Children's home run by 24/7 Support UK Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638148 1 Registered provider: 24/7 Support UK 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 provides care for up to three children with emotional, behavioural and social needs.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager is in post and is in the process of applying to become registered.

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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 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

Date of last inspection: 30 November 2021

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638148 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638148 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home. Since the home registered in July 2021, two children have moved into the home and one child has moved out. The child moved out in an unplanned way due to staff being unable to meet the child’s needs and keep the child safe. The unexpected move meant that the child experienced change and rejection.

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improvement to be good

One child’s admission to the home has not been managed well. There was a failure within planning to comprehensively assess how the staff can meet the child’s needs. Important information about the risks for the child were not shared by the placing authority within a reasonable timescale. There is potential for children to become unsettled and experience unnecessary changes because of poor planning.

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improvement to be good

The interactions between the child and staff are positive. The staff are motivated, child focused and committed to providing the child with positive experiences. The child enjoys a wide range of activities. These include swimming, cadets, going to the gym and walking the neighbour’s dog. These opportunities enhance the child’s well-being and confidence.

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improvement to be good

This child is not receiving formal education. The staff compile weekly planners for the child, which include educational activities, such as learning about Vikings. The informal learning and structure that this provides is supporting the child to return to education.

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

Staff provide the child with clear routines and consistent boundaries. Behavioural incidents are well managed, with appropriate opportunities for reflection. The child contributes to their behaviour support plan. This joint approach helps the staff to fully understand the triggers that lead to unwanted behaviours.

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

Staff rarely use physical interventions. When used, these are appropriate and proportionate. Incidents are well recorded, with effective management oversight and reflection. Consequences are used as a last resort. Instead, staff focus on positive reinforcement. The child responds well to an incentive scheme and earns additional rewards for making positive choices.

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

Key-working sessions are held frequently. Staff spend time talking to the child about important topics, such as empathy, heritage and tradition and road safety. These sessions are personalised to the child’s experiences. Key-working supports the child’s understanding of their community and supports their self-development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638148 4 The monitoring of the fire alarm system is not effective. The alarm requires additional maintenance to meet fire regulations. This increases the risk to children and staff in the event of a fire.

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good

There have been several management changes since the registered manager left in December 2021. The responsible individual became the interim manager while a replacement manager was sought. Two managers were recruited in quick succession and failed to commit to the role. In July 2022, the deputy manager was appointed to the manager’s position. This manager is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted.

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good

Staff receive training that enables them to care for the child. However, most of the staff are newly appointed and are within their probation period. These staff have not previously worked in residential childcare. This means that the child is not yet receiving care from a suitably experienced staff team whose members are considered competent for the role.

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good

The statement of purpose describes the approach to admitting children to the home in a planned way. This includes the child visiting the home and the staff visiting the child. This approach was not followed for the child who currently lives at the home. This means the child moved to an unfamiliar environment, with unfamiliar staff and little preparation.

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good

Managers have not effectively monitored the fire risk assessment. Delays in responding to the failures identified in the assessment have compromised the fire safety equipment. Ineffective monitoring means that the manager does not understand the areas that need immediate attention.

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good

External monitoring, by an independent person, has not effectively monitored all of the health and safety documents. External monitoring has not identified areas of weakness and has not supported the manager to make improvements.

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good

The members of the staff team speak highly of the manager and the wider organisation. Staff say they are well supported. As a result, they are flexible and enthusiastic about their work. However, in the absence of the manager, it is unclear who would have managerial oversight and have the authority to make immediate decisions. This does not provide effective contingency arrangements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638148 5

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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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 30 November 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 30 November 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 30 November 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2638148 6 promotes their welfare.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person is to ensure that risk assessments are completed for children when they are admitted to the home. 30 November 2022

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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, the registered person must ensure that the existing fire alarm is interconnected to the detector. 30 November 2022

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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—

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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)(b)) 30 November 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that the home has clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty Inspection report for children’s home: 2638148 7 or on leave. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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 for children’s home: 2638148 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: 24/7 Support UK Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 81 Broadway, Peterborough PE1 4DA

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Inspector

Paula Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638148 9 regulates and inspects 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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