Children's Home run by Prosperity Children’s Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 1 Registered provider: Trinity Care and Education Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child or young person who may have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently one child living in the home and they were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection following registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: Not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 2

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inadequate

This a newly registered children’s home that opened in July 2022. The child did not benefit from a detailed impact risk assessment or a robust assessment of their needs before moving into the home. The impact risk assessment, care plan and risk management plans were not in place for the child. This did not ensure a thorough appraisal of the child’s needs.

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inadequate

The child living in the home has not made suitable progress. Staff do not provide the child with appropriate routines and clear boundaries. Staff do not ensure that the child attends education. This significantly reduces the child’s life chances, especially as these are important examination years in the child’s education.

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inadequate

The child has a diagnosed medical condition which requires medication. Leaders and staff have not ensured that the child has the necessary medication for this condition and staff spoken to did not know the child’s health needs. Information recorded in the child’s initial plans records that the child needs a specialist assessment and support for their emotional well-being. However, staff have not arranged for this to happen. Therefore, the child’s health needs are not being met.

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inadequate

The child living in the home has experienced care from an inconsistent, inexperienced staff team who do not have the necessary skills and knowledge to keep the child safe and help the child reach her potential.

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inadequate

The child does however share positive relationships with some staff. The provider accepted that improvements were required in this area and has identified experienced staff to support the child.

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inadequate

The staff support the child to spend time with family. The staff make the necessary arrangements and take the child to and from family visits. However, the child has not experienced positive relationships with peers in the local community. There have been several serious incidents of youths attending the home and making threats to the child. The child also told inspectors that she is scared when she is out in the community. The provider did not take sufficient action to help the children feel safe when she spends time away from home.

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

Safeguarding practice in the home is poor. Staff do not respond to incidents that occur, nor do they implement effective prevention strategies to reduce the risk of harm to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 3 Due to a lack of management oversight, the staff have not had clear plans to follow to keep the child safe. Therefore, staff have not responded appropriately to incidents. Staff do not implement effective strategies to safeguard and protect the child living in the home. Work has not been consistently carried out with the child to help them to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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

Risks detailed in the child’s referral information have not been included in current risk management plans. Therefore, interventions are not in place to reduce all known risks to the child. Staff spoken to did not know the current and known risks factors for the child, and what strategies are in place to keep her safe.

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

The shortfalls in leadership and management and an inexperienced staff team have impacted on the child’s overall safety. Staff do not understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping the child safe. This is particularly in relation to child sexual exploitation. For example, the child told staff that she received inappropriate images on her mobile phone. Staff did not understand that this was a potential risk to the child and did not implement any strategies to reduce this risk. Therefore, staff do not have the skills to identify and act on this information to ensure that the child is safe.

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

Although there is a missing from home protocol in place, staff do not know when to report the child missing from home. Incidents of the child missing from home have not been reported and recorded accurately. When the child has returned from a missing incident, she has not had an independent return home interview. This is a missed opportunity to understand the reasons why the child is going missing, and to help the child understand how to keep safe.

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

Staff have failed to effectively safeguard the child when significant incidents have occurred. The child has received threatening messages on her mobile phone, been physically assaulted by a peer in the community, and there have been several police call outs to the home due to youths threatening the child. Despite these incidents, leaders and staff have not implemented any strategies to reduce these risks.

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

Recording in the home is poor and lacks accountability to ensure that the child is safeguarded, and their needs are being met. There is insufficient management oversight of the quality of care. In addition, records of incidents are unclear, and fail to provide an accurate account of what has occurred. This fails to safeguard all involved.

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

It is Ofsted’s view that the shortfalls highlighted demonstrate that safeguarding practice is not sufficiently robust and does not promote the safety and welfare of the child living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Serious shortfalls were identified in the leadership and management at the home. There is no registered manager and responsible individual in post. A manager from another home within the organisation is currently overseeing the home alongside the director. The provider has recruited a responsible individual, although to date an application has not been received by Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Inspectors found that the home is not being led in a way that promotes the child’s welfare, safety and progress. Leaders do not have effective monitoring and review systems in place. As a result, leaders do not understand the quality of the care and protection provided for the child. Consequently, poor safeguarding practice is not identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leader’s oversight of serious incidents is unsatisfactory. There is no management oversight of serious incidents to ensure that strategies are in place to protect the child. Opportunities to identify weaknesses in safeguarding practice have therefore been missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff have had training in key areas such as safeguarding and child sexual exploitation. However, staff do not have the skills to put this training into practice and take effective action to reduce risks to the child. Leaders do not have a system in place to monitor the effectiveness of this training so that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not regular supervision and therefore are not being provided with appropriate developmental opportunities. Team meetings are not taking place which limits the ability of the team to share practice and ensure continuity of care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are gaps in the home’s monitoring and review systems. For example, the independent visitor identified significant concerns that have not yet been addressed. These shortfalls prevent progress from being made in the home and fail to ensure that the quality of care improves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers failed to notify Ofsted about a serious incident in which the child was threatened by another child with a knife. There have also been police call outs to the home due to groups of youths attending the home and making threats. This failure to share information with the relevant people compromises the safety and welfare of the children. Furthermore, the regulator is unable to carry out its monitoring function to ensure that appropriate action is taken by the provider to safeguard the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The homes statement of purpose has not been updated since the home was registered and does not contain accurate information. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 5 In Ofsted’s view, the shortfalls identified raise serious concerns about the leadership and management of the home. These shortfalls are compromising the child’s welfare, safety and progress.

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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, the 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; and

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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protect and promote each child’s welfare and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider should ensure that the child is provided with structure, routine and the ability to engage in meaningful activity to fulfil their potential. 03 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

engage with them; and 03 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 6 take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives and

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Requirement Due date

has access to the home’s children’s guide, and the home’s complaints procedure, when the child’s placement in the home is agreed and throughout the child’s stay in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 7(1)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(i)(ii))

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In particular, ensure that the child is provided with regularly opportunities to share their wishes and views and understand how to make complaints when required.

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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

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and 03 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 7 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

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.

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Requirement Due date

* The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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 each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the child has access to medication for health conditions, has access to appropriate service to support emotional health, especially in relation to loss and grief. 14 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; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 03 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(iv)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider should ensure that the child is supported to manager conflicts with other children in a safe way and is supported to build positive relationships with other children.

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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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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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 about a child’s welfare 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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)) 14 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 9 In particular, the provider must ensure that the child has an up-to-date risk assessment that includes all current risks and includes strategies to reduce the risk of any harm. The provider must ensure that staff understand children’s individual risks and have the ability to identify risks and act to reduce the risks for children.

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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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

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; 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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that staff practice is supervised and developed to ensure that the child’s needs are met, and staff provide continuity of care. The provider must implement monitoring and review systems which evaluate the child’s care and use practice reviews to improve the care for the child. 14 December

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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; and 03 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 10 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, asset out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home and

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14(1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is a robust assessment of the child’s needs prior to admission into the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 16(1)(3)(a)(b)) 03 January 2022

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 33(4)(a)(b)(c)) 03 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 11 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40(4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 03 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 12

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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: 2685151 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Trinity Care and Education Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 8 Venus House, Altham Business Park, Altham, Accrington BB5 5BY

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Inspectors

Suzanne Birchall, Social Care Inspector Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2685151 14 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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