Children's home run by Semi-independent House Limited in Peterborough

Inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 1 SC452107 Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who have experienced neglect and/or abuse and have related behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since February 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2021 Full Good 22/01/2020 Full Good 04/06/2018 Full Good 20/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 3

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improvement to be good

Three children have moved out of the home and two children have moved in since the last inspection. Two children are currently living at the home. The children are making steady progress in relation to their individual starting points. At the last inspection, there were concerns about the standard of the environment in the home. Some improvements have been made; for example, the upstairs hallway has been redecorated and the children’s bedrooms have been decorated in their choice of colours. However, there is still chipped paintwork on the bannisters and one of the bedroom doors remains unpainted. The hall and stair carpets look worn and require attention. The children receive home education packages. The staff support children with online learning and a tutor has attended the home. Both children have recently expressed a desire to return to school. The manager has advocated well on their behalf and one child has a place for the new term. A suitable provision is being

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improvement to be good

sought for the other child. The children’s health needs are supported. Difficulties in registering the children with a local dentist were due to delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been prioritised and both children now have dental appointments. All other health appointments are up to date. Staff support the child to enjoy a range of activities, such as quad-biking, fishing and archery. The children recently returned from a holiday in Weymouth, and a trip to a theme park is planned. These activities and trips increase children’s social skills and confidence. Independence skills are encouraged. Children do their own laundry, keep their bedrooms tidy and practise cooking skills. Staff understand the importance of equipping children with valuable life skills. Children’s meetings are held regularly and well attended. Staff use these to gain the children’s views regarding the running of the home. This ensures that the children

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improvement to be good

feel included and their opinions listened to. Staff support the children to keep in regular contact with the people who are important to them. A parent said, ‘We see him [their child] every two weeks. The staff are really lovely and make us all feel so comfortable.’

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improvement to be good

The children have individual risk assessments. These guide staff on the actions to take to reduce risks. Staff understand the vulnerabilities of each child and follow this guidance. However, on one occasion, following an incident of a child self-harming, Inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 4 the risk assessment was not updated with the actual details of the incident. New activities have not been considered in the children’s risk assessments. This means that staff may be unaware of actions to take to reduce any potential new risks. Although the manager considers the group dynamics before any new admission, this is not explored in detail in the matching risk assessments before children move to the home. This has the potential to affect the appropriate matching of the children. No children have gone missing from the home since the last inspection. This is significant progress for a child who recently moved into the home with a history of

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improvement to be good

going missing. The child’s social worker said, ‘It has been so good, that he has not gone missing. I have not seen him this happy and settled for some time.’ Staff have established positive relationships with the children. The children said that they like staff and feel safe. Consistent daily routines are in place and the children respond well to staff guidance. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has been without a registered manager since February 2020. The manager has been in post since January 2021 and is in the process of applying to register. However, the application has been significantly delayed and the manager has failed to submit the application within a reasonable timeframe. This does not ensure robust management and oversight, and this is reflected in the judgement. The recording of incidents is monitored by the manager. However, on occasions, inaccurate details have been recorded and information on the computer system does not match the written records. For example, a child has an incorrect local authority recorded in the home’s admission book, and sanctions have not always been recorded. This could result in staff following incorrect information. The shortfalls identified at the last inspection have not been fully met. One requirement and one recommendation have been restated. This fails to drive

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

improvements. The manager is suitably qualified, and all staff have undertaken the organisation’s mandatory training. Staff receive regular supervision, which prioritises staff development and the children’s individual needs. Staff feel valued and well supported by the manager. Staff benefit from structured staff meetings that give them guidance and strategies on how to work with each child. This ensures that the children continue to receive a consistent approach. Social workers are complimentary about the manager and staff. They said that communication is good, the weekly reports are comprehensive, and the manager is a strong advocate for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 5

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments contain information on all presenting risks and are updated and reviewed following an incident, and that careful consideration is given when risk-assessing new admissions.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager in day-to-day charge of the home promptly and successfully submits an application to register with Ofsted. 28 October 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met. In particular, ensure that a good standard of decoration in the hallway is maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15 paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure that records are completed fully, with attention to detail and accuracy, and the records are overseen by the manager. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC452107 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 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 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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