Children's home run by Leicester City Council

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 1 SC039001 Registered provider: Leicester City Council

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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 run by a local authority. The home provides care for up to seven children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2018 and is suitably qualified.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 21 and 22 November 2022. Serious and widespread failings were identified in leadership and management and in the safeguarding and care provided for children. As a result, the experience of children was poor, and children were not making progress. Compliance notices were issued in relation to the protection of children and the leadership and management standards respectively. Additionally, Ofsted restricted the home on 24 November 2022 to prevent any further admissions of children. This was to support the home to make the required progress.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was carried out on 16 January 2023. No progress was seen, and the two compliance notices were reissued. The home remained restricted. A full inspection took place on 13 and 14 February 2023. Serious and widespread concerns remained, and the home was judged to be inadequate. Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation on 16 February 2023 for a second period. The two compliance notices were reissued for a third time.

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This monitoring visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to review the progress that managers and leaders have made in meeting the compliance notices and to review compliance with the restriction notice. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 2 Since the full inspection in February 2023, one child has left the home. As result, the number of serious incidents has reduced and the home is starting to become more stable.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 12 April 2023 to discuss the inspection findings. Some progress was identified, and the compliance notices were deemed to be met. A decision was made that the home would remain restricted to prevent any further admissions. This was to allow a further period for the progress to become embedded and to make improvements to the vacant children’s bedrooms. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2023 Full Inadequate 21/11/2022 Full Inadequate 19/07/2021 Full Good 28/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the children’s home environment is welcoming and in keeping with a family home. 15 May 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 5 This also relates to ensuring that children’s care plans are individualised and that children’s views, wishes and personal preferences, such as sexuality and gender, are supported.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that all staff respond to, report and document all incidents of concern. 15 May 2023

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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

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. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that all staff complete essential training for their roles. 15 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 15 May 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 6 that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children have planned and considered admissions into the home and that key paperwork is put in place quickly enough to be effective.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to ensuring that children are supported to contribute to their records and care in a meaningful way.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered person maintains a detailed record of all complaints. In addition, the registered person must ensure that they follow their own policy when responding to complaints. 15 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 15 May 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 7 supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the review of the quality of care is submitted within the required timeframes. The registered manager must seek the views of children and professionals on the quality of care provided.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Leicester City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC039001 9 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

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

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