Children's Home run by Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Ltd in West Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2594233 1 Registered provider: Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children with emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who is not yet registered.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: 2594233 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child has left the home. Staff supported them to move to semi- independent living.

p.2

The care of children

All children have an education placement, but attendance remains low for all children. Staff plan the children’s week with them, which includes attending school. However, children often refuse to attend, despite staff attempts to encourage them. One child did attend school for a short period and sat their mock exams. When children are not in school, staff use this time to develop their life skills. Activities include children cooking, cleaning and attending the gym, which children do engage in.

p.2

The care of children

Staff understand the importance of building relationships with children. Staff meet with children to talk about how to develop their social skills. One child said, ‘I do get on with the staff, really I do.’ One child has made progress in understanding how other people may feel when he physically hurts them and uses inappropriate language. One child goes to a youth club and is learning to make appropriate friendships. Staff help children develop a sense of belonging and build self-esteem.

p.2

The care of children

Staff make referrals to external professionals to help children with their mental health. In addition, the home’s therapist meets with children on a regular basis. This helps children talk about anything that worries them. The therapist produces behaviour plans based on her knowledge of the child. These help staff to work with children using a consistent and supportive approach. As a result, there has been a notable decrease in one child’s behavioural incidents.

p.2

The care of children

Children are invited to house meetings. These provide them with opportunities to talk about living together and any concerns they have. Children recently requested individual menu plans rather than one menu for all. As a result, children now draw up their own plans and help to order their food. Children have asked for a gym to be created in the cellar. Managers are considering this. Children also asked for more movie nights and staff are organising this, based on children’s preferences.

p.2

The safety of children

Physical restraint is used as a last resort and only if a child is in danger or a staff member is being harmed. Staff use verbal reassurance and de-escalation techniques and provide children with space before physically holding them. When restraint has been used, it has been appropriate and proportionate. Debriefs are held with staff Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2594233 3 and the child. This helps staff to reflect on their practice and the child to understand why they were held. Managers evaluate these incidents within given timeframes.

p.2

The safety of children

When children leave the home without permission or do not come home after being in the community, staff follow missing-from-home protocols. Staff look for children in places they may go. They call children’s phones and report them missing to the police. Staff speak with children when they return. This helps them to understand why children leave and to put further plans in place to protect children.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff receive training to meet the needs of the children. While all staff have been trained in medication administration, four staff have not received medication refresher training within the agreed timescales. This oversight increases the risk of a medication error occurring.

p.3

The safety of children

Improvements have been made to the environment. A system is in place to ensure any damage is repaired as quickly as possible. However, on one child’s bedroom floor, the inspector found sharp plastic and plaster from a wall, which could have been used by the child to harm themselves.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

An experienced and qualified manager has recently been appointed to manage the home. The manager is using the probation period to consider if she will stay at the home and register with Ofsted. An experienced deputy manager is supporting the manager in her role.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, information about children and staff has been moved to an electronic database. The system has improved recording because of the prompts used in the documents. The system also highlights concerns to managers and links documents together when completed. For instance, in relation to a child leaving the home without permission, the recording is detailed, and this event has been linked to a detailed incident form. This means managers have better oversight of all incidents.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers have implemented monitoring systems and are proactive in their use. This helps them to review the quality of care provided to children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers are investing in staff development. They have delivered workshops to staff on relevant topics. For example, substance misuse, recording of incidents, the importance of handovers and restorative practice have been explored. In addition, all staff are completing a six-week course on good practice. Staff spoken with said they feel supported by managers.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, there has been one complaint, made by a neighbour about noise from the home. Managers met with the local authority to address the concerns. They talked to the children about noise and living in the community. A letter of apology has been written to the affected neighbour. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2594233 4 Staff have supervision meetings with their manager, however, the deputy manager was unable to evidence that these meetings were held regularly. This requirement has therefore been restated.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has met two requirements and one recommendation from the last full inspection. Following this inspection, two further requirements have been made.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/05/2022 Full Inadequate 15/06/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2594233 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to staff checking children’s bedrooms and removing any materials that may harm them. 6 April 2023

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to staff receiving medication training in line with the home’s policy. 21 April 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.5

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and 21 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2594233 6 have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to supervision of staff taking place in line with the organisation’s policy.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2594233 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children & Adolescents Placement Provisions Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barratt House Office G3a, Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton NN2 6EZ

p.7

Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2594233 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.

p.7

Inspector

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 .

p.8

Inspector

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8