Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 1 SC030797 Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care for up to nine children with social, emotional and mental health needs. At the time of this inspection, there were five children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home registered with Ofsted in April 2016 and is suitably qualified.

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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 inadequate

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The provider has been issued with a notice restricting accommodation until 5 November 2023. Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Inadequate 21/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/07/2021 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, no children have moved out of the home. A restriction notice was issued following the last inspection to prevent any further children moving into the home and allow for a period of stability.

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improvement to be good

The home remains well presented and is a bright, well-furnished space for the children to live in. There are books, games and toys for the children to play with. The children have enjoyed a range of activities over the summer holidays, such as swimming and trips to the beach.

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improvement to be good

All children are making some progress. This is limited due to shortfalls in the care planning for the children, meaning staff are not always aware of the development needs and goals for the children to continue to make progress. However, senior leaders recognise that this needs to improve and have started to make plans to address this.

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improvement to be good

Four of the children have returned to school following the summer break. One child still has no formal education. However, senior leaders have advocated for the child with the host and placing local authority for a suitable school to be identified. There are plans in the interim to support a structured day for this child to engage in education with the staff at home.

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improvement to be good

The staff are not proactive in supporting some children’s identity. For example, one child who would like to attend church has been unable to do so as this clashes with the time they see their family. No alternative arrangements have been considered by the registered manager to allow this child to explore their faith.

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improvement to be good

The staff and children have regular meetings where the children’s views are sought, including their ideas on activities, meals and any changes taking place in the home.

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improvement to be good

The staff do not always respond consistently to the children with care and nurture. While the inspector observed some staff providing nurture and effective guidance to children, this was not consistent when staff were trying to uphold boundaries with a child.

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improvement to be good

There continue to be shortfalls in children’s plans regarding their health needs. For example, there is conflicting information across different care plans regarding one child’s allergies and doses of medication. Records are not consistently updated following changes to children’s healthcare needs, therefore, staff are being given confusing information. Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 4 Risk assessment plans have not adequately identified locked fire exits and mitigated this risk. Therefore, in the event of a fire, the home could not be safely evacuated. Arrangements were made during the inspection to take action to rectify this.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been one allegation made by a child. Senior leaders took appropriate action to safeguard the children and report and investigate this allegation, and they demonstrated appropriate safeguarding practice.

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improvement to be good

The area manager has ensured that staff understand their responsibilities regarding the provider’s whistle-blowing policy and what action to take if they have any safeguarding concerns.

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improvement to be good

The use of restorative consequences to support children in times of difficulty has improved. This includes matching the consequence to the behaviour, to provide a restorative approach so the children can learn about appropriate responses when they are struggling.

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improvement to be good

The staff ensure that records are completed following any restraints. These are also reviewed by the registered manager. Work has been undertaken with staff in team meetings to improve recording across all documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has resigned and will shortly be leaving the organisation. The area manager has stepped in to support the day-to-day management of the home. He has started to embed changes to the culture in the home and support the staff to provide consistent care to the children. There are plans to further develop the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager failed to take appropriate action following the previous inspection to report an allegation made by a child and ensure appropriate plans were put into place to safeguard the child. However, the area manager took action during this inspection to rectify this. Additionally, safeguarding measures were implemented and shared with the local authority designated safeguarding team and the child’s local authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

At the previous inspection, a requirement was made in relation to notifying Ofsted of an ongoing police investigation. The registered manager failed to ensure this notification had been made. The area manager took action during this inspection to rectify this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not made the necessary changes to update all children’s care plans so that they reflect current staff practice. This means children receive inconsistent care, as plans to guide staff are confusing, which is limiting children’s progress. This requirement was raised at the last full inspection and is repeated. Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 5 The registered manager has increased the frequency of staff supervision and staff say they have regular supervision. However, no records of supervision are available as the registered manager has not yet completed these. The staff and registered manager have still not received their annual appraisal. This requirement was raised at the last full inspection and is repeated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual has increased their direct oversight of the home and made arrangements to have regular discussions with the registered manager and to visit the children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has implemented new ways of working to improve their monitoring and oversight of the care for children. This is in the early stages of development and there are plans to develop senior staff to support this. However, some requirements made at the previous inspection have not been met. For example, children’s plans have been updated but are incorrect or not reflective of current practice. Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 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 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

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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider should ensure children receive consistent care that promotes their welfare and is personalised to meet their needs. 27 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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 each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)) 27 October 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 7 In particular, the registered person should ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

children’s plans are updated, in collaboration with children and their social care professionals, to reflect their current care needs;

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Requirement Due date

health plans are updated with children’s current health needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

This specifically relates to the records of children’s medication containing updated and accurate information. 27 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the locking of external doors used as fire escapes. 29 September

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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

In particular, the registered provider should ensure records are available to demonstrate effective supervision and appraisal have taken place.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 October 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 8

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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: SC030797 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited, 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC030797 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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