Children's Home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Kent

Inspection report children's home: SC469396 1 SC469396 Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children aged up to 18 years old, who may have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2022

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC469396 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2022 Full Good 23/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/10/2019 Full Good 17/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: SC469396 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Four children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. Since the last inspection, two children have moved on. One child moved on to supported accommodation on the second day of this inspection. The manager felt that children were unsettled during the inspection due to this child leaving the home. In general, children benefit from long stays at the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

On one occasion, staff have failed to prevent children from entering the staff office and on another occasion failed to prevent children entering the staff sleep-in room. This resulted in a child accessing a knife from the office safe and a hammer from the sleep-in room. This placed children and others at risk of harm.

p.3

improvement to be good

Throughout the inspection, there were several occasions when staff failed to challenge children who were swearing and making inappropriate comments. Although the manager has provided staff with guidance on how to manage bullying, staff are not consistently providing children with behavioural expectations and boundaries. Therefore, opportunities have been missed to consistently encourage positive behaviour.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have not intervened when a 17-year-old was playing an 18-rated computer game. Staff have failed to discuss with the child why the game was unsuitable for them to play. As the child was playing the game in a communal area of the home where other younger children could have been exposed to unsuitable content.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have been innovative and supportive in sourcing additional educational opportunities for children to learn. Staff have not always been successful at encouraging children to engage consistently in education. However, this is not through lack of trying. Staff frequently discuss with the children the importance of gaining an education.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children said they were happy at the home. All children were able to name a staff member with whom they could raise a complaint. One child said: ‘All the staff need a pat on the back for how they have supported me.’ When referring to what was the best thing about the home, the child said: ‘That geezer in there, [referring to the manager] he is a diamond.’

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are offered a good range of activities. Children are provided with meaningful activities that are tailored to their interests. Children have enjoyed fishing and ice-skating, attend basketball games and some have gym memberships. Three children are afforded unsupervised time in the community. This helps to build their social networks and broaden their experiences. Inspection report children's home: SC469396 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Some checks relating to fire doors and fire alarms have not been consistently conducted in line with the home’s timescales. Inconsistent checking of fire safety systems does not help mitigate the risk of fire in the home.

p.4

improvement to be good

An allegation made against staff was not referred to the local area designated officer until 10 days after the allegation was made. No actions were taken in response to the allegation for 10 days. This fails to provide children and staff with the necessary safeguards required. However, since the last inspection all other allegations have been submitted within the correct timescale.

p.4

improvement to be good

Senior managers are not risk-averse. They have made some difficult decisions to manage exceptionally high risks to a child. They have provided a child with intensive support to reduce risks. This support has had an exceptional impact and enhanced the life chances and outcomes for this child.

p.4

improvement to be good

The manager has arranged counselling for children and staff when needed. The organisation pays privately to ensure that immediate support is available to children. The provision of counselling has supported a child’s emotional health. Staff have been provided with access to a counsellor. Consequently, staff are better equipped to emotionally support the children.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing from the home However, when they do, staff provide well- coordinated responses to prompt their safe return. Risk assessments and safety plans are detailed, reflective of children’s needs and understood by the staff.

p.4

good

Until February 2023, the home did not have a deputy manager. Consequently, the manager was solely responsible for the provision of staff supervision. Additionally, the manager has worked shifts when there have been staffing shortages. The high levels of risk for one child have required additional staffing and planning beyond usual practice. These factors have led to some managerial tasks not being undertaken.

p.4

good

Not all staff have been supervised within the timescale set in the home’s statement of purpose. Opportunities have been missed to support some staff and review their practice.

p.4

good

Following a child being exposed to high-risk behaviours an external counselling service was commissioned to support staff. This was a good support mechanism to help staff manage their emotions.

p.4

good

During the inspection, broken glass was seen in the grounds outside the staff office. Staff had failed to detect and remove the glass until it was pointed out by the Inspection report children's home: SC469396 5 inspector. Self-harming behaviours have been a risk that staff have been managing for several months. Therefore, easily accessible broken glass is of additional risk.

p.4

good

One member of staff has not completed the qualification in residential childcare required in regulation in the appropriate timescale. All other staff are suitably qualified.

p.5

good

The manager delayed notifying Ofsted of two allegations against staff. This prevents Ofsted from having sufficient oversight of concerns related to the home.

p.5

good

The manager appropriately challenges other professionals on behalf of the children. The manager challenged a decision about a child’s reduced education timetable. He understands the importance of education and acts in the children’s interests to ensure that their rights are upheld.

p.5

good

The manager responds to complaints promptly. Appropriate action is taken to address children’s complaints. Children feel listened to and empowered to make their concerns known to staff.

p.5

good

The requirement and recommendations made at the last inspection have been addressed. This has led to improvements in the location risk assessment and monitoring of internal audits. Inspection report children's home: SC469396 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

p.6

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)(a)(vii)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

referrals are made to the local authority designated officer without delay;

p.6

Requirement Due date

broken glass is disposed of swiftly. 19 April 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that staff— 19 May 2023 Inspection report children's home: SC469396 7 encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.7

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

p.7

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

p.7

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(C) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(xi)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff are supervised in the timescales specified in the home's statement of purpose. 19 May 2023

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 28 April 2023

p.7

Recommendations

 The manager should ensure that children's reasonable preferences in relation to day-to-day arrangements, should be met with consideration given to safeguarding, particularly in relation to the use of technology. Where a child's preferences are unreasonable or cannot be met for safeguarding reasons, staff should discuss this with the child to help them understand why. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 17, paragraph 3.21) Inspection report children's home: SC469396 8  The manager should actively seek scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvements and that intended fire safety checks are carried out. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24)

p.7

Recommendations

 The manager should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, must have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.12)

p.8

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 children's home: SC469396 9

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 73 And 74 Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Ramsgate CT12 5GD

p.9

Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC469396 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

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 . 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 http://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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10