Children's Home run by Child First Residential Ltd in Sandwell

Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 1 Registered provider: Child First Residential Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, the manager of the home has resigned and left the home. The new manager has been in post since September 2022 and has not yet submitted a complete application to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the last full inspection on 24 and 25 July 2022, a compliance notice was issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard. This was reviewed at a monitoring visit on 14 September 2022. This was not met. Following that visit, two compliance notices, one under regulation 12 and one under regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, were issued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2022 Full Inadequate 09/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 3

p.2

inadequate

Children’s experiences and progress are hindered by widespread failures in safeguarding and leadership and management.

p.3

inadequate

Since the last inspection there have been several changes in the staff team. The previous manager and some staff have left the organisation abruptly. This means children are having to continually develop new relationships with staff.

p.3

inadequate

Staff are mostly alert and respond to children who display self-harming behaviour. This has led to a significant reduction of this behaviour since the last full inspection. However, the risk assessments to guide staff are not accurate or updated as needed. This leaves children and staff vulnerable should this behaviour re-emerge. The lack of clear guidance for staff is more concerning due to considerable staff turnover in the last few months.

p.3

inadequate

Children have raised concerns about staff practice. For example, a child said staff created a ‘toxic environment’. On another occasion a child raised concerns about how he spoken to by a staff member. In addition, staff and managers do not make well-thought-out decisions regarding gender roles in activities, such as shopping for personal items, with children. Whilst managers provided children with a response to their concerns these have not always been child focused.

p.3

inadequate

Since the last inspection recording has started to improve. However, there are still too many occasions where language is not child-friendly or is unnecessarily complicated. This does not help children to understand important topics or to have clear records for them to refer to.

p.3

inadequate

Children are supported to access education. Staff have supported one child to positively return to school after an exclusion. For children who are not yet completing as much learning as they should do, there are plans in place for this to increase, so they can enhance their learning.

p.3

inadequate

Staff have made some improvements to the home environment. However, further improvements are necessary.

p.3

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

Complaints are inconsistently managed and investigated. The provider is developing their complaints process and approach to recording but this is a recent change and is not embedded. There is little evidence that managers learn from complaints which limits the development of staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 4 Managers have improved how they respond to allegations made by children. They now take action more quickly to safeguard children. However, there are shortfalls in the recording of allegations and the investigations of staff practice which reduce the clarity of events. Leaders had also not considered how to manage allegations against the responsible individual and director until inspectors raised this. This shows a lack of wider thinking about allegations and staff practice.

p.3

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

Risk assessments are not always updated with new information or to amend out of date strategies. This means they are not accurate. Guidance for staff does not reference the underpinning therapeutic model outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. They also do not consistently refer to children’s diagnosed conditions to ensure staff know how to respond to children’s individual needs.

p.4

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

Staff have not completed meaningful work with children about exploitation. Where staff have attempted this, they have used resources that have not been well considered. As a result, one child became upset and distressed because of the work completed. Staff who complete this work are also not always experienced enough to do so. This is a missed opportunity to engage children in this vital area and help them make progress in understanding how they can help keep themselves safe.

p.4

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

Recruitment of staff is generally well considered. However, when recruiting staff who have lived overseas, the responsible individual completes very limited checks on suitability. This failure to adhere to safer recruitment principles means that the appropriateness of staff is not known before they begin work with children. When inspectors highlighted this significant failure managers immediately removed the member of staff from the home until checks could be made.

p.4

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

The responsible individual has reviewed the location of the home. He has failed to consult with others about the local area. This weakens this review and so weakens safety for children as there is a lack of understanding about up-to-date relevant local risks.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has not had a registered manager since April 2021. There have been three managers since then. None of these managers have progressed to registration. The last manager resigned after the monitoring visit in September 2022, when the home failed to meet the compliance notice issued under regulation 12; the protection of children standard. After this visit, this compliance notice was issued again and an additional compliance notice was also raised under regulation 13; the leadership and management standard. At this inspection, those compliance notices were not met. This has led to widespread concerns about how children are helped and protected. There are also concerns about the effectiveness of leaders and managers to take sufficient action to address shortfalls and make the necessary improvements. The current manager has not yet submitted a complete application to register with Ofsted. These combined failures lead to an additional concern about

