Children's Home run by Personal Security Service Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 1 Registered provider: Personal Security Service Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is run by a private organisation, provides care for up to four children. The aim of the home is to provide children with a safe, stable, happy and comfortable home, and to enable children to build on their confidence, self-esteem and resilience as they progress into adult life.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/07/2019 Full Good 04/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the staff have provided care for three children. One child has lived at the home since August 2022 and is making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved out of the home after a short stay of two days. Staff were providing outreach support to this child before the child moved in. Although the child moving out of the home was not in accordance with the local authority’s intended arrangements, this is not a reflection of the staff’s provision of care. The child’s social worker said that the staff had done all they could to support the child. Additionally, the staff had been able to establish a relationship with the child that other professionals had not been able to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are plans for a child to move into the home. Staff are working closely with the social worker to support this child in what is a highly complex situation. The social worker said that the admission process is thorough, communication with the manager is good, and the staff’s flexibility has made a complex situation easier to support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with education providers and have advocated well on behalf of the child who is living at the home. This has led to the child attending school regularly. Before moving to the home, the child spent a long time out of education. The staff have had a positive impact on the child’s educational outcomes and engagement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have been effective in helping the child to increase his independence skills. Staff help the child to budget, cook independently and access activities in the community. These important skills prepare the child for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide the child with ample opportunity to voice his opinions and views. Staff respond to the child’s wishes. This empowers the child and increases his sense of belonging at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have encouraged the child to be part of the home’s recruitment processes by being part of the interviewing panel for new staff. Staff took into consideration the child’s views, and he was able to be part of the telephone call that gave a successful candidate the good news of their appointment. This gives the child a sense of ownership regarding decisions made about staff who work at the home.

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

Staff assess and mitigate risk well. Risk assessment records provide a good level of detail to ensure that staff understand current and emerging risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 4 Staff have been effective in helping the child to reduce the frequency that he goes missing from the home. On the one occasion that the child has gone missing, the staff have responded effectively.

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

Allegations against staff are rigorously addressed by the manager. Staff practice issues have been swiftly identified by the wider staff team and referred as appropriate. Internal investigations have led to clear outcomes and changes in practice. Such changes include amendment to the induction process and increased provision of training. The manager tests out staff’s understanding of safeguarding scenarios in supervision sessions. Such changes have improved staff’s awareness and understanding of the importance of good safeguarding practice.

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

Safeguarding records are clear, accessible and include outcomes. Actions stated in safeguarding records are undertaken to improve staff practice. There has been a clear improvement in the recording of safeguarding concerns.

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

There has been demonstrable improvement in safer recruitment checks for staff. This ensures that only suitable staff work at the home.

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

The location risk assessment is very detailed and includes crime data. Although the home is in a low crime rate location, the manager has made comprehensive assessment of risks, including gang affiliation and radicalisation. The manager has close links with the police. This improves safeguards as staff are made aware of concerns relating to the local area as they arise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has had a positive influence on the home. She is respected by staff, social workers and the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear understanding of the strengths of the home and the areas that need development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management monitoring is undertaken with rigour. Regular and robust monthly monitoring leads to shortfalls being identified promptly and responsive action taking place quickly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Incident reports are monitored by the manager. When practice issues are identified, the manager puts in place clear, responsive actions to ensure that issues are not repeated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive the appropriate training for their roles. This ensures that staff have the appropriate skills to meet the needs of children. However, staff have not had training in online safety. One child spends a significant time on a gaming device and a phone. It would therefore benefit staff to be aware of issues relating to online access. Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 5 All previous requirements have been met. There have been distinct improvements in the matching of children, recruitment of staff, and maintenance and upkeep. However, the manager has not pursued a social worker for the most-recent copy of a child’s care plan. Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 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 registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that a copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by the child’s placing authority is maintained at the home. 31 March 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff receive training in online safety. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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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: 1258658 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Personal Security Service Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Laser Quay, Culpeper close, Rochester, Kent ME2 4HU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Frederik Booysen

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Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 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 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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