Children's Home run by T-Junction Children’s Services in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495951 1 Registered provider: T-Junction Children’s Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager leading this home who is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged to be inadequate at the last full inspection. Ofsted issued compliance notices in relation to the safeguarding of children and leadership and management. A restriction notice was also issued to prevent the provider accepting any more children. A subsequent monitoring visit found that insufficient progress had been made and that the compliance notices were not met.

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This monitoring visit

This is the second monitoring visit, conducted to review the progress in meeting the compliance notices and to review whether it is an appropriate time to lift the restriction of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made several improvements. Staff have now had training in safeguarding children and in preventing bullying. Safeguarding procedures have been reviewed and strengthened. This means that staff have greater confidence and increased knowledge in safeguarding the children. As a result of the staff’s increased awareness, children are safer.

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This monitoring visit

Procedures for the recruitment and monitoring of new staff have improved. This means that only adults who have been through a rigorous safer recruitment process are able to work with vulnerable children. When temporary staff come to work at the home, managers ensure that, whenever possible, they use the same staff. The recruitment and monitoring procedures for agency staff have also improved. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495951 2 However, this is an area for ongoing development and remains a priority for the manager, to ensure consistent staffing for children.

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This monitoring visit

When this home cannot provide the agreed level of staffing for children, effective joint working is undertaken with external professionals. This ensures that any additional risks identified because of staffing levels are shared with the responsible social worker. Joint agreements are made to mitigate any additional risk to children. This indicates improved planning with other agencies, and there are benefits for children and the staff working with them. However, the manager will be required to closely monitor staff retention to ensure that numbers do not fall below those necessary for sufficient staffing to care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers ensure that if children make an allegation, or raise a concern about the practice of staff or professionals, immediate action is taken. Allegations are investigated and shared with appropriate safeguarding agencies. This means that children’s concerns are listened to and acted upon. Because of this, children are safer.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has made considerable progress in developing the internal quality assurance processes. The manager has a good grasp of the strengths and areas requiring improvement. Quality assurance processes are becoming more streamlined. There is improved accountability in the day-to-day care practice of staff, and this is driving improvement.

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This monitoring visit

The staff now receive regular appraisals of their work performance and overall development. Staff appraisals identify areas that staff could improve on, as well as giving praise for good work. This helps staff to feel valued for the work they do and means that they remain focused on providing good and safe care to children.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, two recommendations have been made. However, it has been deemed that sufficient progress has been made to lift the restriction of accommodation notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495951 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2022 Full Inadequate 12/04/2022 Full Inadequate 28/04/2021 Full Good 27/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495951 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should monitor and review the patterns and trends of turnover of staff, whether agency or directly employed, and be able to understand and, where possible, address any negative trends. This relates to managers having to balance covering staff shortfalls with the management of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 10.19)  The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risk to them. This relates to checking that new staff have understood policies and procedures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2495951 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: T-Junction Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 27 The Pastures, Narborough, Leicester LE19 3DS

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2495951 6 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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