Children's home run by Kites Children Services Limited in Colchester

Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 1 SC029560 Registered provider: Kites Children Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of two children’s homes operated by a private provider. The home provides specialist therapeutic care and treatment for up to six children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since September 2021.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: At the full inspection in May 2022, Ofsted served a notice restricting accommodation and two compliance notices. The compliance notices were in respect of the help and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit on 29 June 2022. This visit identified that the provider had addressed all of the steps that were set out in the two compliance notices. The provider had adhered to the notice restricting accommodation. Therefore, the restriction of accommodation was lifted. Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2022 Full Inadequate 09/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. Two children have recently moved on. There has been a recent drive to improve the quality of care and address the previous shortfalls. However, there remain areas of development that are necessary to improve children’s overall experiences.

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improvement to be good

The management and oversight of children’s placement plans are poor. Several children do not have local authority care plans. The manager has not challenged placing authorities to make sure that these plans are provided. The home’s care plans for one child do not include good-quality strategies to meet the child’s individual personal care needs. The arrangements for one child to see their family are not detailed in the placement plan. Poor oversight of children’s plans means that placement objectives and important routines for children may not be understood by staff.

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improvement to be good

Although a new independence program has been introduced in May 2022. Children’s progress towards independence is slow because of the limited number of sessions offered. This does not consistently ensure that independence goals are individualised or prepare children for adult living.

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improvement to be good

Most of the home has recently been redecorated to a good standard. Memorabilia and records of achievements are creatively displayed. However, the children’s bedrooms are not all decorated to a good enough standard. One child’s bedroom has not been decorated in line with their preferences or adapted to meet their individual needs. The cleaning routines are not consistently effective for this child’s bedroom and shower room. Combined, these shortfalls detract from the decorative improvements made in other areas of the home.

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improvement to be good

During the summer holidays, the children have enjoyed a wide range of activities. These include trips to the zoo, walking, fishing, virtual-reality experiences and a short-break holiday. These experiences have enhanced children’s well-being and increased their social opportunities.

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improvement to be good

The staff actively support the children’s education. Children who were not previously engaging in education have improved their levels of attendance and attainment. The staff work closely with school staff to address any barriers to learning that the children experience.

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improvement to be good

Children engage with specialist therapeutic support. Well-planned and regular therapy helps the children work through previous trauma and process difficult emotions in a safe space. Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 4

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk-management plans do not always identify clear strategies to manage all known risks for children. The staff did not respond effectively to a child who went missing from the home. The strategies to reduce the risks for this child in response to leaving the home are unclear. Despite a recent increase in missing-from-home incidents, return home interviews have not been provided. The manager has not challenged authorities sufficiently to ensure that these are offered. As a result, important risk-reduction measures may not be known to staff.

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improvement to be good

There are hazards in the garden. There continue to be broken concrete slabs lying in the rear garden that are a potential risk to children. The manager has failed to remove these, despite this hazard being identified at the last inspection.

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improvement to be good

The monitoring and maintenance of fire doors are not effective. Two fire doors do not self-close. This increases the risk to children and staff in the event of a fire.

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improvement to be good

The management team has revised arrangements to respond to safeguarding concerns, including when allegations are made against the staff. Safeguarding and reporting procedures have been emphasised in team meetings. Recording systems have been reviewed to ensure that concerns are monitored and the actions are more effective. A recent disclosure made by a child was swiftly responded to and actioned appropriately. This provides assurances that the systems to safeguard children have improved.

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improvement to be good

The staff use their good relationships with children as a basis for positive behaviour management. They rarely use consequences, and when they do, these are restorative and link well to the incident. Since the last inspection, there has been one occasion where physical intervention was necessary. This was appropriate and proportionate to keep the child safe.

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good

The registered manager left in September 2021. An interim manager, who has responsibility for another home, is providing interim management cover. This provides continuity for the children and staff. The responsible individual has appointed a new manager who will apply to register with Ofsted.

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good

The managerial monitoring systems need improvement. A debrief for a child and a member of staff was not carried out following a physical intervention. The manager’s review of the home’s location assessment does not include up-to-date intelligence to inform risk-reduction strategies. There is disparity between records. The staff logbooks and the electronic recording system have different accounts of the same behavioural incidents. These issues have not led to increased risks for children but have the likelihood to do so if left unresolved. Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 5 Staff access a variety of training courses to increase their skills. However, the staff have not had training to provide personal care for one child. One staff member who provides one-to-one-support for children has not completed physical intervention training. This does not ensure that all staff have the necessary skills to understand

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good

and respond safely to all of the children’s needs.

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good

The systems to notify Ofsted are in place. However, two serious incidents have not been notified, as required. The information contained in submitted notifications is not always clear and when important information emerges, this is not always shared. Failure to provide accurate notifications prevents Ofsted from having a reliable view of how well children are safeguarded.

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good

The staff have well-developed appraisals to reflect on their work objectives. Most of the staff benefit from supervision sessions that focus on meeting children’s needs. However, one staff member has not received regular supervision sessions in line with the home’s policy. There are no written records for another staff member’s supervision. Irregular supervision and a lack of records do not provide the staff with the support that they need.

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good

The management team has addressed four requirements from the previous inspection. The internal review of care and the visits completed by the independent person have improved in quality. The staff rotas are clear and provide staff with an accurate overview of the availability of managers and outreach workers.

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good

Wider feedback from parents and professionals is positive, particularly in respect of recent improvements in communication. Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 6

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any hazards in the garden are removed.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 24 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular: 28 October 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 7 ensure that risk assessments contain clear guidance for staff to follow in respect of children going missing from home;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that return home interviews are offered when children have been missing from home, and challenge placing authorities to provide these.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all staff supporting children on a one-to-one basis are trained in physical interventions;

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Requirement Due date

ensure training in supporting children’s personal care needs is sourced and attended by all staff. 28 October 2022

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 28 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 28 October 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 8 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, undertake regular checks to ensure the effective maintenance of fire doors. 24 October 2022

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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

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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii) (b)) 28 October 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is decorated and maintained to a consistently good level throughout the accommodation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff help each child to prepare for moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. In particular, ensure the independence programme continues at an appropriate pace. (‘Guide to Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 9 the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)  The registered person should ensure that staff supervision is delivered in line with the home’s policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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 children’s home: SC029560 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kites Children Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Langham, Colchester CO4 5PX

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Inspectors

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Paula Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC029560 11 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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