Children's Home run by Courtyard Care Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 1 Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an interim manager in post who has not applied for registration with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 2

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inadequate

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. The children appeared to be happy and relaxed, and the home is well maintained. However, widespread failures in the quality of care have been identified during this inspection that compromise the experiences and safety of children.

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inadequate

Children’s care plans have not been adapted to ensure that they are accessible for the children based on their individual needs. This limits children’s ability to provide feedback to influence their care and to understand their progress.

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inadequate

During the inspection, the managers told the inspector that they could no longer meet one child’s needs. This is due to the child’s increasing incidents of violence and their detached relationship with the other child living in the home. Currently, the children living in the home do not wish to spend any time together and carry out all activities and routines separately. The managers are working with the child’s local authority to identify an alternative home.

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inadequate

Children access education and are making progress. Staff support children to attend education full time. Children are working towards appropriate qualifications and developing their skills. Education staff say that communication with the staff is good.

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inadequate

Staff help children to engage in meaningful activities at the home and in the community. The children enjoy visiting sensory play centres, local castles and the village park. The children now benefit from a well-equipped sensory room which they use regularly.

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inadequate

Staff support children to spend time with people who are important to them, and staff ensure that this is a positive experience for children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The managers’ and staff’s management of risk is inadequate. Staff do not implement the strategies in children’s risk assessments. For example, due to the vulnerabilities of the children, their risk assessments state that staff should complete daily body maps. This is to identify injuries or bruises on the children. However, staff do not consistently complete body maps and this poor practice has not been addressed by managers.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not always record the bruises and marks they find on children or explore how they have occurred. Staff do not offer children medical attention when marks are found. In addition, the manager has not taken action to establish how the marks have occurred and has failed to ensure that children’s social workers are notified of unexplained marks. This poor practice does not allow managers and other Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 3 professionals to establish if the child has come to harm and if they are at risk of further harm. This prevents actions from being put in place to protect the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers do not consider all the children’s needs before a child moves into the home. For example, managers failed to consider the impact of the children living together, despite both children having complex needs. As a result, staff are not provided with relevant information to support meaningful relationships and to consider suitability. This poor approach to the assessment of risk has been a factor in the children negatively impacting on each other’s well-being.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers do not always take appropriate action when concerns are raised by children about staff practice. On one occasion, the responding manager failed to notify the local authority designated officer (LADO) of an allegation against a staff member. When the manager identified that the LADO had not been informed, they then failed to refer this information on. As a result, the allegation was not referred to the appropriate agencies or investigated until it was identified at this inspection.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Ofsted was not notified about the allegation against a member of staff. This poor practice prevents the regulator from establishing if children are safe and, when necessary, taking action to protect them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children are not always made aware of the outcome of the allegations or concerns they report. This does not reassure children that managers hear and understand their concerns and will take action to address them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The manager does not have sufficient oversight of restraint practice in the home. Staff have been blocking children’s movements around the home as an alternative to physically restraining children. Although this has less of a physical impact on the children, there is no clear guidance on when and how staff should do this. This risks this approach being used inappropriately and inconsistently. In addition, records of these actions and physical restraints do not demonstrate consideration of whether the restraint was proportionate or appropriate. Some records do not indicate the time and location of the restraint. This does not help the manager and other professionals to understand if restraint practice in the home is necessary and appropriate.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers have failed to implement a safe and clear protocol to ensure that they have suitable oversight of children’s medication. The method used to audit children’s medication is ineffective. In addition, when medication errors take place, the manager does not investigate how these have occurred, to prevent them from happening again. The manager also failed to notify children’s parents and relevant professionals of these concerns. This does not reassure managers, professionals and parents that medication administration practices are safe and that children are receiving their medication as prescribed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers and staff do not consider the reasons behind children’s behaviours or review their responses to support children more effectively when they become distressed. For example, one child repeatedly hits their head when distressed. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 4 managers and staff have not sought to understand the triggers for this behaviour or reviewed their interventions to understand how to best to support the child when distressed. In addition, on these occasions there had been no consideration as to whether the child required medical attention. This poor practice does not support staff to improve how they respond to and support children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff lock external doors to prevent children leaving the home. The manager has not updated the children’s individual risk assessments to reflect the need for this restriction and monitoring. As a result, there is the possibility that this measure is used unnecessarily.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since registration, there have been significant changes in the leadership and management of the home. A new manager has been appointed but has yet to apply for registration with Ofsted. The acting manager acknowledged the failures identified at this inspection. They are determined to rectify the regulatory breaches and, during inspection, took immediate action to compile a plan that detailed the improvements they were proposing to take.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff told the inspector that the acting manager is approachable and supportive. During the period of change between managers, managers requested staff feedback and held a reflective workshop to reassure staff. This helped managers promote stability in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers are not providing staff with regular supervision sessions in line with the home’s workforce development plan. One staff member received no supervision sessions for three months, despite being in their induction period. This is a missed opportunity to reflect on long-term development needs and does not ensure that the competency of staff is adequately assessed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not received training to respond to all the children’s needs. For example, some staff still require training in delivering personal care and supporting children who self-harm. The managers have plans to ensure that this shortfall is rectified, and appropriate training has been identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s case files do not contain all the required information. For example, not all the children’s education plans and care plans are in place. The manager has escalated this with the children’s placing authority. However, the information has still not been provided. This does not ensure that staff and children have access to all the information to inform children’s care experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight of the home is inadequate. Monitoring and review systems are not being used, and shortfalls found at this inspection had not been identified by leaders and managers. The poor oversight of leaders and managers has led to ineffective action to address unsafe practice and to ensure that children are safeguarded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 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

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

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to staff supporting children to understand their care plans and records. 10 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

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; 10 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 6 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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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; and

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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)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that allegations made by children are referred to the LADO, in line with safeguarding procedures, and the outcome is shared with children.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that risk assessments include all information about known risks to the child and set out clear guidance for staff about how to manage and reduce these risks.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that systems are in place to identify and act on unexplained marks and bruises on children.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that there are systems in place to monitor and review children’s experiences and understand what is happening for children.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to identify risk and keep children safe.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; and 10 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 7 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; and

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that all staff have received training which is specific to the needs of the children.

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place and when shortfalls are identified prompt action is taken to address these.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children. (Regulation 24 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the practice of locking doors is only used as set out in a child’s agreed risk assessment. 10 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; 10 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 8 within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that records of interventions used are clear and that the home’s behaviour management practice reflects the strategies used in the home.

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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

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that medication is administered as prescribed and is stored safely. 10 August 2023

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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. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that all staff working in the home receive practice-related supervision. 10 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the need for the home to have children’s up-to-date care plans and education plans. 10 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 9

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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: 2709438 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Courtyard Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Siskin Drive, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry CV3 4FJ

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Inspectors

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Tara Weston, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2709438 11 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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