Children's Home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Sandwell

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 1 SC404994

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Registered provider: St Christopher’s Fellowship

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a registered charity and provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has recently left the home. An interim manager is managing the home. The provider is currently recruiting for a permanent manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

This assurance visits took place because Ofsted received a complaint about staffing and management shortages in the home and the negative impact this was having on the care and safety of children.

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors 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: SC404994 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Children’s day-to-day routines do not promote children’s welfare and development.  When children go missing from care, arrangements to help them return safely are not well managed.  Children do not receive good enough support to help them with issues such as safe peer relationships and cannabis use.  Managers and staff have failed to take action to meet a child’s healthcare needs.  Children’s education needs are not being met.  The deployment of agency staff in the home has not been well thought out. This has led to agency staff working together without core staff and inconsistent boundaries and care being provided to children.  Shortfalls in the leadership and management and the monitoring of the quality of care provided at the home contribute to the concerns identified at this inspection.

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The care of children

Two children lived at the home at the time of the visit. Both have moved in to the home since the last inspection. No children have moved out. Managers have not fully considered the needs of the children alongside the skills and experience of staff to be able to meet children’s needs well. Consequently, children are not making good progress in different aspects of their lives, such as in education and health.

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The care of children

Children are not in full-time education. Both children have been provided with a tutor who visits the home. There is little or minimal engagement from children with the tutors. Staff do not take steps to improve this. For example, when tutors come to the home, children are not ready to take part in lessons and often are still in bed. Managers have not adequately addressed this with staff and children, which means that children’s education needs are not being met and they are not receiving adequate education.

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The care of children

The children are not in good day-to-day routines and do not have structured activities planned for them by staff to give them something to look forward to in the day. Staff offer some encouragement to the children to wake up on time and offer some activities. For example, children have enjoyed pamper days and movie nights. However, this has had little impact and does not go far enough. Children do very little throughout the day, instead spending a lot of time in their bedroom, before going out into the community to spend time with friends. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 3 The number of temporary staff working in the home has hindered children’s opportunities to build secure, trusted relationships with staff. Children have said that this means that they are not always able to talk to staff who they know and trust. Children also talked to the inspector about this concern, with one child stating, ‘I

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The care of children

can’t talk to anyone here, there’s no point it’s best to keep to yourself’. Another child is able to speak to her key worker.

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The care of children

Staff arrange health appointments for children. However, when a child has refused to attend routine and specialist appointments, staff and managers have not supported the child to understand why or tried to involve other professionals to effectively address this.

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The care of children

Staff are understandably concerned that children are smoking cannabis. However, little is being done to address this concern with children. In addition, children vape, and boundaries and expectations around this are unclear.

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The care of children

One child has some anxiety about using public transport. Staff have been working with the child to build their confidence in using public transport. However, this good support is not applied consistently. For example, staff do not discuss with the children concerns about relationships they have with older peers outside of the home that may be harmful. Furthermore, when a child returned home with a tattoo, this was not satisfactorily addressed.

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The care of children

One child has engaged in some sessions with a music therapist. Although this support is in its early stages, it is positive to see that the child’s interest in music is helping her to talk about her feelings for a short while. Staff do enable children to celebrate their birthday. For example, children and staff enjoyed a meal at a restaurant, and children were supported by staff to get their hair done, ready for the celebration.

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The safety of children

There are concerns around children going missing from home. During these incidents, staff have not followed missing-from-care protocols. For example, staff have not searched the local area for the child or shared with police the intelligence that they have about their possible whereabouts. In addition, children are not always offered return-home interviews. Despite increasing concerns around them going missing from home and the potential risks related to exploitation, a coordinated and effective safety plan involving key professionals, such as the police, is not in place.

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The safety of children

Staff are not allowed to use their own cars to transport children, and not all staff can drive the company vehicle. Taxis are used to assist children in getting home. Sometimes, this is appropriate. However, on other occasions, it is not. For example, children are collected by taxis, which are arranged by staff, from unfamiliar locations. On one occasion, a child was asked by staff to flag a taxi and get into a taxi on their own from a coach station, following a missing-from-care period in the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 4 early hours of the morning. Little consideration is given to staff going in a taxi to meet children and support their return home. This poor practice has placed children at risk of harm.

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The safety of children

Agency staff have worked together without core staff and this has led to inconsistent boundaries that have caused distress to children. For example, the agency staff locked the kitchen door at night without reason. Children were confused by this and a difficult situation escalated. Damage was caused to the home and a member of staff was assaulted. Physical intervention was required to keep children and others safe. This incident was avoidable. Furthermore, the incident was not appropriately recorded.