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 5 the responsible individual’s skills, knowledge and experience to effectively supervise the management of the home, to bring about change and meet regulatory requirements.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have begun to improve some systems and processes. However, these are in their infancy and so are not embedded or fully tested. The provider has employed a consultant to support the development of the service. The consultant has provided recommendations to the provider. These actions are what could be reasonably expected of a manager and responsible individual to know. Despite this support, the two compliance notices were not met. This indicates that the manager and responsible individual do not have the skills, knowledge, and experience to understand shortfalls and improve practice and the quality of care for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual has begun to review some of the past allegations and complaints. This work is not yet complete. In addition, despite these reviews, the responsible individual had not realised there is no process for children, staff or managers to follow if they have concerns about the responsible individual, who is also the sole director. This shows a lack of wider consideration of safe systems for children and staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff performance is not improved by clear measures or plans in supervision. Records are poor. They do not show how supervisors support staff to reflect on practice. This does not support staff to develop and improve their practice to provide a good quality of care for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training records are unclear, and staff have not completed all the training the provider determines they need. For example, only two members of staff are trained to physically intervene with children if necessary. In addition, there is very limited evidence of staff developing their practice through supervision discussions or team meetings. As a result, inspectors could not accurately ascertain which areas staff have completed training in. This limits the support children receive.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual has completed a review of the quality of care. The responsible individual has now consulted with children and other interested parties. However, the learning from this is not reflected in the report to improve the quality of care. Actions from the previous review were not met, and the new action plan is too brief and does not address the numerous shortfalls identified in the review period.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have systems in place to oversee the activity of the home. These systems do consider some key areas but do not effectively consider quality. For example, supervision records lack detail, risk assessments are not accurate, the allegations policy does not consider all reasonable eventualities, and the manager has not challenged the complexity of some direct work with children so it is more accessible. In addition, the workforce plan does not contain all required information. As a result, the monitoring system is not used effectively to understand the quality of care and practice or ensure the needed improvements are made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that staff make balanced decisions about what is in children’s best interests, which will sometimes be contrary to what children want.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 29 December

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that staff— 29 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 7 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.6

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vii)(e)

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that there are accurate risk assessments and protocols that include effective strategies for staff to follow relating to children’s risks and behaviour. In addition, staff must help children to understand how to keep safe, thereby reducing the need for legal restrictions on them. In addition, the provider must ensure that staff understand their responsibilities within safeguarding policies, including how records should be made. Finally, leaders and managers must monitor and review safeguarding policies to ensure they are fit for purpose.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.7

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.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 29 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 8 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must also ensure that staff have the skills and training needed to manage the presenting behaviour and needs of children in the home. For example, staff must have the skills to physically intervene with children if needs be, and the skills and experience to complete emotional direct work with children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In addition, the provider must use monitoring and review systems to understand the quality of care that children receive and ensure that practice and care in the home are developed. This should include ensuring staff understand the home’s policies and procedures, ensuring that staff work reflectively with children, and ensuring that records are accurate and well written, with children in mind.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on —

p.8

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(g)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that they learn from children’s complaints and address staff practice in a timely 29 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 9 and accountable way so that children’s experience are not hindered.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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 (7)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the responsible individual must ensure that they have, and can demonstrate, effective experience, skills and knowledge of practice in children’s homes and regulations to support, direct and develop the quality of care in the home as needed. 29 December

p.9

Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that they have, and can demonstrate, effective skills and knowledge of practice in children’s homes and regulations to support, direct and develop the quality of care in the home as needed. 29 December

p.9

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—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.9

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (2)(c))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that they have a system to help them understand the quality of care children receive. In addition, the provider must put in place a detailed plan of actions that reflects all areas of development needed in the home. 29 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 10 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered provider must ensure that the workforce plan includes accurate staffing information, staffing structures and training information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered provider must ensure that records of supervision sessions must reflect the discussion in those meetings and contain clear actions and timescales for those actions to be completed. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 61, paragraph 13.4)  The registered provider must ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. They should ensure that information about, and for, the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62,

p.10

Recommendations

paragraph 14.4)  The registered provider must ensure that they consult with relevant local services and staff to inform their review and risk assessment of the local area. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

p.10

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: 2610371 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Child First Residential LTD

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 11 Hollyhedge Road, West Bromwich B71 3BP

p.11

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rajinder Kudhail

p.11

Inspectors

Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2610371 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.11

Inspectors

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.12

Inspectors

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

p.12

Inspectors

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

p.12