Children's home run by Outdoor Care Limited Assurance visit report: 2587132 4

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 1 Registered provider: Outdoor Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by an independent provider. It provides care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspectors spoke to the one child who is currently living in the home and was present for part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and the service registered with Ofsted in July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children’s outcomes remain mixed since the last inspection. Two children have moved on prematurely with support from the staff. However, the manager has reviewed the assessment process when children move into the home. There is now more emphasis on the child’s known risks, and the manager seeks up-to-date information about the child. Although this has not prevented one child from moving out of the home since the last inspection, the reasons for this are clear and are in the child’s best interests.

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The care of children

Children are supported and encouraged to attend education. The staff communicate positively with education professionals and address any concerns immediately. Staff support the children who do not attend school full time to take part in home schooling. This provides structure and routines in which the children can learn. This helps the children to adapt and to become aware of the importance of their education.

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The care of children

Children are supported to spend time with their families. The staff develop good relationships with the children’s families. The staff take the children to see their family members who live further afield. This helps the children to maintain a sense of identity and promotes their well-being. This arrangement was positively commented on by a social worker.

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The care of children

Children spend most of their time in the community or with their family and friends. Staff will call the children regularly to enquire about their welfare while they are out in the community. Staff ensure that the children have the means to remain in contact with the staff and can travel back to the home independently. However, the staff will drop the children off and pick them up at agreed locations. This supports the children’s well-being, safe care and reinforces positive relationships between the children and their carers.

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The care of children

Children are encouraged to attend their health appointments and there is a strong emphasis on discouraging negative habits and behaviours, such as smoking, using alcohol and vaping. The staff encourage the children to take part in smoking cessation programmes and provide regular opportunities to sit down and discuss this openly. Staff ensure that the expectations and boundaries in the home are known to the children. They also use the home’s incentive scheme to discourage any smoking in the home. This supports the children’s safe care and health. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 3

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The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans are detailed. However, the children’s risk assessment plans are not thoroughly reviewed and audited. As a result, information recorded is not individualised to the child. In addition, some information has been left in as a general risk, but this is not applicable to the child. Furthermore, there is often too much reference to supporting documents instead of detailing the individualised strategies to support the children’s safe care. This limits the overall safeguarding purpose of the assessment to support the staff to keep the children safe.

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The safety of children

Children have been supported to recognise their behaviours, such as managing their risks in the community and the disadvantages of not attending education and engaging in smoking. Staff ensure that the children are frequently reminded about the boundaries and expectations in their individual support sessions. This has led to a reduction in incidents of concern. This means that the children are developing an awareness of their safe care.

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The safety of children

Children rarely go missing from the home. However, when they do, the staff ensure that they follow the child’s missing-from-care procedures. This ensures that the children return to the home as soon as possible. The staff work well with the local authority safeguarding professionals and the police. This supports the reduction of potential harm to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager is supported by a stable staff team. They are committed to achieving positive outcomes for the children. Many of the staff have been with the provider for a significant period. Their knowledge of the model of care is promoted consistently with the children. This provides continuity of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager’s monitoring and audit processes are not sufficiently effective. They are responsible for ensuring that the quality of care provided to the children is evaluated and the provider’s preferred model of care is at the centre of practice. However, the manager’s systems do not support and evaluate the children’s progress and experiences. Additionally, the quality of care review lacks evaluation and does not consider the views and feedback from the children, professionals and parents. This does not identify areas for improvement required in the care of the children and support ongoing development of the home effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff team meetings are held regularly, and attendance is good. Children are at the centre of discussions, which ensures that all staff are up to date with any developments and actions required. This helps the staff to understand their roles and responsibilities in meeting the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager and staff do not ensure that required maintenance to the home is carried out effectively or in a timely manner. A partially damaged desk in a child’s bedroom has not been removed or reported. Additionally, a potential hazard in the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 4 home’s backyard has not been identified and made safe. Some areas of the home, such as the lounge and dining area, are homely. However, these do not present as warm and welcoming to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

At this visit, Ofsted has restated two requirements from the full inspection that took place in June 2022. A further two requirements under regulations 12 and 45 were also raised.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/07/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 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 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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that children’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans are personalised and clearly represent their individual needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 12 December

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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 premises used for the purpose 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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that children’s bedroom furniture is removed when damaged until 12 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 6 a replacement can be sourced. Additionally, outside spaces should be always free of any hazards to children and others.

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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;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 12 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided to children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. 12 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 7 (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Outdoor Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 Bondgate Without, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1PP

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Inspectors

Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Laura Grundy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2587132 9 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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Inspectors

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