Children's Home run by Clear Water Care Homes Ltd in Sandwell

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 1 Registered provider: Clear Water Care Homes Ltd

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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 is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened in June 2021. She is suitably qualified.

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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: not applicable

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector 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: 2614738 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. We found:

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Findings from the inspection

 Leaders and managers had not taken enough action to improve and meet requirements from previous inspections.  The home is not always well maintained.  Children’s records continue not to be regularly reviewed and updated by managers and staff.  Staff do not always keep accurate records of the administration of all medication.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection of the home, no children have moved in or out of the home and three children remain living at the home.

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The care of children

The registered manager and senior management have not acted quickly to bring about sustained improvements since the home’s last inspection. Several repeated requirements have been raised at this inspection. Managers’ monitoring and oversight have failed to identify shortfalls that have had an impact on children’s progress and day-to-day experiences at the home.

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The care of children

Some improvements have been made to the interior of the home. However, the home is still not always well maintained. Some children’s bedrooms are clean, but staff have not ensured that other aspects of the home are welcoming and safe. For example, there are trip hazards and stained carpets, fire doors that need repairing, and maintenance work that has not been completed in a timely manner. Furthermore, bare walls in the house do not create a homely feel.

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The care of children

Staff ensure that medicines are administered safely to children. However, they do not always keep accurate records of the administration of all medication in line with the home’s approved protocol. This has the potential to compromise children’s health and well-being.

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The care of children

Some progress has been made with staff reviewing and updating children’s records to capture their progress. However, this is inconsistent. For example, daily records do not contain relevant information about the children’s experiences. Furthermore, on occasions staff have failed to record children’s important experiences in their records.

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The care of children

Children’s educational progress has improved. Staff support children with their school attendance and education. Some children have started attending school recently, and from their starting point they are doing well and making progress with their learning. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 3 One child told the inspector that they feel they could identify a trusted adult. Children feel listened to and do not raise any concerns about the care they receive.

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The safety of children

Some staff have important and sensitive discussions with children to help them talk about their feelings, to help them understand the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others, and to maintain positive mental health. However, this work is inconsistent. For example, direct work is not completed on other important issues, such as exploring difficult emotions, racism and relationships. This does not actively encourage children to develop a better understanding and keep themselves safe.

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The safety of children

Staff lack enough professional curiosity about the safety of children in their care. They are inquisitive about children’s use of their electronic devices and mobile phones. However, staff do not always ensure that regular checks are undertaken. This makes children more vulnerable to harm while online.

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The safety of children

Restraint is used proportionately when there is a risk or serious concern for children or staff. However, on occasions some staff do not have a consistent approach to de- escalation techniques. For example, on one occasion staff’s actions escalated an incident which then resulted in restraint. The registered managers took action to address this shortfall in practice.

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The safety of children

Children rarely go missing from home. On the few occasions they have been missing, staff understand what they need to do and respond quickly by following the missing-from-care protocol.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager does not always use her monitoring and review systems effectively to help with her oversight of the home. For example, the registered manager was not aware of an incident where a child had harmed themselves until this was identified by the inspector. This demonstrates a lack of vigilance and oversight of internal monitoring systems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has not ensured that some staff have the skills and training to meet the needs of the children. For example, some staff have not received important training in internet safety or caring for children with specific additional needs. This has the potential to limit the staff knowledge and skills to keep children safe and to progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Recruitment of staff to work in the home is not robust. Leaders and managers fail to ensure that the recruitment process explores the full employment history of all staff before they start working. In addition, the registered manager did not ensure that confirmation of qualifications and training was provided for staff. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 4 Some staff receive regular and reflective supervision. However, this is not consistent. For example, supervision does not always discuss children’s needs, vulnerability and progress. The registered manager does not have effective oversight over senior staff who have supervision responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Out of the nine requirements made at the last inspection, four are met. Progress has been slow in respect of the other requirements. The registered manager has been using the external monitoring and internal system to make improvements to the home. However, at this stage it is too early to determine their impact. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 6

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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 to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding

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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

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(viii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager ensuring that all aspects of the home are welcoming and nurturing.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last two inspections and is restated. 30 December

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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 30 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(iii)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that they support children to keep safe.

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Requirement Due date

Also, this refers to staff supporting children to explore their emotions and build positive relationships.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last two inspections 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

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 30 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 8 about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff understanding, updating and implementing the child’s risk assessment.

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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 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 promotes their welfare. 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

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

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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)(a)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager ensuring that staff have a consistent approach in managing children’s behaviours.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that all staff receive specific training.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that they use internal monitoring systems more effectively.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last two inspections and is restated. 30 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. 30 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 9 In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the medication protocol is followed, and recording is accurate.

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all references are received and checked before staff work in the home and that information about the worker is clear and consistent.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 December

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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;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 30 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 10 This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that all staff receive regular reflective supervision.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the need for a child’s up-to-date records to be in place.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last two inspections and is restated. 30 December

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are skilled in understanding the range of influences that can affect children and should encourage those with a positive impact and discourage those with a negative impact. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.8) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Clear Water Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Elsenwood Crescent, Camberley, Surrey GU15 2BA

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Inspector

Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2614738 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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