Children's Home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Medway

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 1 Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is run by a private organisation that operates several registered children’s homes. At the time of inspection there were five children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This home has not had a registered manager since 15 July 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 27 September 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 The home has had no responsible individual since June 2023.  The home has had a vacant registered manager post since July 2022.  Ongoing leadership changes have had a detrimental impact on children’s ability to trust staff and rely on decisions being made about them.  Ofsted has not been made aware of a significant incident.  Language used by staff towards children is negative and not supportive.  Medication storage is ineffective.  The vehicles used to transport children are not safe.

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The care of children

Children’s relationships with staff have been detrimentally impacted by the inconsistent management arrangements over recent months. This has meant that children are unsure of who to go to when they have concerns as they are given inconsistent responses.

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The care of children

Children have raised concerns with staff about how they are spoken to by them, explaining that, on occasion they feel mocked. Other concerns raised by children include, that on one occasion staff knocked on their bedroom door and went in without giving thought to a child getting changed or respecting their privacy and dignity. Children have not received an adequate response to these concerns.

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The care of children

Children’s views are captured through one-to-one sessions and children’s meetings. However, children’s meetings are inconsistent, with sometimes months between meetings, and are not followed up regarding the actions raised. This does not allow children to feel that their views are important, heard and acted on.

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The care of children

One-to-one sessions do happen regularly and demonstrate that children are consulted with in relation to activities, choices and the care they receive. However, some of the language that is recorded by staff in these sessions is challenging of children and does not support or encourage children to voice their needs or concerns. Consequently, children’s voices are not heard. This has not been identified, as leadership and management arrangements are poor.

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The care of children

The home environment is tired and, in some places, damaged. However, a new interim manager and new area manager, who has been recently appointed, have already identified this. The organisation’s maintenance team has attended the home and there are plans in place to resolve the issues. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 3 The safe storage of medication is ineffective. This is because there is not enough space in the medication cupboard to store all medication. Staff did not demonstrate effective knowledge of administering medication during the inspection, with a child repeatedly reminding staff what was needed. This was not responded to effectively.

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The care of children

Children moving into the home are carefully considered. There is a good review of referral information, and this forms the basis of placement planning and initial risk assessments. Staff communicate effectively with social workers to ensure that they have all relevant information needed to make informed decisions. Following receipt of this information, a comprehensive impact assessment is completed, which ensures that leaders and staff can meet the needs of the child.

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The care of children

Four of the five children living in home make good educational progress. For the child who is not, they are well supported by staff, the organisation’s educational lead and external education professionals. This has enabled a support network that supports the child with re-engaging in education.

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The safety of children

Risks are well known and understood by staff. Incidents are responded to well and leaders ensure that there is guidance for staff when changes to a child’s behaviour occur.

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The safety of children

Staff advocate for children well when emerging safeguarding concerns are apparent. Children’s social workers and safeguarding professionals are held to account by leaders and staff, who ensure that actions completed are timely. However, an incident of significant concern regarding a child’s mental health and well-being was not notified to Ofsted. This hindered the regulator’s ability to monitor how the incident was managed.

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The safety of children

The car that is used to transport children is not safe. This is because a passenger door cannot be opened from the inside. Leaders are aware of this and are of the view that the car is not safe. However, the car continues to be used.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leadership arrangements for the home are ineffective. While a new interim manager and new area manager have been appointed, they have not had sufficient time to make the much-needed improvements. The home is currently without a responsible individual and interim arrangements have not ensured that a temporary appointment has been made while a permanent solution is found.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been a change in manager since the last inspection and this occurred prior to Ofsted assessing the fitness of the previous manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff do not receive regular supervision sessions. Supervision meetings are intermittent, and records demonstrate that some staff have only received one supervision session since the last inspection. This does not allow staff to reflect on Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 4 the challenges and successes they may have had in their work. It also denies leaders the opportunity to direct staff on an individual basis and support them in setting culture and expectations in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff who have completed their probation period have not had their performance suitably assessed. The was a requirement set at the last inspection and has not been adequately responded to. This requirement is repeated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Team meetings have not taken place consistently. As a result, the sharing of pertinent information regarding children has been compromised. This means there are no opportunities for staff to reflect on what has gone well and, as with supervision, there is a lack of opportunity for leaders to explain their expectations and what they hope the home will achieve. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/09/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 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

An organisation may only carry on a home if—

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Requirement Due date

the organisation has notified HMCI of the name, address and position in the organisation of the responsible individual. (Regulation 26 (4)(ii)) 30 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)) 30 August 2023

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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

treat each child with dignity and respect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)) 30 August 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 7 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that vehicles used to transport children and other passengers are safe. 30 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 30 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation. (Regulation 33 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is repeated. 30 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 30 August 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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 30 August 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 8 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b))

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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. (Regulation 23 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is sufficient storage for all medication in the home. 30 August 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home environment is nurturing, welcoming and supportive of children’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that staff record information regarding individual children in a non-stigmatising way. Furthermore, information about children must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 73 And 74 Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Ramsgate CT12 5GD

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Inspector

Mark Newington, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2572812 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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