Children's Home run by Empower Residentials Limited in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 1 Registered provider: Empower Residentials Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The statement of purpose states that the home can provide care for two children who may have social and emotional needs or learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has resigned with her registration ending on 15 May 2023. A new manager has been recruited and is expected to start their induction on 28 May 2023.

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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 inadequate

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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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2023

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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: 2694810 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers recognised that they could not meet the needs of the child living at the home. As a result, the placing authority was given notice on the child’s placement. Senior leaders agreed to extend the notice period for the local authority to find a suitable alternative home for the child. Three days after the child left, a new child moved into the home. This child moved from the organisation’s outreach services. The child’s introduction into the home and those who would be caring for him was effective.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been several changes within the staff team. Efforts have been made to maintain continuity of care for the new child. However, several of the adults caring for the child are inexperienced temporary staff that have been redeployed from the organisation’s outreach services.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management of the child’s complex needs has been inconsistent. Some staff have successfully managed his needs, while others have been unable to maintain good routines and boundaries. Missing from home events have occurred, and staff have had to physically hold the child in a restraint to keep him safe and reduce the risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

A particular strength of the team is how it has helped the child maintain his relationship with his family. His mother shared that she values the support and encouragement provided by the team and is confident that her child is happy and safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff have successfully helped the child to enjoy a wide range of activities that have channelled his energy and provided him with new and exciting opportunities that he enjoys. The child’s daily activity schedule is extensive, which has improved his health, well-being and social skills.

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improvement to be good

Staff have used consequences on two occasions for what they have assessed as unwanted behaviour from the child. On both occasions, the child was consulted about what he considers to be an appropriate consequence. Despite this, the manager’s monitoring of these consequences did not consider if a restorative approach would be more effective than a financial reparation.

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improvement to be good

In the main, safeguarding procedures are followed when an allegation has been made. Records relating to one safeguarding concern managed by the previous registered manager do not detail sufficient information to support the outcome reached, for example if interviews were completed with the staff involved, or if the Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 4 child was spoken to during and after the internal investigation. Safeguarding concerns are now directly managed by the responsible individual, who has followed safeguarding procedures appropriately.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are in place for high-risk actions. These provide staff with some information that will help them recognise indicators of risk and what actions they should take. Despite this, risk assessments focus on historical information, and they do not provide staff with current information.

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improvement to be good

Staff report appropriately when a child has hurt or injured themselves. However, records of these incidents do not detail if the manager has monitored the reported injuries, or if those with parental responsibility have been informed.

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improvement to be good

The management of medication is effective. A new recording system has been introduced. There has been one reported medication error. Senior leaders investigated this error and took appropriate action in response. This error did not have a negative impact on the child’s health or well-being

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has resigned, with her registration ending on 15 May 2023. A new manager has been recruited and is expected to start their induction in May 2023. At this inspection, the responsible individual and deputy manager have taken over the leadership and management of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s workforce development plan written by the responsible individual clearly identifies the need to improve the recruitment and retention of staff. Similarly, it has been acknowledged that the current training courses provided for new and existing staff are not effective. In response, a new induction training plan is being introduced, which all staff are required to complete. In addition, the responsible individual has sourced specialist training courses that will help staff understand and respond to the child’s needs more effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

At this inspection, weaknesses identified relate specifically to the child being looked after by too many adults who have not completed basic mandatory or specialist training. In addition, there has been poor leadership and ineffective management monitoring of records, for example risk assessments and body maps. To date, these deficiencies have not had a direct impact on the child, but have the potential to do so if not rectified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual recognises the importance of taking the team on the home’s improvement journey. He has consulted with staff, observed practice, and shared his vision to improve the quality of care and support for the child living at the home. Plans are in place to improve monitoring of records completed by staff, and provide staff with opportunities to develop their skills through a new training programme. In addition, the organisation’s recruitment procedures are under review. Staff are embracing the proposed changes and feel included. They spoke positively Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 5 about the current support that they are receiving and the positive impact this has had on their confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings and supervision sessions take place regularly and, in the main, they are well attended. In recent weeks, the team members have been provided with improved opportunities to reflect as a team and learn from each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A parent shared her views on the support her child receives. She confirmed that the home communicates with her regularly, she is confident that her child is safe and that, from his starting point, he is making steady progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— An understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; 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 .

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that staff have the necessary skills to respond to the child’s behaviours and ensure that good routines and boundaries are set and implemented consistently. 30 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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 7 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; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(20(a)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that safeguarding records and risk assessments include sufficient details of current issues to ensure that they are useful documents that support staff’s care of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2694810 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Empower Residentials Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2 Prockters Farm Offices, West Monkton, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8QN

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Doville Vasiliauskaite

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 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

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