staff have not consistently taken effective action to minimise the risk of children self-harming. For example, restrictions placed on a child’s liberty through a court order are not followed by staff. The failure to follow agreed strategies has compromised the safety of the child and on one occasion could have resulted in a

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

On one occasion, a child suffered an accidental injury when moving a sharp metal object following an incident. Despite the child suffering an injury, staff did not act to remove the object from the child, leaving the child at risk of further injury. Poor recording and a lack of understanding by the registered manager mean that it is unclear if the child was being supervised in accordance with agreed plans.

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

The registered manager has failed to notify Ofsted of relevant safeguarding allegations in a timely manner. During the inspection, the manager informed the inspector of one allegation that had not been previously shared. After the inspection, Ofsted was informed of additional allegations which had not been shared during the inspection. This demonstrates that the registered manager does not have a sufficient understanding of his responsibility to share allegations and serious incidents with Ofsted.

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

The registered manager has not ensured that records related to the administration of medication are up to date. This includes staff not documenting the reasons why children have not taken their medication and any action taken in response to this. Staff’s ability to oversee the safe administration of medication is undermined by their lack of understanding of why children are taking certain types of medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager and responsible individual have failed to review and monitor the quality of care provided to children. The registered manager has either not identified or not acted adequately in response to concerns about staff practice. As a result, staff do not have the skills and abilities to adequately protect children or promote their welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have completed a range of training courses. However, these courses have not provided them with the necessary knowledge and understanding of how to protect the children living in the home. For example, on one occasion, a child who was presenting as being in distress, and who was known to be at risk of self-harming, was left alone by staff. This lack of supervision and care by staff contributed to the child being able to self-harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not updated the location risk assessment. There are concerns relating to local waterways that are not considered in the location risk assessment, despite this being a concern for one child who was living in the home at the time of the inspection. Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 5 The registered manager and responsible individual have not taken sufficient action to meet four of the requirements raised at the last inspection. These requirements are restated. Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 6

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that effective protocols are in place to reduce risk, and that strategies are clear and that staff and children understand these.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that they complete a review of the incidents that have taken place and identify areas for development. This should inform actions taken to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to identify risks and respond effectively to keep children safe. 31 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 7 The registered person should ensure the provider carries out an investigation when concerns are raised or identified in relation to staff conduct.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and

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Requirement Due date

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

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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they complete a full and thorough written review of all staff skills and competencies, identifying any shortfalls and areas for development. 31 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 8 The registered person should ensure that action is taken to address any identified staff training, induction and performance needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they understand the quality of care provided to children and take swift action to address shortfalls.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they have all information relating to the care needs of children. The registered person is to ensure that when children move into the home, the needs and impact on children are thoroughly considered and continually risk assessed. 31 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that all records are fully completed and include relevant information. This includes what time children are reported missing and actions taken. Records should demonstrate how supervision 31 July 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 9 levels for children are adhered to. The registered person should ensure that the rota has full names on as required.

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all allegations are notified to Ofsted. 31 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). (Regulation 46 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the location risk assessment is updated. 31 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. (Regulation 23 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager is to ensure that all medication records are up to date and staff understand the reasons for the medication being taken. When children do not take their medication, the reasons should be clearly documented. 31 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2540092 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Caterpillar Care Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 12-16 Station Street East, Coventry CV6 5FJ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: James Montgomery-Williams

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Inspector

Melanie Griffin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2540092 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 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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