Children's home run by Evolve Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2677724 1 Evolve Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this visit, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this visit to review the care of the child living in the home and her safety, due to a significant incident occurring. Although the child received minor injuries during this incident, the outcome could have been substantially worse. When the incident happened, staff ensured that the child received appropriate medical attention and the help she needed.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector talked to the child, managers and staff, as well as a family member and the local authority team manager, in addition to reviewing relevant documentation and visiting the home.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to this incident, the child had been struggling to express her emotions safely, which developed into instances of staff being hurt and unable to de-escalate situations effectively. When the incident happened, staff could not have prevented this from occurring. However, the child had previously either taken, or expressed the likelihood of taking, actions that would compromise her safety. Despite this knowledge, sufficient safeguards were not consistently in place to deter such actions, namely securing window restrictors in some rooms on the first floor, including the child's bedroom and lounge. While managers had reviewed risks, they had not comprehensively risk assessed the environment, in conjunction with the child’s known vulnerabilities, to review appropriate restrictions in the home or discussed the management of these restrictions with those who have parental responsibility. At the time of the visit, managers had attended to most, but not all, of

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This monitoring visit

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2677724 2 the necessary environmental changes. However, following the visit, managers took swift action to address this.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, managers have reviewed incidents and considered carefully what could be done differently to plan effective care for the child. Managers and staff spend time with the child to understand her views, wishes and feelings and to help repair relationships when situations have escalated. Following the incident in question, multi-agency communication and safety planning took place to review the child’s care. Managers took action to review staffing arrangements so that the child has greater consistency of care by a smaller group of staff who can more confidently respond to her highly complex needs. In the very short time since this has been introduced, the child told the inspector that this change has made a positive difference for her. Incidents have also reduced.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have continued to provide regular supervision and training to equip staff to meet the child’s needs. Team meeting records show in-depth discussion and trauma-informed education to help staff to increase their knowledge and develop their skills. The manager also receives regular and helpful supervision and informal consultation to support him to carry out his role effectively.

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This monitoring visit

In the past two months, the managers and team have helped to unlock the potential for the child to make significant progress in her life. Following their persistent advocacy and encouragement, the child has received a diagnosis and has been helped to accept treatment. The child told the inspector that this change has made an incredible difference to her well-being. The child is also supported to have regular positive time with a family member, who staff work well with to help the child to consolidate relationships and understand her life history.

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This monitoring visit

The team manager and family member speak highly of the care provided by the home and of the team’s commitment and positivity towards the child.

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This monitoring visit

Managers notify Ofsted appropriately of all incidents but have delayed sending one notification by a week. This delay meant that Ofsted did not have the necessary information about the incident in a timely manner. The responsible individual acknowledged this regulatory shortfall and cited the time required to support the child and staff as the reason. However, managers’ contingency planning is required in such situations to ensure that Ofsted can carry out its role effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The previous requirements from the last inspection remain. The requirements in this report relate to this visit only. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2677724 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2677724 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 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 requires the registered person to ensure—

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager must carry out a comprehensive risk assessment and complete a management plan, which includes seeking the views of other professionals and the child, in relation to self-injury and regarding the nature, extent and type of any restrictions needed to keep the child safe. The registered manager must keep these assessments under review. 10 May 2023

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or 3 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2677724 5 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, notifications of incidents must be submitted to Ofsted without delay.

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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: 2677724 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Evolve Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite B, Blackdown House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2PX

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Inspector

Sarah Canto, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2677724 7 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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