Children's Home run by Solace Care Redbridge Limited in Redbridge

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613806 1 Registered provider: Solace Care Redbridge Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately run home provides care for up to three children aged between 10 and 17 years, who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in December 2020. The home has not had a registered manager since April 2021. The current manager has begun the process to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector 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: 2613806 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

The home’s new manager is committed to making improvements to ensure that the needs of children are met well. The home is welcoming and children are making good progress.

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The care of children

There has been an improvement in the quality of care provided to children, which makes them feel respected and treated with dignity. The previous unnecessary and intrusive procedures, such as daily room searches, have now stopped. However, the language used in children’s records is not child-friendly or specific. The manager has identified that this is an area for improvement and appropriate training has been arranged for staff.

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The care of children

Children’s plans are individualised and are regularly reviewed and updated. As a result, the care provided to children is individualised and meets their needs.

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The care of children

One child spoken to during the inspection said that they feel safe and are able to discuss any worries or concerns with the staff. Positive interactions were observed between the other child and staff.

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The safety of children

The quality of children’s risk assessments has improved. Risk assessments now clearly identify the individual risks to children and the action that staff need to take to manage and reduce risk. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly.

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The safety of children

Records of restraint demonstrate that the use of restraint is proportionate and necessary to keep children safe. Debriefs with children and staff are completed after each incident and there is good management oversight of these incidents.

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The safety of children

There have been two incidents of children going missing from the home since the last inspection. The records of missing-from-care incidents do not include details of the attempts made by staff to contact and locate children, and they do not explain any delays in reporting children missing to safeguarding partners. This does not help the manager to identify any shortfalls in practice or themes and trends.

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The safety of children

There has been one allegation made since the last inspection. This was referred to appropriate safeguarding partners and fully investigated. Following the investigation, the manager informed the child who made the allegation of the outcome. Feedback was provided to the staff involved and the details of the complaint were explored in Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613806 3 a team meeting. However, the investigation records lack details of the reflective analysis and learning from the incident.

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The safety of children

Recruitment processes need to be strengthened. In one case, the discrepancies between the employment history provided by a member of staff and the dates provided in their references were not explored. However, overseas police checks for staff who have recently arrived in the UK are undertaken.

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The safety of children

Health and safety checks are completed regularly, including fire drills. The children are involved in fire drills. This ensures that staff and children have a shared understanding of the procedures to be followed in the event of a fire.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been changes in the management and leadership team since the last inspection. The current manager is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted. Managers recognise that there is still more work to be done to improve practice and the quality of care provided to children. Nevertheless, good progress has been made in meeting the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been an improvement in the level of support provided to staff. Staff now receive regular supervision and have access to specific training relevant to the needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers ensure that Ofsted is notified of any significant incidents. However, the quality-of-care review has been significantly delayed. This compromises Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Placement matching and pre-admission risk assessment processes are not robust. An impact risk assessment was not completed prior to one child moving into the home. Consequently, the child’s needs are not being met and an alternative placement is required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Improvements have been made to some records, which are now comprehensive and reflect children’s everyday lives. However, care plans completed by placing authorities are not included in children’s records. This compromises care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have not ensured that they have a policy on the use of tracking apps to explain how these will support the safeguarding and well-being of the children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613806 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613806 5

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the registered person ensuring that missing-from-care protocols are completed for each child and that they provide staff with clear strategies to manage risk. 17 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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; 17 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613806 6 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;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(a)(b)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to the registered person ensuring that the monitoring and review systems lead to consistent improvement in the quality and consistency of recorded documents and language used.

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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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that pre- admission risk assessments consider the staff’s ability to meet this child’s needs and the impact of a new child moving into the home on the children already living in the home. 17 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; 27 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613806 7 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice, as set out in regulations 31 to 33. In particular, this relates to ensuring that all discrepancies between employment history and references are explored. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that any surveillance or monitoring systems have a written policy describing how they will support the safeguarding and well- being of the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  The registered person should ensure that all children’s records (regulation 36) are kept up to date. Specifically, ensure that children’s updated care plans are obtained from the placing authorities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613806 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solace Care Redbridge Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Solace Care Morden Ltd, Unit 2A, 420 Eastern Avenue, Ilford, Essex IG2 6NQ

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Inspector

Aneta Wasilewska, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2613806 9 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

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