Children's Home run by Ivory Cottage Limited in Warwickshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2586067 1 Registered provider: Ivory Cottage Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up four to children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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(s) 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: 2586067 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

p.2

Findings from the inspection

 Managers have not ensured that thorough matching is carried out before placing new children in the home.  Managers have failed to complete risk assessments that consider all known information about children.  Managers have failed to ensure that children’s behaviour management plans are up to date.  Children are not helped to keep themselves safe when risks are identified.  Children’s records are not kept up to date.

p.2

The care of children

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and two children have moved out. Four children are currently living in the home; two have lived there for nearly two years, while the other two have only lived in the home for a short time.

p.2

The care of children

Some improvements have been made since the last inspection. However, staff have not always kept children safe.

p.2

The care of children

Improvements have been made to the home’s environment. The home has been redecorated throughout, providing a homely feel. The children’s bedrooms are personalised to their taste. This helps children to invest in the home.

p.2

The care of children

Children enjoy a range of activities that reflect their interests and hobbies. For example, one child attends swimming and dance clubs as well as being part of an outdoor rangers’ group. During the inspection, the child enjoyed telling the inspector about the different activities she had taken part in.

p.2

The care of children

Managers have not ensured that thorough matching is considered when placing new children in the home. For example, one child moved into the home with complex health needs. However, staff do not have the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to meet their needs. As a result, the child has not received care from a skilled team.

p.2

The safety of children

Managers have failed to complete risk assessments that consider all known information about children. Risk assessments are inaccurate and are not routinely updated. This means that strategies to manage risks to children are not available to staff. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2586067 3 Children’s behaviour management plans are of poor quality and managers have failed to ensure that children’s plans are up to date. Consequently, staff do not have clear guidance about how to manage all existing and emerging needs for children. For example, one child did not have a behaviour management plan, despite living in the home for more than three weeks.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff do not always carry out key-work sessions with children to help them improve their awareness of risks in relation to mobile phone safety. For example, a member of staff accessed a child’s phone to contact her peers without her knowledge. This caused undue distress for the child who subsequently went missing from the home.

p.3

The safety of children

Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in allegations made by children. When allegations have been made, these are managed well and safeguarding procedures are followed.

p.3

The safety of children

Restraints are recorded appropriately and have sufficient management oversight within the required time frame.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home has not had a registered manager since March 2022. A manager was appointed and had applied to Ofsted to register. However, they have withdrawn their application and resigned from their post. The provider has appointed a new manager.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is a stable staff team, and when there are gaps in staffing, these are generally covered by existing staff. This provides the children with continuity and helps them build positive relationships with staff.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The staff felt supported by the previous manager, and they have had regular supervision sessions and annual appraisals. This supports staff to reflect on their practice, professional development and well-being.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The children’s social workers said that communication is good. The previous manager ensured that social workers were updated on a regular basis. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2586067 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2586067 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

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.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff keeping risk assessments and behaviour management plans up to date to reflect all known risks. 30 April 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to— manage and review the placement of each child in the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii)(d))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to children having updated plans that are reflective of their needs. 30 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2586067 6 The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.5

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that children’s records are kept up to date. 30 April 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2586067 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ivory Cottage Ltd, Skytax, 37th Floor, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AA

p.7

Inspector

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2586067 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