Children's Home run by Orchard Children Homes Ltd in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2680525 1 Registered provider: Orchard Children Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to two children who have emotional and social needs.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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: 31 January 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: 2680525 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2680525 3

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improvement to be good

This home is not yet delivering good help and care for all children. Children have had mixed experiences of living at this home. Some children, with complex needs and histories, have not made good progress and have left the home in an unplanned manner. This means signficant change for them and they have not experienced stability or continuity of care.

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improvement to be good

Children have not always benefited from carefully planned transitions into the home. There has not been robust information-sharing or sufficient preparation and training for staff to understand and respond to children’s complex needs and to manage risks.

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improvement to be good

Staff have worked well with external agencies to promote the children’s educational attendance and participation. Staff have supported children who previously had gaps in educational attendance and low confidence in their abilities. Managers have successfully and proactively advocated for one child to be assessed for an education, health and care plan due to his needs. Children have improved participation in education and have made progress. Staff contribute to multi-agency meetings and ensure recommendations are acted on.

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improvement to be good

Staff work with children to develop good routines, using weekly planners with guidance notes to support consistent care and boundaries. Children contribute to their plans and to decisions about their care arrangements.

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improvement to be good

Staff are trained in a specific therapeutic parenting approach that supports them to build nurturing and positive relationships with children. A psychologist is commissioned by the service to provide consultation with managers and staff and this enhances their understanding of children’s needs and behaviours.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to access universal health services and are referred to specialist services when this is necessary. Children’s health has improved because of improved sleep routines and diet and participating in activities and exercise.

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improvement to be good

Following an incident of poor administration of medication, managers undertook a robust investigation. Staff have received refresher training in administration of medication and recording practice. There was no impact to a child.

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improvement to be good

Some children have not been settled at this home. Following some children’s admission, further challenging behaviours have emerged in addition to already known behaviours, which have presented risks to children and others. Inspection report for children's home: 2680525 4 One child initially made progress but went on to develop mental health and emotional well-being difficulties that exacerbated risk-taking behaviours. Staff did not have the experience, skills or strategies to respond effectively to manage or meet this child’s complex needs. Following a significant incident when the police supported staff to keep the child safe, the decision was made for the child to move out of the home.

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improvement to be good

Another child who moved the home had known complex needs and behaviours, including the impact of previous experiences of changes of carers and placements. There were insufficient staff with the skills and experience to meet the specific needs of this child. There have been occasions when the police have been called to support staff to keep this child safe. On these occasions, there has been the risk of this child being arrested and charged because of their behaviours.

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improvement to be good

There have been occasions when staff have used physical restraint to prevent children from harming themselves and staff. The criteria have been met for the use of physical restraint. However, the review of practice found that there were missed opportunities to intervene sooner to prevent children’s behaviours from escalating. Some records contain insufficient detail to demonstrate timely interventions by staff to manage children’s behaviour. On one occasion, the manager was involved in the use of a physical restraint and then reviewed this intervention. This is not robust quality assurance to support safe practice.

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improvement to be good

There are safe recruitment practises to ensure staff working with children are suitable. Timely maintenance and repairs have been carried out in the home to ensure the environment is safe following damage caused by children.

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improvement to be good

The children have detailed and up-to-date risk and behaviour management plans that support staff to keep them safe. Staff include children’s views and experiences in their plans. Children know what behaviours and risks adults are worried about. Staff work with them to support and keep them safe.

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good

The registered manager is experienced and is undertaking a relevant qualification. Staff are also undertaking a relevant qualification for working in residential care. The manager is tracking the progress of staff in achieving this important qualification and providing additional support if required.

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good

An unsettled period in the home has had some impact on staff morale and resilience. There have been some changes to the staff team, and some staff sickness. This means agency staff and staff from other homes in the organisation have been used. This has had an impact on the continuity of care. Reflective practice sessions following incidents involving one child acknowledged that the staff changes had exacerbated behaviours that presented risks for the child. Inspection report for children's home: 2680525 5 As a result of unplanned endings for two children, managers have undertaken lessons-learned exercises. In relation to one child, this included meeting with the local authority to review information shared prior to admission and the impact on the child of having to move on from this home. Managers understand that consultation with external agencies is crucial when admitting children.

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good

As a result of these learning reviews, changes have been made to improve pre- admission information gathered and general information-sharing with external agencies. There has also been training to enhance staff’s skills in working with children with specific needs. Managers have implemented changes to improve communication in the team to ensure improved consistency of care.

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good

Staff have been generally positive about support from managers, and they receive regular individual supervision. Supervision includes the opportunity for reflective practice discussions and covers development and staff welfare. Managers address staff responsibilities and performance, and set targets and actions to improve practice.

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good

There are a range of quality assurance mechanisms in place that support managers to monitor the care and progress of children. There is a development plan for the home that is regularly reviewed. The independent visitor provides detailed reports that are balanced and include constructive feedback, and support compliance with regulations. Team meetings and practice workshops are used to address shortfalls in skills and knowledge and develop practice.

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good

Managers have undertaken lessons-learned exercises after two children moved on from the home when it was decided that the home was not meeting their needs. There is evidence of challenge to improve open and transparent communication with the relevant local authorities. There has been learning about the importance of planned admissions to the home and robust, proactive information-sharing about children’s needs, histories, risks and behaviours. Managers recognise staff require training to meet the specific needs of children before those children move into the home.

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good

There is good and improving partnership working with education settings, the virtual school, local police, health professionals, social workers and a range of specialist services to support plans and progress for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2680525 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, 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 within 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 (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Managers should ensure staff training and supervision of practice supports effective use of de-escalation techniques and confident judgements about the use of physical restraint.

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Requirement Due date

Managers should ensure staff understand their responsibilities to accurately record details of the use of physical restraint. 4 September 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 4 September 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2680525 7 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring staff have received training to meet the specific needs of children moving into the home.

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Requirement Due date

Managers should ensure that there are sufficient staff to provide continuity of care to meet the assessed needs of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c)) 4 September 2023

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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: 2680525 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Orchard Children Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Orchard Children Homes Ltd, 2nd Floor, 118 Calais Road, Burton-on-Trent DE13 0UW

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Inspector

Cathey Moriarty, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2680525 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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