Children's Home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 1 SC060554 Registered provider: Mulberry House Care Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children who have been affected by adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in post at the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/04/2021 Full Inadequate 18/12/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 3

p.2

improvement to be good

During this inspection, the inspectors identified significant shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home. For example, the home has been without a registered manager since May 2021. This means that the monitoring and oversight of the home have failed to identify several shortfalls that have the potential to impact on children’s progress and day-to-day experiences in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Systems for supporting children’s independence are inconsistent. For example, one child has flourished and engaged positively with their independence programme. The new manager has also worked creatively with the local authority to act on the child’s wishes. As a result, this child has a positive transition plan set up for when they move on from the home. In contrast, another child’s independence planning has encountered significant delays and the child’s parent and professionals have raised concerns. The new manager has responded to these concerns and a support plan has been put in place for the child.

p.3

improvement to be good

Overall, the home is decorated and maintained to a good standard. Children have an input into the home’s decor and their bedrooms are personalised in line with their interests. However, there are locks on the communal doors, which are used to limit children’s access to some areas of the home at night. Furthermore, leaders do not consistently review the need for restricting children’s access. This has the potential to restrict children’s liberty in the home. However, leaders acted during the inspection to remove the locks.

p.3

improvement to be good

Despite some of the shortfalls identified, children make progress. This is because staff have positive relationships with children, which helps children to develop. The inspectors observed children sharing humour and laughing when interacting with staff and the home’s manager. In addition, children speak positively about the home and say that they feel safe. These relationships help children to make progress and feel settled.

p.3

improvement to be good

There are three children living in the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. This transition was managed well by staff, and the child was able to visit the home before moving in. Also, managers have considered whether staff can meet a child’s needs alongside children already living in the home. As a result, children feel supported when they move into this home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff help children to overcome barriers to engaging with education, employment and training. For one child, this support has meant that they are currently accessing an apprenticeship in a nursery. In addition, the new manager works effectively with education professionals to ensure that children attend and participate at school. This support helps to keep most children engaged in their learning. Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 4 Staff support children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. For example, children regularly spend time with their families and friends. Furthermore, staff work with children and their families to overcome any barriers or problems. This approach helps children to stay connected and reconnect with people who are important in their lives.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff ensure that children receive specialist support for their emotional health. For example, one child engages positively with an external clinical psychologist on a weekly basis. Staff have encouraged another child to participate in weekly sessions with an external provider, to support the child to manage their emotions. This child told inspectors how this has helped them to control their emotions better. Furthermore, significant incidents with the child have reduced.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff do not always assess risks effectively when working with children. For example, on one occasion, a child informed a staff member that they were staying out at a friend’s home while on free time. This request was granted by staff without any consultation with leaders, parents or external professionals. The child informed staff on their return that the address they had given was ‘fake’ and the child spent the night with their friends. This lack of curiosity shown by staff left this child vulnerable. The new manager has since taken action to update the child’s risk assessment. As a result, staff now take appropriate action when a child requests to stay at a friend’s house.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently take immediate action when children make serious allegations of abuse. For example, one child informed staff that they had been sexually assaulted by another child while on free time. However, staff failed to report this immediately to the police and waited until the next day to do so. In addition, staff then allowed the child to access free time the following day in the same community where the assault happened, despite having concerns. These safeguarding shortfalls left the child at further risk of harm. Following this incident, the new manager and staff have implemented strategies to keep in touch with the child when they are out with their friends. They have also worked closely with the child to increase their understanding of consent, the risks of exploitation and how to keep themselves safe.

