Children's home run by Lavender Grove Cares Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 1 Registered provider: Lavender Grove Cares Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children aged between five and 18 with complex social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 12 October 2022. A manager has been in post since October 2022 and is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/10/2021 Interim Declined in effectiveness 28/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 3

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improvement to be good

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection. They have all moved in within the last six months. Two children have moved out of the home since the last inspection. These moves occurred because staff could not keep children safe when there were unforeseen changes to children’s behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Recently, two children moved into the home in quick succession. Leaders and managers did not plan effectively for these moves. Staff did not have enough time to help children to settle into the home. Consequently, there have been incidents of bullying.

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improvement to be good

Children said that they have found it difficult to live with each other at times. However, staff and external professionals have been involved in mediation work and, consequently, children said that recently things have improved.

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improvement to be good

Staff and managers ensure that children’s health needs are met. For one child, the staff and managers have worked well to support them to explore and understand their identity.

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improvement to be good

Staff offer children a variety of activities. One child spoke excitedly about recently going to a large concert in London. This was a reward in recognition of positive behaviour. Staff have also provided another child with work experience opportunities.

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improvement to be good

Since moving into the home, children have begun to make educational progress. One child has returned to school and has 100% attendance. Two other children are receiving tutoring in the home and are engaging well.

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improvement to be good

The manager and deputy manager have built good relationships with children’s families and professionals. The staff arrange and enable children to spend time with their families. Staff have worked positively to support one child to have good, meaningful time with their sibling.

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improvement to be good

The staff involve the children in personalising their bedrooms. However, some areas of the home need repainting and the window in one child’s bedroom needs replacing.

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improvement to be good

On one occasion, a member of staff did not report a safeguarding concern promptly. Once aware of the concern, the manager informed the relevant agencies and Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 4 followed the advice given. However, the initial delay in sharing the concern had the potential to compromise children’s safety.

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improvement to be good

There has been one incident of restraint. However, this was not recorded as a restraint. Leaders and managers have not monitored or evaluated the incident. Consequently, the child was not spoken to about their thoughts and feelings about the restraint. This means that opportunities to reflect and learn may have been missed.

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improvement to be good

Consequences are fair and proportionate and reflect the behaviour of the child. However, leaders and managers do not monitor these incidents. This means that opportunities for reflection, evaluation and the identification of patterns of behaviour to inform future practice are missed.

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improvement to be good

Allegations have been reported to the local authority designated officer and appropriately investigated. Following investigations, children are informed of the outcomes. This helps children to know that their concerns are listened to and acted on.

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improvement to be good

There have been several incidents of bullying at the home. Staff have dealt with these incidents appropriately. The staff have worked with the children involved to ensure that they are all listened to. A child said that things are now a lot better and they can talk to staff if they feel worried.

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improvement to be good

The children know how to make a complaint. They say that they can speak to staff or write to the responsible individual if they want to raise concerns. Leaders and managers deal with complaints quickly and children are informed of the outcome.

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good

Monitoring by the leaders and managers has not been effective. Monitoring lacks rigour and fails to identify shortfalls. There is a lack of managerial oversight of records and the quality of care. Leaders and managers do not ensure that incidents are accurately recorded. As a result, they do not identify trends or patterns. Monitoring does not contribute to identifying where improvements are needed or generate actions to address shortfalls.

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good

Leaders and managers have failed to promptly submit notifiable safeguarding concerns to Ofsted. This affects Ofsted’s ability to monitor the provider’s responses to safeguarding incidents.

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good

Leaders and managers do not ensure that all staff receive regular supervision. One member of staff has only had four supervisions since starting work at the home in December 2021. Another member of staff did not have supervision for five months. A third member of staff did not have supervision for three months. This does not provide staff with the support they require. Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 5 Staff benefit from a range of training that is relevant to the needs of the children. The manager ensures that all staff receive training that is specific to the needs of individual children before the children move into the home.

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good

Leaders and managers have good relationships with external professionals. The independent person’s monthly reports are comprehensive and give clear guidance when there are shortfalls. Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 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 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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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)(v)(vii)) 8 June 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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 the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h)) 8 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 8 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 7 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e)) 8 June 2023

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)) 8 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 8 In particular, ensure that windows in bedrooms prevent cold and drafts and that repainting is carried out where necessary.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 8 June 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children contribute to their records on a regular basis in a way that reflects their voice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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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: 2569520 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lavender Grove Cares

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Gothic Cottage, Moreton Road, Ongar CM5 0EZ

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2569520 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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