Children's Home run by My House Calow Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2660470 1 Registered provider: My House Calow Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to five children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The suitably qualified manager is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted have been made aware that serious child protection concerns were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. At the time of the monitoring visit the relevant investigations were not concluded.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 1 and 2 August 2022. This monitoring visit was carried out to judge whether the compliance actions set following the inadequate judgement have been met.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, several statutory requirements were made, together with compliance notices in relation to safeguarding children and leadership and management. A restriction of accommodation notice, and a suspension notice were also issued. At this visit there were no children living at the home. This monitoring visit found that some progress has been made. One compliance notice has been met in relation to safeguarding children; the other, which is in relation to leadership and management has not been fully met and is therefore reissued.

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This monitoring visit

Other requirements made at the last inspection have not been assessed at this monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2660470 2 Managers have worked hard to implement new auditing systems. Improvements have been made to how managers review and evaluate incidents and the use of physical restraint in the home. Managers are supporting staff to develop effective record-keeping skills to ensure written records are effective and accurate. These processes are now in place but there has been insufficient time to assess whether this improved practice is embedded and can be maintained if children return to the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are supporting staff to develop their skills and knowledge. The provider has invested in a catalogue of new training opportunities for staff. Specific training on how to look after children with a learning disability and those with additional communication needs is planned. Staff have undertaken additional safeguarding training and a refresher course on whistle-blowing.

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This monitoring visit

The annex of the home is now a safe place for children to live and no longer poses safeguarding risks to children. The provider has funded a full refurbishment of the property. It has been decorated and furnished to a high standard. There are no longer shortfalls in relation to fire safety in the home. Further improvements are planned for the annex garden area and perimeter fence. This will make the setting a more child-friendly environment.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are prioritising building a skilled staff team who can meet the needs of disabled children confidently. This work is in progress and yet to be achieved fully. Staff morale and communication in the home has improved. Managers and staff are committed to making a positive difference to children’s lives.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers understand the areas that require improvement. They have implemented an action plan to address these areas and make the required changes. However, leaders have not yet ensured that independent scrutiny of all monitoring systems takes place to assure themselves that leadership is effective.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/08/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2660470 3

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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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(i)) 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2660470 4 This specifically relates to managers and staff having the required communication skills to enable them to seek the views of children and using these views to inform their care.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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 each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require;

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring the health needs of children are identified and appropriate action is taken to ensure these are met. This also refers to medication errors. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2660470 5 if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 30 September

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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

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

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)(f)(h)) 30 September

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2660470 6

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2660470 7 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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