Children's Home run by Lakeside @ Our Place Limited in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 1 Registered provider: Lakeside @ Our Place Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this children’s home. It provides care for 10 children with learning disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder and associated challenging behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been appointed. He has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. On 15 November 2022, a monitoring visit was carried out following concerns raised with Ofsted about the quality of care provided to children and in response to the provider notifying Ofsted of seven medication errors since 9 September 2022.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found serious and widespread failings regarding the administration and management of medication. As a result of the visit, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation at the home and a compliance notice under regulation 23, medicines.

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This monitoring visit

This latest monitoring visit took place to review the provider’s adherence with the notice of restriction of accommodation and to evaluate what steps the provider had taken to meet the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors found that the provider has complied with the notice restricting accommodation. Since the last inspection, no children have moved in or out of the home. There are currently nine children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors found that since the last visit there have been no medication errors. Managers have changed the home’s medication policy. The policy now provides Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 2 clearer guidance in relation to the administration of medication when children are away from the home, the monitoring systems that are used to oversee medication processes and the procedure to follow in the event of a medication error. This has supported safer administration of medication and reduced the risks to children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has investigated the medication errors that were identified at the last visit and responded to shortfalls in staff practice. Learning from previous errors has taken place. Actions following these reviews have included the implementation of a staff handover procedure, which assigns responsibility to a named medication officer. In addition, an error recording form has been created to record the circumstances surrounding any errors and to aid future investigations. The manager has also updated the local safeguarding team on the actions that have been taken. The manager now has better oversight of staff practice and has implemented learning to help prevent reoccurrence.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have implemented monitoring systems to ensure sufficient oversight of children’s medication. This includes weekly and monthly audits of medication. The effectiveness of this new practice will be further considered at the next inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have not yet ensured that staff have completed medication training in line with the home’s medication policy. In addition, managers have failed to review children’s specific needs and establish a training plan, to ensure that staff have the correct knowledge and skills to meet children’s health needs. This increases potential risks to children as not all staff are fully equipped to meet the complex needs of children living in the home. In addition, managers have not reassessed staff competency in the safe handling and administration of medication. As a result, the compliance notice under regulation 23, medicines, has not been met.

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This monitoring visit

Following this visit, the restriction of accommodation remains in place. In addition, a compliance notice under 23 has been reissued. Ofsted will continue to monitor progress and review all the remaining requirements and the compliance notice at the next visit. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 4

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs. (Regulation 5 (a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the manager works effectively with relevant professionals to support children. 29 January 2023

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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

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

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)))

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Requirement Due date

The specifically relates to the home being appropriately decorated, maintained and clean.

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Requirement Due date

This was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 29 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 5 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; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that risk assessments contain up-to-date, clear and specific guidance for staff to follow.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 29 January 2023

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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

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

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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)) 29 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 6 This relates to ensuring that staff have received training which is specific to meeting the needs of the children.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the manager must review and evaluate the quality of care and improve practice.

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Requirement Due date

This was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that managers demonstrate child-centred planning when children move into and out of the home. In addition, the manager should ensure that the home’s admission log is up to date.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 29 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the statement of purpose being clear about the care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 29 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must make arrangements for handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that— 29 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 7 medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for who it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each;

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Requirement Due date

Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicine—

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Requirement Due date

is stored by the child for whom it is provided in such a way that other persons are prevented from using it; and

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Requirement Due date

may be safely self-administered by that child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must take action to address the steps set out in the compliance notice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safe- guarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children. (Regulation 24 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that door alarms, CCTV and radios are only used as set out in a child’s agreed risk assessment.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 29 January 2023

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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 a rising 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. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 29 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 8 The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 29 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the review of the location includes the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept, to enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly when any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lakeside @ Our Place Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lakeside, Bransford, Worcester, Worcestershire WR6 5JE

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Inspectors

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2553111 10 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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