Children's Home run by Grace Care Limited in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 1 SC436818 Grace Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The directors of the organisation have recently submitted a voluntary cancellation form for the home. This is currently being considered by Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The interim manager was present during this visit and was supported by the responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the provider’s compliance with a notice restricting accommodation at the home. No children have moved into the home and the manager is complying with the notice. The notice will remain in place as the home is not able to allow new children to move into the home.

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This monitoring visit

All children living at the home are subject to child protection investigations. This is in response to a whistle-blower’s concerns and observations of poor staff practice. Although Ofsted is not investigating these matters directly, Ofsted has attended and contributed information to the relevant strategy meetings. These investigations have not yet been concluded.

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This monitoring visit

Internal investigations into staff practice and management responses have not been carried out in accordance with the directions of the local authority designated officer. Consequently, this has compromised the external investigation of these matters. A new investigation is being carried out by an agency external to the home and the manager is awaiting a conclusion. This will be shared with the local authority designated officer who has had oversight of all the previous concerns. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 2 Children were observed to be engaging positively with staff and appeared settled. Children’s relationships have started to improve. They have recently been on a holiday together, which was positive. As a result, the home is more settled and there has been a recent reduction in incidents.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s plans and risk assessments have been updated and are kept under regular review. They accurately reflect the care needs of the children and provide staff with clear strategies to support children. However, not all staff have read these plans, which could lead to inconsistencies in care and behaviour management.

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This monitoring visit

Children are regularly consulted with, and staff have used communication aids to support children’s views to be heard. Children have access to an independent advocate who visits them regularly. Children’s social workers are visiting on a weekly basis to monitor the care that children are receiving.

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This monitoring visit

Leadership and management remain weak. However, they are trying to implement and effect change. Some positive improvements have been seen, for example in care records, and there is now a register of children in the home. Monitoring systems that have been implemented have not been used effectively to identify shortfalls, such as poor recording of an incident and incomplete recording of daily records. This means that the manager does not have clear or effective oversight of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have not completed mandatory and required additional training despite the manager’s direction to do so. This means that staff are not improving and developing their knowledge and understanding of the children’s complex needs. Staff have not read essential policies as requested, which limits their understanding of the expectations of them and their role in protecting children.

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This monitoring visit

There remains a disconnect between the managers and the staff team. Some staff have not responded to or followed management requests and direction. Staff are not being challenged or held to account for not completing expected tasks and training. This is affecting the manager’s ability to drive and sustain improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Not all the previous statutory requirements were reviewed during this visit. These have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/05/2023 Full Inadequate 12/04/2023 Full Inadequate 17/01/2023 Full Inadequate 05/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 4

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 24 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 5 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

that the care meets the child’s needs. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(ix)(c)(i)(ii) (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s care plans accurately reflect their care needs, are agreed with placing local authorities and shared with other professionals and the staff team.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that: risk assessments are reflective of the children’s needs; poor practice concerns raised are addressed effectively; and internal investigations assure professionals that safe and consistent care is being provided. 24 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 6 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

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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’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that leaders implement systems and processes to monitor the home effectively, address staffing concerns and make sure that all staff receive suitable training. 24 July 2023

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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 develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (d)) 24 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 7 This specifically relates to working with external agencies around the care and protection of children.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff support children to interact positively with each other and that children’s plans are kept up to date. 24 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document. (Regulation (7)(1)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that children are regularly consulted with about their care and that their views are acted on. It 24 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 8 also relates to ensuring that the children’s guide is updated to reflect the communication needs of the children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff have an appraisal. 24 July 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: SC436818 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 Boundary Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7DB

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Inspector

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC436818 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 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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