Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068827 1 SC068827

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Surrey County Council

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2022.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the registered provider’s progress in meeting the two compliance notices that were issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

A review of children’s risk plans has been undertaken by the registered manager. These plans now provide clear guidance for staff to support children and reduce known risks. Staff are able to demonstrate that they can effectively implement these plans.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents involving children are reducing. One child has had an increase in missing- from-home incidents; however, staff are proactive in trying to find this child and return him to the home as soon and safely as possible. The registered manager is working in collaboration with this child’s social worker to review his care planning needs and take sufficient action to reduce this risk.

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This monitoring visit

One child has moved on from the home. The staff, despite their efforts, were unable to ensure that this child was safe. This child’s behaviour impacted on other children in the home, and the registered manager made the difficult decision to end the placement. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068827 2 The staff are having regular discussions with children regarding their behaviours. This includes using resources and workbooks to inform direct work with children on topics such as drug and alcohol use. Consequently, there has been a reduction in children’s cannabis use and incidents relating to this. However, there are still some shortfalls in addressing concerns regarding children’s sexual health and relationship risks.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are advocating for children to enhance their education attendance using a personalised approach for each child. Where this is still a concern, there are additional plans in place to help children gain an education. Furthermore, there is collaboration between the registered manager and the virtual school to support this.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have completed enhanced safeguarding training. The registered manager has introduced scenarios to team meetings for shared learning and provided staff with additional resources to further their development in this area. However, a safeguarding concern identified at the last inspection was not reported in line with safeguarding practice and the home’s policy. This demonstrates a weakness in the staff’s skills and knowledge to take effective action. The registered provider took action during the inspection to address this.

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This monitoring visit

There have been improvements in the registered manager’s monitoring and oversight. There are plans to support her development under the new line management structure, and changes have been made to the home’s recording systems to ensure that information is readily available.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager’s own monitoring has identified shortfalls in staff actioning her instructions, and sufficient action has not been taken to rectify this. However, there is evidence of a plan being implemented to support the registered manager to 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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This monitoring visit

Following a visit from the fire service, action has been taken to ensure that the premises are safe. There are plans in place if children compromise the safety of fire detecting equipment. All children have been educated on fire safety with regular discussion and information-sharing. Consequently, this risk has significantly reduced.

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This monitoring visit

A full audit of staff recruitment files has been completed using safer recruitment practices to ensure that staff are safely recruited.

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This monitoring visit

All staff have been reminded of good practice when visitors attend the home. This includes agency staff. This was observed during the inspection, and staff could demonstrate that they understood good practice relating to visitors.

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This monitoring visit

Following this inspection Ofsted is satisfied that the registered provider has taken sufficient action to improve practice and ensure that children are kept safe. The two compliance notices are judged as met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068827 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/12/2022 Full Inadequate 25/08/2021 Full Good 22/08/2019 Full Good 25/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068827 4

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff can follow and implement good safeguarding practices and follow policies to report any safeguarding concerns, and have the skills to provide appropriate support to children with their sexual health needs. 28 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)) 28 February 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068827 5

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068827 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 7QQ

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC068827 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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