Children's Home run by Anchor Care and Education Ltd in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2637127 1 Registered provider: Anchor Care and Education Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who are currently unable to live in their family home.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection on 20 July 2022.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit, the standard of care had declined further. It was identified that little or no progress had been made in meeting the requirements made at the previous inspection. Additional shortfalls in practice were identified.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff have made poor decisions when managing risks. A number of safeguarding incidents have occurred in recent weeks, putting children, and sometimes staff, at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Very inexperienced staff have been left to care for children, sometimes alone and away from the registered home. Decision-making regarding the deployment and support of staff has been exceptionally poor, increasing the risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s relationships with each other have not always been positive. Staff have struggled to manage incidents, which have sometimes been violent in nature. Relationships between staff and children are not yet good and are exacerbated because staff are unable to support children in times of crisis. Police have been called to manage incidents in the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2637127 2 Staff have not intervened appropriately when incidents take place at the home. They have not had the skills or experience to pre-empt situations that are escalating. There has been a failure to manage situations when they are getting out of control. The potential consequences for children are very serious.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff do not have a good enough grasp of the risks posed to children. Staff caring for children are unaware of potential risks, despite most risks being documented in children’s risk assessments. Staff do not always implement the home’s rules and boundaries.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and children have not been given an opportunity to talk about and reflect on incidents. Managers only offer debriefs for incidents that involve a physical intervention. Consequently, there is little evidence of learning from incidents.

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This monitoring visit

Notifications to the regulator have not been made when police have been involved with the children. This means that the regulator has not been provided with the information necessary to assess how well the home is being run.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a very recent change in senior management. The home does not have a registered manager, but a new home manager has been appointed.

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This monitoring visit

A new responsible individual took over immediately after this visit and she has committed to making swift and sustained improvements.

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This monitoring visit

Since the full inspection in July 2022, the arrangements for supervision have improved. However, it is too early to assess how well embedded this improved supervision practice is. Additionally, serious concerns remain regarding the quality of management decision-making. This is in relation to managing risk and keeping children and staff safe. Children’s care has also been compromised through the routine use of unregistered off-site accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

The appointment of a new responsible individual and manager is positive. They have suitable plans in place to improve the service to ensure that staff provide safe care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Despite the concerns identified, and one child very recently having their placement abruptly ended, some children have made good progress.

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This monitoring visit

Due to concerns about this provider’s capacity to provide good-quality care currently, the accommodation has been restricted and no further admissions to the home can be made. This restriction will remain under review while leaders and managers make the necessary improvements.

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This monitoring visit

A number of requirements have been reissued at this inspection. A new requirement has been made regarding notifiable incidents and the need to be transparent about incidents and staff practice in the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2637127 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2022 Full Inadequate 15/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2637127 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to providing a therapeutic approach towards the care of children, in keeping with the home’s statement of purpose. 12 October 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—

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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)) 12 October 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2637127 5 This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s risk assessments and plans are effective and implemented. It is also required that staff support children effectively in times of crisis to keep them safe.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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 ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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

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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have the skills and experience required to meet the needs of the children they are caring for. Also, to ensure that staff are consistent with the approach and ethos of the home’s statement of purpose. Finally, to ensure that quality assurance systems are used to monitor the quality of care in the home and improve professional practice. 12 October 2022

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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— 12 October 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2637127 6 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))

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Requirement Due date

This is made in relation to reviewing the quality of care provided, the impact and effectiveness of care and the improvements and outcomes of the children every six months.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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)) 12 October 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2637127 7

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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: 2637127 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Anchor Care and Education Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ensors Accountants Llp, Moseleys Farm Business Centre, Fornham All Saints, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6JY

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Inspector

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2637127 9 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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