p.4

improvement to be good

The number of significant incidents with children has reduced in the last three months. This is because the new manager has provided staff and children with stability and structure. Staff explained to the inspectors how they manage children’s risks and the strategies they use to keep children safe. Parents and children work with staff and are aware of the strategies used. One child said that the new manager has introduced boundaries since she started. As a result, the child said that they feel safer. However, children’s risk assessments are not consistently recorded effectively to reflect the strategies that staff use to keep children safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 5 Leaders do not ensure that staff always receive support to manage children’s anxieties. For example, staff are not routinely spoken to or debriefed following incidents requiring physical restraint with children. Also, leaders do not fully evaluate

p.4

improvement to be good

incidents and have failed to identify errors in staff recording. Consequently, leaders fail to provide staff with adequate guidance and learning to support them in managing significant incidents with children.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing from the home. Staff are clear on children’s plans and describe the actions they take when children do go missing. During one incident, staff shared information with external professionals and worked hard to return the child to the home safely. Also, staff ensure that children receive return home interviews from an independent person. These actions help to promote children’s welfare and well-being. However, records of incidents do not always capture the actions staff take to safeguard children when they are missing from the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has been without a registered manager since May 2021. While there have been managers in post since this date, they have left their position before registering with Ofsted. Staff and professionals have shared concerns about the inconsistency this has created. This lack of consistency has the potential to impact on children’s progress and day-to-day experiences in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

However, an internal manager, who manages a sister home in the company, has recently been appointed permanently to manage the home. She has applied to register with Ofsted. During her three months in charge, she has introduced more structure and stability. This has helped children to make some progress and has improved their day-to-day experiences.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training is not always up to date and courses completed by staff are not consistently relevant to the specific needs of children. For example, no staff have received drugs and alcohol awareness training. In addition, a senior staff member who carries out regular supervision sessions with staff has not received any training or development in this area. These shortfalls have an impact on the quality of care received by children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Internal and external monitoring systems used by leaders do not identify shortfalls in practice. Also, significant conversations shared by leaders around risk assessments are not recorded or evaluated effectively in incident reports or on the home’s recording system. While an independent person visits the home every month, they have failed to pick up on some of the home’s shortfalls. Also, the independent person does not consistently receive feedback from the important people involved in children’s lives. Consequently, monitoring systems do not drive improvement and do not therefore improve the children’s experiences.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Significant incidents involving children have not been notified to Ofsted. For example, incidents requiring police involvement and an incident when a child has been left at risk due to poor staff practice have not been reported. This means that Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 6 Ofsted is unable to carry out its monitoring function to ensure that action is taken to safeguard children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

External professionals say that communication has improved since the new manager started. One professional said: ‘The best thing about the home since the manager arrived is they now think outside of the box. They have been creative with [name of child] and acted on their wishes at all times. The only reason [name of child] is moving into independence with their friends’ family is because of the support of the manager, she has been marvellous.’

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals of their performance. Supervision records are improving, and staff are feeling more supported in their role since the new manager took over. Leaders are starting to provide staff with actions and there is evidence of reflection on their practice. This helps staff to improve and become more confident in their role. Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 7

p.6

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff assess children’s risks effectively and take action to keep children safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This also refers to staff’s and leaders’ understanding and implementation of the home’s child protection procedures and the action to take when a child makes an allegation of abuse. 9 November 2022

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 9 November 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 8 promotes their welfare.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.8

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)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders must ensure that the home’s child protection and safeguarding policies are followed in the home. Leaders must also have clear monitoring and review systems in place to improve staff practice and understand children’s progress.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.8

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.8

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.8

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.8

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(ii)(b)(i)) 9 November 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 9 In particular, leaders should ensure that all behaviour management records are regularly reviewed and that staff are debriefed and spoken to following incidents requiring physical restraint with children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders must ensure that all significant incidents with children and incidents that require police involvement are notified to Ofsted. 9 November 2022

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.9

Requirement Due date

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.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (5))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the independent person’s report must provide robust actions that the registered person may take to improve the quality of care received by children at the home. Furthermore, the independent person must make all attempts to secure regular feedback from the important people involved in children’s lives. 9 November 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 10

p.9

Recommendation

 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. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.10

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: SC060554 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Mulberry House Care Homes Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Railway Street, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 2EA

p.11

Inspectors

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Mark Dickinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC060554 12 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.

p.11

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.12