Children's Home run by Empower Residentials Limited in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 1 Registered provider: Empower Residentials Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The statement of purpose states that the home can provide care for two children who may have social and emotional needs or learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected N/A N/A Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 3

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improvement to be good

This is the first inspection of the home since it was registered. In October 2022, the home welcomed its first child into the home. Prior to the child’s arrival, the registered manager completed a full assessment of his needs, and she gained information from the placing authority, education provider, and the child’s previous placement. She consulted with the team and used this information to create the child’s care and support plan. The child’s move into the home was well-planned. It included staff visiting the child, and the child visiting the home.

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improvement to be good

After a short settling-in period, and following a rapid escalation of high-risk incidents, the registered manager identified that the child’s presenting complex needs were beyond the skills and experiences of the staff team. In response, the registered manager has worked closely with the child’s social worker and health care professionals; a safety plan was agreed that included increasing staffing levels.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager and team underestimated the severity of the child’s early childhood trauma and the impact this has had on presenting needs. During a six- week period the child experienced increased anxiety that put him and staff at risk of harm. To manage the risks and to keep everyone safe, staff restrained him. Some days, the child experienced being held multiple times. The child’s social worker confirmed that they had not previously seen this level of behaviour.

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improvement to be good

In January 2023, the newly appointed responsible individual made the decision that the home could not meet the child’s needs and gave notice to his placing authority. The responsible individual recognised that the experiences and skills of the staff team were not sufficiently considered when the registered manager agreed for the child to move into the home. The responsible individual is providing daily support and guidance for the team. As a result, there have not been any significant incidents for twelve days.

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improvement to be good

The inspector observed staff engaging with the child in a supportive, caring and sensitive manner. The staff’s management of the child’s day was well planned and structured. At this inspection, the child enjoyed going swimming for the first time, he visited a museum and walked in a local park. The child enjoyed these activities and has communicated to staff that he would like to go swimming again.

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improvement to be good

The management of safeguarding concerns are in the main effective. Safeguarding concerns are dealt with appropriately and when poor practice is identified, the registered manager takes effective action, including working closely with safeguarding agencies. Lessons learned from investigations are used to improve practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 4 The team does not understand or have the skills to manage the complex needs of the child, and therefore his experiences of living in the home have been inadequate at times, and are in need of improvement. Over a six-week period, incidents increased significantly. On two occasions, the police have been asked to support the home and medical professionals. In recent weeks, risk has reduced, and incidents have not happened.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour records completed by staff lack critical information. They do not always detail the antecedence, location, or duration of the intervention. The manager’s monitoring of these records is not effective enough. She does not critically evaluate the necessity or proportionality of individual interventions nor the quality of the recording. The responsible individual has completed a full review of these incidents. He has identified the same errors found at this inspection and is collaborating closely with the registered manager and team to review alternative behaviour management strategies and is helping them develop their report writing skills.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager confirmed that there have been three reported medication errors. In response, the responsible individual has completed an investigation into these errors. The action taken in response to the findings of the investigation include staff’s medication competency training and the introduction of new recording systems.

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improvement to be good

During this unsettled period, the registered manager and team have worked well with other agencies. Risk management meetings have taken place regularly, information is shared and strategies to reduce the risk have been introduced.

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good

The newly appointed responsible individual has a good understanding of the home’s current performance. He understands that improvements are required and has compiled an action plan to address the weaknesses in the home. He is planning for staff to have specialist training including training relating to autistic spectrum disorder, sexually harmful behaviour, safeguarding, and recording and reporting.

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good

The responsible individual and registered manager are working closely with the staff team. They are using reflective sessions to unpick practice-related concerns. These include understanding early childhood trauma and the impact on the child’s presenting needs.

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good

The registered manager communicates well with external professionals. In particular, the manager has collaborated well with health care services and the child’s placing authority. A social worker confirmed that medical intervention has been sought appropriately when needed, incidents are appropriately reported to the local authority designated officer, and communication is good. Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 5 Staff are positive about the support they receive from leaders and managers. They say they are visible and approachable. Collectively, leaders, managers and the staff team are steadfast. They have energy and determination to improve and develop the services provided for children. They are being supported to reflect and learn. Staff meetings are well attended, and all staff receive regular reflective supervision.

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good

Management oversight is evident in documents. Despite this, at times, the registered manager’s monitoring lacks professional curiosity and robust scrutiny. As a result, records are not always well maintained. They do not include critical information, nor do they reflect the support and care giving that staff have provided the child during and following incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 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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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a,b,c)(2)(a)(ix)) 30 April 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

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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. 30 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 7 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff are provided with specialist training courses that will help them understand and respond to the complex needs of the children they care for.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicine which—

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Requirement Due date

is stored by the child for whom it is provided in such a way that other persons are prevented from using it; and

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Requirement Due date

may be safely self-administered by that child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3)(a)(b)) 30 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

Within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is mase which includes—

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Requirement Due date

Details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; The date, time and location of the use of the measure; and a description of the measure and its duration.

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Requirement Due date

Within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so—

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Requirement Due date

Has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. 30 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 8 (Regulation 35(3)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that the registered person monitors the records effectively to ensure that interventions are necessary and proportionate.

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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: 2694810 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Empower Residentials Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2 Prockters Farm Offices, West Monkton, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8QN

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Dovile Vasiliauskaite

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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