Children's Home run by Creating Care Choices Limited in Lewisham

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 1 Registered provider: Creating Care Choices Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to six children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2021. The manager registered on 22 September 2022.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were four children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

During the visit, the inspector was aware that a serious incident was under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, the inspector considered the actions the home has taken in response to the incident, alongside other relevant evidence available to them.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 16 and 17 May 2023. As a result, two compliance notices were issued, under regulations 12 and 13 of The Children’s Homes Regulations (England) 2015.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the progress made against the compliance notices and the requirements raised at the full inspection. The inspector found that satisfactory progress has been made in meeting the compliance notices.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home, and no new children have moved in. The children who remain in the home are making good progress. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 2 Since the full inspection, there have been no significant incidents that required the involvement of the police or to be notified to Ofsted. There have been no recorded incidents of children going missing from care or incidents that raise concerns about the children’s care.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made some improvements to children’s records. Records of incidents are now signed by their author and there is improved consistency between the records, rotas and staff signing-in book. However, some daily reports could not be provided during the inspection.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Fire doors are now kept closed and the fire extinguishers are safely stored and are accessible to staff. However, the fire risk assessment has not been reviewed within the set timescale.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The whistle-blowing policy has been updated and is included in the employee handbook and induction pack. Staff spoken to were able to demonstrate a good understanding of whistle-blowing procedures and what to do if they have a concern about leaders or managers.

p.2

This monitoring visit

No new staff have joined the team since the last inspection and leaders and managers no longer use agency staff. Staff know the children well and this helps to provide children with consistent care.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The lone-working risk assessment has been updated and now includes details of the action that staff should take in case of emergency when working alone at night. Since the full inspection, there has been one incident when a staff member had to seek support while working alone in the evening. This was due to one of the children displaying challenging behaviour. This was managed in line with the lone-working risk assessment. However, the risk assessment was not updated to reflect this new behaviour.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The quality of staff appraisals has improved and they now include the manager’s feedback about the staff member’s performance. However, appraisals do not include feedback from other professionals and children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the home environment. For example, new sofas and chairs have been purchased for the living room.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has made some progress in relation to addressing the requirements raised at the full inspection. However, further work is required to fully implement and embed the changes. Therefore, the requirements will remain in place and will be further reviewed at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Inadequate 25/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 4

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The 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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must have sufficient oversight of records, practices and incidents in the home. Leaders and managers must follow important recommendations from risk assessments. The registered manager must receive regular and effective supervision. 31 August 2023

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that staff— 31 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 5 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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is accurate recording of incidents and that they share important information. Leaders and managers must ensure that they continue reviewing procedures for staff working alone at night to reflect any significant incidents or new behaviours observed. Leaders and managers must ensure that the fire risk assessment is reviewed within set timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.5

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the matter; 31 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 6 the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.6

Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 31 August 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.6

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (2)(b) (4)(a)(b)) 31 August 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.6

Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 31 August 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 7 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that appropriate references are obtained and that gaps in employment are explored. The registered person must obtain satisfactory information about all agency staff working with children.

p.7

Recommendations

 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. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and of children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations,

p.7

Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that the responsible individual supervises the management of the home as set out in the definition of a responsible individual in regulation 2. The responsible individual should have an understanding of both effective practice in responding to the needs of looked after children and of local authority care planning duties and how children’s homes are required to support these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 60, paragraph 12.3)

p.7

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.

p.7

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Creating Care Choices Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 38 Castle Drive, Ilford, Essex IG4 5AE

p.8

Inspector

Aneta Wasilewska, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2642537 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

Inspector

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

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9