Children's Home run by Caterpillar Care Services in Solihull

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 1

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection that took place on 22 and 23 June 2022. As a result of the inspection, Ofsted issued a notice of restriction of accommodation and two compliance notices under regulation 12 (protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (leadership and management standard) of the Children Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, Ofsted received two notifications that raised additional concerns about the safety of children. As a result, a notice of suspension of registration was issued on the 1 July 2022. This means that no children can live in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the notice of suspension of registration and the progress made against the compliance notices. The suspension notice has been adhered to and no children are living in the home. However, the compliance notices have not been met and have been reissued. A further compliance notice has been raised for regulation 26 (fitness of the provider) and two additional requirements have been raised. Furthermore, three requirements raised at the full inspection have been restated.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The responsible individual’s oversight of the home is poor. The responsible individual has created an action plan to address the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. However, the action plan did not refer to the steps contained in the compliance notice raised under regulation 13. This does not assure Ofsted that the Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 2 responsible individual understands the homes areas of development or that he has the skills to make the necessary improvements.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the notice of suspension was issued on 1 July 2022, the responsible individual has only visited the home once. It is unclear how the responsible individual has supported the registered manager and staff to make the required improvements to the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has not carried out a review of previous significant incidents, which contributed to the notice of suspension of registration being issued. For example, in one instance a member of staff had been working at the home for 24 hours without any sleep. As a result, children had not been supervised effectively, and therefore one child was able to cause harm to himself. The registered manager has not captured learning from this incident to minimise the likelihood of such incidents occurring again in the future.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A specialist mental health service has provided the registered manager with risk management guidance in relation to a child who previously lived at the home, and in anticipation of the child’s potential return. The registered manager has failed to implement the guidance shared by this organisation. This indicates that the registered manager is not able to work effectively with partner agencies to implement required improvements to keep children safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There are too few staff with the required experience, training or qualification to allow children to be safely admitted to the home. There are currently three staff available to work at the home, and four staff vacancies. All three staff are in their probationary period and have not commenced their level 3 qualification. This means that there are too few staff who are trained to care for children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff and the registered manager do not have the required skills or training to protect children from harm. Staff and the registered manager have not yet completed training in relation to the safeguarding of children, child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), self-harm and ligatures. In addition, one staff member was unable to explain to the inspector the home’s internal whistle-blowing procedure, safeguarding procedure or the role of the local authority designated officer. As a result, staff are not equipped with the appropriate training or skills to meet the needs of children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The homes statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the care that would be provided to any children who should move into the home. This is because the statement of purpose states that the home is led by a team of mental health professionals. At the time of the inspection, there was no therapist employed to work in the home. In addition, the statement of purpose states that the home can offer care to children with complex needs who may require two to one staffing. The home does not have sufficient staff to be able to provide this service. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 3 A new medication recording system has been implemented. However, this new recording system does not include all the necessary information to demonstrate that medication has been administered and stored correctly. The registered manager took action to resolve this shortfall during the monitoring visit.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Some improvements have been made since the last inspection. The location risk assessment has been updated to reflect the local geographical risks to the home. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 4

p.3

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

22/06/2022 Full Inadequate 09/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

p.5

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))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement. This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that staff have the necessary skills and training to effectively respond to safeguarding concerns. 18 September

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 18 September Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 6 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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

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))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This is repeat requirement. This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that they understand the quality of care provided to children and take swift action to address shortfalls.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to— 18 September Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 7 that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement. This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that they have all information relating to the care needs of children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that the responsible individual has the requisite skills and training to supervise the home and the registered manager. 18 September

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that there is a registered manager in place who has the requisite skills and training to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. 18 September

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

This is a repeat requirement. This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring 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 levels of 18 September Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 8 children are adhered to. The registered person should ensure that the rota has full names on as required.

p.7

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.8

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.

p.8

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Caterpillar Care Services

p.9

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered manager: James Montgomery-Williams

p.9

Inspector

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2540092 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10