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The safety of children

When the child later made an allegation about the member of staff hurting them during the incident, this was appropriately referred to the designated officer for the local authority. However, this was not notified to Ofsted as required by regulation.

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The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments are completed by staff. However, the information contained in these documents lacks detail. This means that risk assessments do not always provide staff with full and relevant information that they need to understand children’s risks and behaviours and how best to manage them.

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The safety of children

Children know how to make a complaint. When children have complained, managers have responded adequately to the issues that children have raised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been changes to the staff team, with some staff leaving. This includes three deputy managers and the registered manager, who have left since the last inspection in August 2022. There is no permanent manager or deputy in post. In addition, the home has had several core staff absent from work. As a result, there is a reliance on agency staff or staff from other homes in the organisation to provide care to children. Although efforts have been made to try to use consistent individuals, morale among staff is low, and the negative impact of staffing changes and shortages on children’s experiences and progress is evident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Monitoring of the quality of care at the home is ineffective. Despite the changes in managers at the home, the responsible individual has not been visible and has not had adequate oversight. Senior managers are now beginning to address some issues and are formulating improvement plans. However, the decline in the quality of care to children should have been identified and responded to sooner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Monthly reports completed by the independent visitor are not evaluative and lack detailed information to allow managers and Ofsted to fully understand whether children are safeguarded effectively and if they are receiving good care. In addition, the six-monthly quality of care report has not been submitted to Ofsted and is out of timescales. Senior managers are not clear about why this has not been completed and submitted to Ofsted. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 5 Children’s case records are not all up to date. For example, children’s placement plans have not been reviewed and updated by staff, and this makes it difficult to gain an accurate picture of children’s experiences and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

An up-to-date statement of purpose has not been submitted to Ofsted. In addition, the staff have not provided care to children in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have completed mandatory training and training that is specific to children’s needs, such as self-harm. Staff have just started to receive additional workshops to help them in creating a therapeutically informed approach to children’s care. The learning from these workshops is yet to be embedded in staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Senior leaders acknowledge the shortfalls and are aware of the challenges that the home is currently facing. They have developed an interim plan to ensure that managers have effective day-to-day oversight of the home while they are actively recruiting for a permanent manager.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2022 Full Good 06/11/2019 Full Good 27/06/2018 Full Good 18/07/2017 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 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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Statutory requirements

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iv)(vi)(viii))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, ensure that children are in good daily routines, are supported to take part in lessons with their tutor, and work with other professionals to coordinate a plan to get children back into school. 24 February 2023

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Statutory requirements

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Statutory requirements

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 24 February 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 7 that staff help each child to—

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Statutory requirements

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Statutory requirements

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Statutory requirements

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Statutory requirements

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, ensure that children receive support to help them to attend health appointments, as well as support and services to help them to stop vaping and using cannabis. In addition, ensure that staff receive training and support to understand their role in promoting healthy lifestyles for children.

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Statutory requirements

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Statutory requirements

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Statutory requirements

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Statutory requirements

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; 24 February 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 8 help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(vii))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, ensure that staff have the skills and experience to work with children to address concerns with regards to children’s risks and vulnerabilities in relationships with their peers.

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Statutory requirements

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)(v)(b))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, ensure that children’s risk assessments are kept under review, updated as necessary and clear guidance is provided to staff, which they follow. Ensure that transport arrangements for children are reviewed and that staff who are able to drive can use their own or the company’s vehicles to support children with accessing the community safely. 24 February 2023

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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Statutory requirements

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 24 February 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 9 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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Statutory requirements

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

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)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, ensure that staffing arrangements are reviewed so that they can provide consistent and appropriate care and boundaries to children. Ensure that monitoring and oversight of the quality of care is effective, including reviewing expectations with the independent visitor about the quality of information contained in reports Ensure that the six-monthly quality of care review is completed and report submitted to Ofsted. In addition, review and update the statement of purpose and provide a copy to Ofsted.

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Statutory requirements

The care planning standard is that children—

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Statutory requirements

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, ensure that before new children move in to the home, managers assure themselves that staff have the knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of each child. 24 February 2023

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Statutory requirements

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Statutory requirements

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1) (7)) 24 February 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 10 The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 24 February 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that all records of physical intervention are recorded in line with the requirement under Regulation 35. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that they notify Ofsted in line with the requirement under Regulation 40. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: St Christopher’s Fellowship

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Putney High Street, London, Wandsworth SW15 1SZ

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Inspector:

Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC404994 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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Inspector:

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

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