Children's home run by North East Lincolnshire Council

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 1 SC069618

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North East Lincolnshire Council

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to two children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties. There is currently one child living in this home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager at this home since July 2021. A manager was appointed and submitted her application in October 2021. This application is now on hold as she is not in work. There is a new acting manager in place. This manager has yet to apply to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

During this visit, the inspectors were aware of a police investigation into serious allegations about restriction of liberty at the setting. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegation were considered (where appropriate) alongside the other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgement.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 13 and 14 June 2022, because there were significant shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home and in the safety and protection of children. As a result of these shortfalls, Ofsted issued two compliance notices under regulations 14 and 44.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and actions taken to meet the compliance notices. The inspector also considered the steps taken to safeguard children and protect them from harm. This monitoring visit included the review of documents and discussions with the acting manager, the service manager, staff and the child living in this home. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 2 The compliance notice issued with regard to providing Ofsted with a copy of the independent visitor’s monthly report, in a timely manner, has been met. These reports are now sent to Ofsted for review as required. These reports help Ofsted to have oversight of the service and determine the safety and well-being of the children.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice issued with regard to admitting children to the home cannot be determined. This is because there have been no new admissions to the home and the local authority has applied to Ofsted to reduce the number of children who can live in the home to one. This application is accepted and is in progress.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector considered the safety and protection of the child as part of this monitoring visit. The child’s risk assessment is now up to date and contains all relevant risks. The staff are completing work with the child to help them understand how to keep safe.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff have failed to follow safeguarding procedures to protect the child following an allegation of abuse. Concerns have not been reported in a timely way. Consequently, there is a delay in the child receiving the support they need.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not always use safe methods of physical restraint. On occasion, permitted restraint practice has not been followed and an unlawful method was used. This places the child at risk of physical and emotional harm. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2022 Full Inadequate 20/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/07/2021 Full Inadequate 03/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 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, 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 the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)) 17 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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)) 17 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— 4 September 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 5 that staff—

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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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 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; 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)(d)(e)(h)) 17 July 2022

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 17 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 6 there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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

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Requirement Due date

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

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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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

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) 17 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (2)) 4 September 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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 7 This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: North East Lincolnshire Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Offices, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire DN35 8LN

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Inspector

Jamie Richardson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC069618 9 regulates and inspects 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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