Children's home run by Platform Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 15 July 2022.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 7 November 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2022 Full Good 21/09/2021 Full Good 27/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and one child has moved on from the home. At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Inspectors observed children’s positive relationships with staff. Children enjoy cooking, playing games and spending time with staff. One child, who moved into the home at the time of the inspection, said that they have trust with one staff member and that the staff are very good. Staff work hard to build trusting relationships with children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have education places. One child, who recently moved into the home, is due to look around a new school. One child has completed 10 GCSE exams and has applied and been offered a place on a health and social care course at college. Another child has significantly improved their education attendance since moving to the home. Children are making good progress with education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities and clubs, including youth club, boxing, swimming, football and day trips. One child is looking forward to attending their school prom and celebrations for their birthday. Children take part in enriching and enjoyable activities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have specific religious and cultural needs. Staff of the same religion celebrated with children for the week of Eid. This included a balloon arch, fasting, prayers and mehndi painting. One child said that staff fasted and prayed with them and that is increasing the child’s understanding of their own cultural needs. Staff encourage, understand and celebrate children’s religious and cultural activities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have planned moves into and out of the home. One child said that they were made to feel welcome by staff when they moved in. The child said that this support has helped them to settle in. A child who moved on from the home was helped to develop their independence skills and was well prepared with a gradual move from the home to semi-supported living. Children have positive experiences of moving into and out of the home. Children who move on from the home are well prepared for independent living.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are generally met well. They attend routine health appointments. One child is engaging with therapy. However, one child, who is due a health review, does not yet have a set appointment date. Staff encourage good sleep hygiene. However, this has meant that children are going to bed earlier than they should be for their individual developmental needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s photos and artwork are displayed, which makes the atmosphere homely. The kitchen provides a sense of homeliness. Staff and children were observed to be Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 4 baking, laughing and enjoying time together. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and well kept. At the time of the inspection, one child, who had recently moved into the home, had chosen the colour of paint for their bedroom, had posters ordered and was having some repairs to maintain their bedroom. However, paintwork needs refreshing in some communal areas, a carpet is stained and the gardens need some attention. This detracts from an otherwise well-kept environment.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been a decline in the effectiveness of safeguarding despite the experience of managers and safeguarding training.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been two allegations from children that were notified to relevant professionals. However, the allegations have not been managed well or in line with the home’s safeguarding policy. Children have been questioned by the previous manager and senior managers and asked to role play the allegation made. This could make children feel like they are not believed and could be traumatising for the child. Children need to feel safe, reassured and supported in a non-judgemental way. There has been no learning for managers from these incidents.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been two occasions when children have been missing from home. Staff managed the incidents well and reassured the children on their return. However, the manager has delayed requesting independent return home interviews and these have not taken place.

p.4

improvement to be good

The manager reviews the suitability of the home’s location yearly. She has considered relevant risks in the local area. However, some of the information needs updating and details of police feedback need to be included in the report.

p.4

improvement to be good

There has been one incident of physical intervention since the last inspection. This was proportionate and necessary. Staff helped the child to reflect on the incident and the manager debriefed the staff.

p.4

improvement to be good

One child has complex risks around internet safety. The manager has ensured that the child had support from social workers and police. The child has been supported to understand and manage risks through key work and online training on relevant risks.

p.4

improvement to be good

Behaviour support plans and risk assessments are personalised and individual to the children’s needs. They give staff clear guidance to help children to use self-soothing strategies and manage their feelings safely.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left in July 2022. The provider recruited a new manager without delay, who applied to register with Ofsted. There was a delay in the registration process due to administration issues which were out of the manager’s Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 5 control. The manager withdrew her application in February 2023 before registering. Following this, the provider appointed another permanent manager, who has been in post since February 2023. She has applied to register with Ofsted and her registration interview is due to take place imminently. The new manager has completed a relevant level 5 diploma and is awaiting her certificate. She has several years’ experience of working with children. The manager is supported by two deputy managers, a senior manager and a quality assurance manager.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children very well. Managers and staff are child focused. They have high aspirations for children to succeed and achieve good-quality outcomes. The manager has quickly identified staff’s strengths and areas for development since her arrival. She has addressed the requirement and the three recommendations raised at the last inspection.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that staff understand and use the home’s therapeutic resilience model in working with the children. New members of staff are helped to learn and understand the model and how this is implemented in day-to-day practice. Children benefit from this support and approach.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they receive good-quality supervision. The records are clear and concise. Staff feel well supported by the managers, including the responsible individual and the area manager. Staff spoken with said that the manager has made improvements in consistency and communication. As a result, staff morale is good. Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended by staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive a comprehensive in-house induction. Training is generally very good. Staff either have or are working towards a relevant level 3 qualification. However, one staff member has not achieved a level 3 qualification within the required time frame.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is appropriately staffed. Rotas are carefully planned so that there is a mix of experienced and qualified staff on each shift. Staff are suitably vetted and safer recruitment processes are robust. Children receive consistent and safe care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An in-house experienced quality assurance manager makes weekly visits to provide support, evaluation and challenge to the manager. The independent person provides good-quality reports that include feedback from children, parents and professionals and provide the manager with recommendations for improvements.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two complaints from children were investigated effectively and appropriately by the area manager. Both complaints were upheld and the children were informed of the outcome of their complaints in writing. Appropriate action was taken and lessons were learned following these complaints. Children feel listened to and heard.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Generally, children’s records are up to date, clear and accurate. However, on one occasion, police visited a child, but this was not recorded. Therefore, it was unclear that this visit had taken place. Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that if children make allegations, they are reassured and do not feel judged by managers and that managers follow the reporting processes. 21 June 2023

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment that meets children’s needs. In particular, ensure that the home is decorated to a good standard throughout, communal carpets are kept clean, and the gardens are weeded and kept tidy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should organise and ensure each child’s attendance at the necessary primary and secondary health services. In particular, ensure that children’s yearly health assessments are booked and attended and that sleep hygiene is promoted in line with children’s individual development needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.11)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity

p.6

Recommendations

for the child to have an independent return home interview. The home should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.23) Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 7  The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant time frame listed in regulation 32(5). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the

p.6

Recommendations

quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that their review of the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises includes up-to-date identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and includes content of any feedback provided by professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

p.7

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: 1264286 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 2, First Floor, Millennium Court, First Avenue, Centrum 100, Burton-upon-Trent DE14 2WH

p.8

Inspectors

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Emily Stevens, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 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.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9