Children's home run by Sunbridge Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 1 Sunbridge Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There were no children living in the home at the time of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

At the full inspection on 10 and 11 January 2023, the children’s home was judged inadequate as significant breaches in regulations relating to the leadership and management standard were identified. At a case review on 12 January 2023, it was agreed that compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13 would be issued.

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This monitoring visit

On 6 March 2023, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to review the provider’s response to meeting the steps identified in these compliance notices. Ofsted identified further significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice due to ineffective leadership and management arrangements. The provider failed to provide Ofsted with assurances that they could keep the children safe.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the significant shortfalls, a decision was made to immediately suspend the registration of the home on 6 March 2023. Ofsted also issued three compliance notices under regulations 6, 12 and 13. In addition, several additional requirements were issued.

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This monitoring visit

On 11 April 2023, Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit to check the provider’s compliance with the suspension notice and the progress made in meeting the steps Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 2 within the compliance notices. During this visit, Ofsted identified continued shortfalls in the leadership and management arrangements of the home. Ofsted made the decision to reissue three compliance notices under regulations 6, 12 and 13.

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This monitoring visit

On 22 May 2023, a further monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the provider’s compliance with the emergency suspension notice and its progress in meeting the compliance notices. The provider has complied with the emergency suspension notice as no children have been living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has improved the conditions of the home. The home environment has significantly improved. The provider has completed a full redecoration and deep clean of the home. Bedrooms present as warm and nurturing and contain the physical necessities should children be admitted to the home. Previously identified health and safety hazards have been rectified and furniture throughout has been replaced. The manager demonstrated that she has systems in place to ensure that the home is maintained to a high standard. Therefore, the compliance notice that was issued under regulation 6 has been met.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has improved the safeguarding arrangements for children. The provider has introduced new learning systems to strengthen the induction of new staff. This includes developing new systems that identify how the provider will train and upskill all staff to understand, and work in accordance with, the children’s risk assessments and the home’s policies and procedures to safeguard children. The guidance that is available to staff has been improved so staff know how to respond when significant safeguarding incidents occur. Therefore, the compliance notice that was issued under regulation 12 has been met.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has improved the leadership and management arrangements for the home. Therefore, the compliance notice that was issued under regulation 13 has been met.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has employed an experienced manager, who is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted. Furthermore, a deputy manager has been appointed and has commenced working in the home. The managers and the responsible person have implemented new systems to improve the day-to-day safe operation of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has employed six new members of staff. The staff members are experienced and hold the relevant qualification to care for children. During this visit, the inspector spoke with the six staff members, who commenced their two-week induction programme on 22 May 2023. This mandatory induction programme is due to be completed on 5 June 2023. The responsible person has provided assurances that no children will be admitted to the home until all six staff members have completed their induction programme.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements previously issued under regulations 5, 14, 26, 28, 35, 36 and 40 were not reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 3 The provider has an action plan to continue the improvement work in this home. This plan has been shared with Ofsted. Following a case review on 25 May 2023, it was agreed that the suspension notice would expire on 28 May 2023. The provider shared their intentions to notify Ofsted of any future admissions of children to the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/01/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 5

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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 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—

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the needs of the children are fully considered before they move into the home. In addition, the registered person must fully consider the needs of the children already living at the home and any other factors, such as recent incidents. 8 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 8 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 6 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

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that consequences used to manage negative behaviour are fully recorded in accordance with the regulation.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; 8 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 7 seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; and

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they escalate their concerns to the director of children’s services of the child’s placing local authority when key documents, such as health assessments, local authority looked after care plans and minutes of personal education meetings, are not received within a reasonable time frame.

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character. (Regulation 28 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the registered manager maintains accurate and up-to-date records and makes it explicitly clear when they have amended any records. 8 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c). (Regulation 26 (1) (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the responsible individual maintains accurate and up-to-date records and makes it explicitly clear when they have amended any records. 8 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and 8 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 8 are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that the children’s case records include a copy of their local authority looked after care plan, health assessments and the minutes of their personal education plan meeting.

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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

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

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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: 2686524 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sunbridge Childcare Limited

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2686524 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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