Children's Home run by Sankofa Specialist Care Ltd in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 1 Registered provider: Sankofa Specialist Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company and provides care for up to three children. The statement of purpose states that the home uses a therapeutic model that enables the children to realise their abilities, resilience and strength.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered in October 2021. The post for a registered manager is vacant. The responsible individual is currently overseeing the management of the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

At the last full inspection, two compliance notices were issued in relation to regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). A monitoring visit on 26 September 2022 concluded that suitable steps have been taken to address the shortfalls identified in the notices. Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/08/2022 Full Inadequate 09/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, one child has been discharged. No further children have been admitted to the home. At the time of this inspection, no children were living in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

The responsible individual and newly appointed manager have focused on developing systems and processes to enhance the quality of care for children.

p.3

improvement to be good

Impact risk assessments are further developed. The assessments evaluate the strengths and areas of concerns of new referrals against those who may already be living in the home. This information is used to assess the overall compatibility of children. The assessments also focus on whether the needs of the children being referred to the home are compatible with the skills and experience of the staff employed to work at the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Residential progress plans are directly linked to children’s individual impact risk assessments. The plans identify areas for focused work and the services that may be required to expedite the support the child may require.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, there has been a significant change in the staff team. Four experienced members of staff will join the team and support those who are less experienced.

p.3

improvement to be good

Daily routines for the children and staff are established. This provides a clear structure for each day, including tasks for children and staff.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home provides spacious, modern and comfortable accommodation. Children’s bedrooms are bright and welcoming and contain information about the home and how it operates.

p.3

improvement to be good

The responsible individual and manager understand that the progress in developing the systems and processes in the home has not yet been tested. Therefore, time is required for these changes to be embedded in practice so that they can suitably evaluated. A requirement in relation to care planning is restated at this time.

p.3

improvement to be good

The staff have received training in safeguarding children. This training has focused on staff’s roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe and reporting matters of concern. Further training is scheduled with the local authority designated officer and an external provider, who will deliver positive organisational safeguarding culture. Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 4 Risk assessments and risk management processes are further developed. The assessments link with the impact risk assessment and progress plans to identify known and potential risks. Strategies to manage risk will be devised collectively between the team, local authority and external safeguarding agencies.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, the responsible individual has reflected on the shortfalls in practice. The responsible individual recognises that the previous appointed manager did not have the skills or experience to manage the home effectively. Furthermore, staff employed to the home did not have the skills and experience to successfully safeguard children.

p.4

improvement to be good

A new experienced manager has been appointed to the home. Four experienced residential staff will also join the team. The new manager and staff have extensive safeguarding experience.

p.4

improvement to be good

The developments in safeguarding practice have yet to be tested. A requirement under the protection of children standard is restated at this time.

p.4

good

Since the monitoring visit on 26 September 2022, the acting manager has resigned from his position and a new experienced manager has been appointed. During the new manager’s transition to the home, she has worked together with the responsible individual to address the shortfalls in practice and develop the systems and processes in the home. The new manager will commence a full-time role in January 2023.

p.4

good

As detailed in this report, developments are seen in the planning for children’s care and safeguarding children. The manager has addressed the shortfalls in the deficit of skilled and experienced staff and has recruited four members of qualified and knowledgeable staff to join the team. In addition, those staff with limited experience are carrying out work in other children’s homes as an extension of their learning and are enrolled on the diploma in residential childcare at level 4.

p.4

good

Staff have received a variety of training and attended team meetings to reflect on their learning. This provides an opportunity for the team to come together and share their experiences and learn from each other.

p.4

good

The statement of purpose pertaining to the staff employed at the home requires updating to include the changes in staff. The statement should also include any changes to accredited positive handling training undertaken by staff. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.4

good

New internal monitoring systems are in place. The new manager said, ‘The new systems will allow me to have complete oversight on a daily basis. I have used the systems before, and they work. I have a lot of pride in the work I do.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 5 The responsible individual said, ‘It is completely refreshing to have such an experienced and knowledgeable manager who is full of ideas and enthusiasm. The difference is amazing.’

p.4

good

External monitoring continues to take place in accordance with regulation.

p.5

good

Staff do not receive consistent supervision. Therefore, opportunities for staff to reflect on their professional and personal journey are limited. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.5

good

The responsible individual and manager acknowledge that the developments made to the systems and processes are not yet in use. Therefore, the effectiveness of these changes cannot be measured or assessed. The requirement pertaining to leadership and management is restated at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

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;

p.6

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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h)) 13 January 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 13 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 7 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.7

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), 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 (1) (3)(a)(b) (5)) 13 January 2023

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 13 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 8 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.7

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.8

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)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

p.8

Recommendation

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive regular supervision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

p.8

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: 2643338 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sankofa Specialist Care Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 449 Brook Lane, Birmingham B13 0BT

p.9

Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2643338 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10