Children's Home run by Nurture Childcare Services Ltd in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591479 1 Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post, who is yet to register with Ofsted.

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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. 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: 2591479 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

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. He has lived at the home for some time. Since the last inspection, no children have moved in or out of the home. The child is making progress and enjoys living at the home.

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The care of children

Staff care about the child. They are proactive in building positive relationships. Staff support the child to have opportunities to develop positive experiences and happy memories. For example, the child has recently enjoyed a holiday. Children are supported to pursue their interests. Their education is well promoted and encouraged. Further opportunities and attendance have significantly improved. The child is being supported to learn a new language.

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The care of children

Children’s health needs are well understood. Staff are proactive in seeking medical advice and attention as required. Children benefit from access to routine and specialist healthcare to meet their individual needs.

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The care of children

Efforts have been made to make the home a welcoming environment for children. The lounge and communal areas are suitably decorated and furnished. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. Photos are displayed throughout the home of the child enjoying various activities and adventures.

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The safety of children

The staff team has benefited from access to additional training and development opportunities since the last inspection. However, there are still gaps in training for some staff. This means that staff do not yet fully understand the specific needs of the child living in the home.

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The safety of children

Staff have a good understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities children may be exposed to in the home, community and online. Children’s plans are sufficiently detailed and regularly updated, and they provide staff with clear strategies to follow to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Safeguarding incidents, allegations and complaints are well managed. There is oversight from managers. Ongoing consultation with relevant professionals ensures that there is a coordinated response to safeguarding children. Clear processes have been implemented to ensure that incidents are notified to Ofsted as required by regulation. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591479 3 Changes in practice have led to a reduction in incidents. Staff holding children to keep them safe is a last resort. Records of holding children are sufficiently detailed.

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The safety of children

Safer recruitment is not always followed. Leaders and managers have recruited staff when they have been made aware of safeguarding concerns from previous employment. This known information has not been considered or risk assessed. This does not ensure that staff are suitably vetted before working in the home and could place children at risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has not been a registered manager in post for this home since January 2022. The current manager is new in post and has not yet applied to register with Ofsted. The responsible individual is also new in post. They were both present during the inspection. Together, they demonstrate effective leadership of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers have strengthened internal and external monitoring processes, which gives them more robust oversight. They have taken action to address practice and recording shortfalls identified at the last inspection and are continually striving to develop the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, staff have not always received consistent supervision or support. Although this has improved since the new manager has been in post, there is still a delay in supervision records being recorded. There is a new staff team in place since the last inspection. New staff working in the home receive an induction and feel supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Three recommendations made at the last inspection have been restated. Four requirements are now met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591479 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 17/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591479 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 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

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that staff receive training that is specific to the child’s needs, in particular training in sexualised behaviour and learning difficulties.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 2 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 2 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591479 6 if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that when staff have previously been subject to disciplinary procedures, this is fully considered and risk assessed.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff receive supervision. 2 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 2 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591479 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Inspector

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2591479 8 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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