Children's home run by Gordon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 1 Registered provider: Gordon Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home cares for up to four children with learning disabilities and/or social and emotional difficulties. This home registered with Ofsted in September 2020. The registered manager post has been vacant since August 2022. A new manager has recently been appointed, but they have not applied to register with Ofsted. The responsible individual facilitated this inspection. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home and one child was visiting for short breaks.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware that a serious safeguarding incident had occurred at the home since the previous inspection, which remains under investigation by the appropriate authorities. Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind. However, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspectors’ judgements.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded. Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 2 Date of last inspection: 28 July 2021

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 4

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inadequate

Weaknesses and instability in leadership and management and poor safeguarding practice have compromised children’s welfare and experiences.

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inadequate

A local authority has moved a child out of the home and is planning to move another child because of concerns in relation to safeguarding practice and standards of care. At the time of the inspection, an investigation into these matters was ongoing. The provider is working cooperatively with the local authority designated officer and senior managers in response to these matters of concern. The conclusion of this investigation is imminent. The provider is acting to address the issues being highlighted.

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inadequate

Children’s records do not adequately reflect their daily experiences or progress. A social worker reported that they had experienced difficulties obtaining information from the provider about a child’s needs and progress. Additionally, the register of children does not include all required information. Shortfalls in recording information about children undermine the monitoring of their progress and experiences.

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inadequate

Leaders and managers recognise these weaknesses and prior to the inspection they had devised an improvement plan, which is currently being implemented. The home has been refurbished and children are now living in a clean and comfortable home.

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inadequate

Children are supported to communicate their views and make daily choices. They enjoy various activities, such as exploring the local community and visits to the seaside. This is significant for the children living at the home because it helps them to develop important social and independence skills, for example, using public transport and paying for items when out shopping.

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inadequate

It is encouraging to see that the children living at the home are making some progress. This is recognised by parents and by professionals involved with them. During the inspection, positive relationships and interactions were observed between children and staff.

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inadequate

Children benefit from a behaviour therapist’s input and support. With the therapist’s and staff’s support, c hildren’s confidence, independence, communication and social skills are improving.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff have not always taken swift action when they have had concerns about children’s welfare and safety. On one occasion, staff failed to immediately report an allegation against a member of staff to the home’s safeguarding lead and other relevant professionals. When managers became aware of this safeguarding concern, Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 5 the staff member involved in the allegation was immediately suspended and the local authority designated officer was made aware of these concerns.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

On another occasion, a member of staff did not promptly report a suspicious mark on a child’s body. Consequently, investigations into these concerns were delayed. The staff involved in these two serious incidents no longer work at the home. The provider has reported the concerns about these staff to the relevant safeguarding agencies.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The risk assessments and behaviour support plan for one child were not sufficiently detailed. Important information was left out about how staff should support this child to safely express their affection towards others. As a result, this child did not get the support and guidance that they needed to develop safe and appropriate relationships. This child no longer lives at the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Safeguarding practice is weakened by inconsistent and sometimes inaccurate recording. Shortfalls were identified in some incident reports and restraint records. This has weakened leaders’ and managers’ oversight and scrutiny of practice and of significant incidents in the home. With the support of the independent person, leaders and managers have devised a detailed action plan to improve safeguarding practice in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children are helped to develop s afer ways to manage difficult emotions. Staff support children to develop safer coping strategies when feeling distressed. For some children, i ncidents of self-harm are decreasing. A behavioural therapist praised the input and support given to a child, which had resulted in ‘significant reductions’ in a child’s emotional distress. This child no longer needs support from mental health services.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home are not stable. Since the last inspection, the home has been led by three different managers. A newly appointed manager started working at the home a few days before the inspection. Although the new manager has some previous experience of working in children’s services, she does not have experience of working in children’s residential care. She has not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The frequent changes in management have negatively impacted on the continuity of care provided to children and the consistency of practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders do not consistently promote a strong safeguarding culture in the home. Although the manager demonstrates a basic understanding of safeguarding procedures, there is no evidence of the provider assessing this during her recruitment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Most staff are also new to the home and most do not have previous experience of working in children’s residential care. The supervision they receive is not always Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 6 reflective or focused on the needs, experiences and plans for children. Leaders and managers are missing opportunities to guide, support and develop a new and inexperienced staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training and development has also been insufficient. Leaders have failed to ensure that all staff have undertaken mandatory training or specific learning about caring for disabled children and using physical restraint. As a result, a staff member found it distressing when they had to restrain a child without having any relevant training and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers recognise that training is not adequate and they are taking steps to address these weaknesses. Training for staff is improving. The responsible individual is spending more time at the home to bring about the improvements needed. They have enrolled staff on the relevant vocational qualification to enhance their residential childcare knowledge. The staff spoken to demonstrate awareness of safeguarding procedures such as whistle-blowing and reporting child protection concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider has not satisfactorily addressed all the requirements raised at the last inspection. The quality of care review still does not include the views of staff. Although new staff undertake a general induction, the quality of care review does not consider whether or not individual staff members have previous experience of children’s residential care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual recognises the need for improvement in staff practice and the quality of care provided to children. They have employed an experienced quality assurance manager to help the home’s new manager bring about the improvements needed. Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 7

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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

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;

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all potential risks are assessed and effective strategies are in place to minimise harm, that staff understand their safeguarding roles and report all concerns swiftly and appropriately, and that all staff understand the home’s whistle-blowing policy and procedures and follow them. 14 November

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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— 14 November Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 8 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;

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that leaders and managers have strong and effective oversight of children’s progress and experiences. They must promote a strong safeguarding culture and ensure that staff receive the training, support and supervision that they need to care for and safeguard children.

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has—

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Requirement Due date

within the last 5 years, worked for at least 2 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i) (2)(a)) 14 November

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)) 14 November Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 9 In particular, staff induction plans must consider their previous knowledge and experience of working in children’s residential care.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of staff. (Regulation 45 (5))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 14 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff undertake all relevant training, including safeguarding disabled children and safer caring. 14 November

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all records are sufficiently detailed, current and accurate. 14 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff supervision and performance management are child-focused. Supervision records should demonstrate that staff reflect on children’s experiences. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 10

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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 for children's home: 2594218 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gordon Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 7 St Albans Grove, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 1ND

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Inspectors

Sharon Payne, Social Care Inspector Maud Pipim-Addo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2594218 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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