Children's home run by Partners in Care Limited in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 1 SC053145 Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation and provides care for up to three children. The home’s statement of purpose states that staff provide a familial environment where children who cannot remain at home can be cared for in a way that allows them to experience a strong sense of nurture matched by clear boundaries and routines.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in place.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 13 and 14 September 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

As a result of significant shortfalls at the last full inspection, the home was issued with four compliance notices under regulation 10 (the health and well-being standard), regulation 11 (the positive relationships standard), regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 2 standard). In addition, the home is made subject to a restriction of accommodation for a period of 12 weeks inclusively.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 1 November 2022. This visit concluded that insufficient steps had been taken to fully address the compliance notices. These notices were therefore reissued. Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2022 Full Inadequate 08/07/2021 Full Good 16/01/2020 Full Good 19/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 4

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improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, and subsequent monitoring visit, children have become more settled in the home. Daily routines are now in place which enable the children to understand the plans and expectations of each day. A staff member said, ‘Things are much better. The children have been much calmer and there has been a nice atmosphere.’

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improvement to be good

Some progress has been made in securing appropriate education placements for children. One child’s progress in construction has resulted in her being awarded second place at the House of Commons Young Builder of the Year Awards. Staff supported the child to attend the event.

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improvement to be good

However, there is a lack of progress in securing an appropriate placement for a second child, who has refused formal education for a period of two years. The local authority has failed to provide an up-to-date education, health and care plan and has failed to secure a school that will meet the needs of the child. The home provides a part-time programme of learning which consists of a tutor and equine training; however, the child’s engagement in this learning is limited.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to maintain contact with those who are important to them. Contact plans are in place and include the details of the supervisory requirements to support each planned contact.

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improvement to be good

Weekly recreation planners are in place and are now developed with the children. The children are encouraged by staff to try out new activities and experiences. However, the children do not consistently engage in the activities and continue to frequently challenge the agreed plans.

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improvement to be good

Healthcare plans are further developed. Children are registered with local health professionals and have attended routine appointments as required. Children with phobias pertaining to dental care are now in receipt of specialist services to enable dental treatment to be carried out.

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improvement to be good

Relationships between the children and staff have been strained. This is because the home has operated without a consistent and knowledgeable staff team. Since the last full inspection, the acting manager has secured some stability in the staff working at the home.

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improvement to be good

Children somewhat engage in discussions with their key workers about their plans, education and activities. Likewise, children have regular individual consultation sessions where they are encouraged to share their views, opinions and ideas about the home. However, children’s engagement is superficial and is focused on incentives and rewards. Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 5 Children do not review their plans or the work carried out with them. Children say, ‘We didn’t need to do it before so why should we do it now?’

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improvement to be good

The implementation of some required changes has proven difficult to deliver in this home. Changes that relate to behaviour management, education and daily expectations are frequently challenged by one child. Consequently, the home has yet to develop a consistent and strong approach to the care and management of children.

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improvement to be good

Since the monitoring visit, the interior of the home has been repainted and the boarded windows have been reglazed. The home presents as warm and welcoming with lots of Christmas decorations and a Christmas tree lighting up the living room.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are further developed. Assessments now take account of the children’s lived experiences and how these experiences serve to impact on the children. The company psychologist works alongside the children and staff to formulate individual strategies to manage children’s challenges and difficulties. Assessments are reviewed in two-weekly team meetings and are updated where appropriate.

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improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, there have been no incidents of children needing to be held to keep them safe or incidents where children have been missing from the home.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management plans are in place and are linked to children’s individual risk assessments. Each plan details the potential triggers for children’s behaviours and challenges and the agreed strategies to manage these incidents. However, behaviour management plans are not consistently adhered to. This is because the children have not yet adapted to the changes in the management of their behaviours and frequently respond negatively and/or aggressively to staff who attempt to implement the changes.

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improvement to be good

Children understand how to make a complaint. They are provided with details for making an internal complaint and contact numbers if they prefer to make a complaint independently of the home. Children making allegations against staff have their concerns appropriately assessed by the local authority designated officer and investigated where required.

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improvement to be good

It is acknowledged that the acting manager has taken steps to improve the systems and processes in place to protect the children. However, these changes are in their infancy. Children are not yet fully engaged in these changes and therefore do not benefit from the positive changes available to them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 6

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good

The home is currently managed by an acting manager. An application to register a permanent manager has not yet been received by Ofsted. The organisation must ensure that any person making an application for registration complies with the requirements of regulation 28 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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good

The home is operating without a full staff team. Staff changes have had a negative effect on children’s ability to build trusting relationships with the adults caring for them. A recruitment drive has taken place and new staff have been identified to join the team. However, the new team will require a full induction and training before commencing their employment at this home.

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good

Records of staff training highlight that not all staff are up to date with mandatory training, and other identified training has lapsed.

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good

Although the staff are supported through regular team meetings, they are not provided with consistent supervision. This is because the acting manager does not have the support of a deputy manager or senior team member. Consequently, individual supervision of staff has lapsed.

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good

Systems for the internal monitoring of the home have improved. The acting manager reviews the quality and consistency of care being provided in the home and the steps required to further develop the service.

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good

This home was judged as inadequate at the last full inspection. The acting manager and staff have worked hard to address the shortfalls in practice. However, as the changes are in their infancy and require time to embed, the benefits of these changes cannot be fully assessed at this time.

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good

The area manager and the acting manager do not plan to admit any further children into the home until they are satisfied that the ongoing shortfalls are fully addressed.

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good

A case review held on 9 December 2022 concluded that sufficient action has been taken to address the steps in the compliance notices. Furthermore, the restriction of accommodation has now ceased. Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority; 6 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 8 help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(ix)(x)(b))

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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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)) 6 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

the person is of integrity and good character;

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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— 6 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 9 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

the person is physically and mentally fit to manage the home; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

worked for at least one year in a role requiring the supervision and management of staff working in a care role; and

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Requirement Due date

the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 5 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of a person who starts managing a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 3 years after the date on which that person started managing a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of a person who was managing a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2017.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider may defer the relevant date if the person—

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Requirement Due date

does not manage, or has not managed, a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

manages, or has managed, a home on a part-time basis. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c) (2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii) (3)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— 6 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 10 undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that expectations of standards of behaviour are high for all children in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)  The registered person should ensure that children are actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6)  The registered person should ensure that the home has sufficient staff, including someone in a management role, on duty to meet the assessed needs of the children in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)

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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: SC053145 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC053145 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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