Children's Home run by PCT Care Services Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471856 1 SC471856 Registered provider: PCT Care Services Limited

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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 home provides care for up to six children aged between eight and 18 who may have experienced trauma or neglect.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2019.

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This monitoring visit

On 6 September 2022, an assurance inspection identified serious and widespread concerns relating to the care and protection of children. Following that inspection, Ofsted served two compliance notices in respect of the protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. This monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor the provider’s progress in addressing the steps set out in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have improved their responses to allegations. Since the assurance inspection, there have been two allegations made against staff. Both allegations were referred promptly to the local authority designated officer, whose advice was followed. Managers notified Ofsted without delay. However, when one of the allegations was made to staff, they failed to share the information with managers at the time. Failure of staff to share information promptly has the potential to leave children at risk. The manager quickly identified the allegation through monitoring of records and then took the appropriate actions.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have made significant improvements to monitoring systems. A new weekly monitoring spreadsheet has been devised. This helps to ensure that managers have greater oversight of incidents and other significant events. Other forms have also been redesigned. These forms now provide more prompts for staff to ensure that they record accurately. In addition, senior managers are meeting weekly with the manager and deputy manager. These meetings help to ensure a greater level of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471856 2 oversight from senior managers and that actions in response to any concerns or events are discussed and followed up.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight of incidents and consequences has improved. Managers’ reviews show a good level of curiosity around reasons for incidents occurring and consider learning that can be taken from them.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements set at the assurance inspection that were not subject to compliance notices were not fully reviewed during this monitoring visit, as the dates for them to be met had not been reached. However, managers have clear plans to address all identified shortfalls. This includes more training for staff in relation to the impact of trauma on children, as well as work to improve the home environment. Good progress was being made in relation to these plans at the time of the monitoring visit. The recommendation in respect of recording was not reviewed. This is restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has met the steps set out in the compliance notice in respect of leadership and management. Although some progress has been made in meeting the steps in the notice in respect of the protection of children, the provider has not met them all. The remaining shortfall in this respect is raised as a statutory requirement. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471856 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/12/2021 Full Good 24/10/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471856 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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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 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—

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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; 24 October 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471856 5 are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that allegations against staff are reported to managers without delay. 21 November 2022

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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))

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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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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471856 6

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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: SC471856 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PCT Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Hall Farm, Silfield Road, Silfield, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 9NH

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Inspector

Joe Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC471856 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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