Children's home run by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Cornwall

Inspection report for children’s home: SC428956 1 SC428956 Registered provider: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The service provides short-break care for up to two children each night. Children who are referred to this service live with their parents. Children may have learning disabilities and/or challenging behaviours, and they may also have some ongoing healthcare needs. The service is managed by an NHS foundation trust.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since May 2013. They also manage a sister home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

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

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 22 November 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC428956 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2022 Full Good 26/10/2021 Full Good 08/10/2019 Full Good 25/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC428956 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home is well maintained, and many photos of children enjoying short breaks are displayed in the lounge. Some areas are bright and welcoming for children and others are not. For example, children are not able to access the upstairs of the home, which limits possible social space for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a large garden area that houses play equipment, a summerhouse and a recently sourced basket swing, which is a favourite activity for one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers have a good understanding of children’s complex needs and how to meet them. Children are supported to try new experiences, such as swimming, and they enjoy trips to the theatre, parks, soft play, the arcade and many other fun activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from stable and long-term relationships with carers. Furthermore, one child has visited a carer who left the home in the Isles of Scilly. A further visit is planned to take place soon. The child greatly enjoyed this experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children were seen to enjoy time with carers at the home. This included one child swinging with a carer on the basket swing and listening to heavy metal music, which enabled them to visibly relax. This was very nurturing for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite staffing shortages, no stays have been cancelled or postponed since the previous inspection. This has ensured important consistency for children. Carers are also supporting one child to move on to adult services well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Beautiful memory books are compiled for children, which demonstrate their enjoyment of their short breaks at the home. These books include important narrative and carers’ names, which supports memory recollection for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is no independent advocacy for children, despite a referral being placed for one child a few months ago, which has not been followed up.

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improvement to be good

Due to one child’s complex needs, they wear a splint on one arm to prevent self- injurious behaviour. This restriction is closely monitored through restrictive practice review meetings, in which carers play an active role. One senior carer knows this child well and advocates strongly for them. During these meetings, all other restrictive practice for this child is carefully reviewed. This includes the use of visual monitoring throughout the night. Inspection report for children’s home: SC428956 4 Children are supported well to make progress in many areas, such as toileting and with their diets. One child was also previously unable to tolerate water. This child now enjoys swimming and can shower.

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improvement to be good

Not all risk assessments for children are specific to their individual needs. In one example, the risk assessment that has been devised does not reflect the change in a child’s growth and subsequent needs. Overall, risk assessments are not reviewed and updated in a timely way.

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improvement to be good

Throughout the downstairs of the home, window restrictors are in place, including in children’s bedrooms. This restrictive practice has not been risk assessed or reviewed in line with the specific needs of children. Cabinets in children’s bedrooms are also locked, including televisions being locked behind a clear window. Locked doors throughout the home do not always meet children’s needs.

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improvement to be good

Carers have a good understanding of all aspects of children’s lives, such as the school day and the home environment. When concerns are apparent, carers contact other professionals. However, not all staff are clear about how to escalate safeguarding concerns. For example, safeguarding concerns are not always escalated to a qualified social worker.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post for 10 years. This has provided important consistency and stability for both children and carers. The staff explain that they are well supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s complex needs are understood and supported well. There is a consistent drive to support them to enjoy new experiences and make progress from their starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment practice is in line with safer recruitment. No concerns were identified. Carers’ training is also closely monitored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are mixed in quality. Some have a limited narrative and do not provide enough details, for example of observations of children’s presentation during feeds or who was present when medication was given. In contrast, some records provide a vivid narrative of children’s experiences, including how they communicate when they are enjoying themselves. Furthermore, management oversight of daily logs and case records does not always promote learning opportunities for carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Independent visits to the home are completed. However, they are not child-focused, as they are pre-arranged and, at times, take place when children are not present. This has not been challenged by the registered manager effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Positive feedback was received from both a parent and a professional about the care provided by staff to children. A child also spoke fondly of their stays. Inspection report for children’s home: SC428956 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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, restrictions in the home, such as window restrictors and locked cabinets in children’s bedrooms, must be assessed in line with children’s needs. 23 August 2023

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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—

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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

take effective action whenever there is a concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all risk assessments must be used effectively to ensure that they are in line with children’s needs and reviewed in a timely way.

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Requirement Due date

All staff must be clear about safeguarding procedures and how to manage such concerns. 23 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC428956 6 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. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) 23 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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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.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 23 August 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children can access advocacy support, and they should consider the use of an independent advocate where necessary. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 23, paragraph 4.18)  The registered person should ensure that children have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning unless there are specific Inspection report for children’s home: SC428956 7 safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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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: SC428956 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Trust Head Office, Carew House, Beacon Technology Park, Dunmere Road, Bodmin PL31 2QN

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Inspectors

Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Sarah Sheffield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC428956 9 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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