Children's home run by Purple Oak Support

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 1 Registered provider: Purple Oak Support

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This six-bed home provides overnight short breaks and day care for children and young people aged from three to 19 years with additional and sometimes complex needs. There was one child using the service, on a long term basis, at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened on 12 February 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. The concerns related to a serious incident that occurred at the setting. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered, alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 7 November 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, Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 2 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: 2504775 3

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Findings from the inspection

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

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Findings from the inspection

 The serious incident that took place at the home was subject to investigation, by the appropriate authorities, at the time of the inspection.  The placement plan and risk assessment for a child are not robust and there are concerns that they have not been followed effectively. This is currently being considered as part of the ongoing investigation.

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The care of children

During the inspection, the provider was issued with a notice restricting accommodation at the home, due to the ongoing external investigations. This means that the provider cannot provide care and accommodation to any children, other than the child currently living in the home, while this notice is in place.

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The care of children

Children receive care that is individualised to meet their needs. Staff understand how children communicate their needs and wants and respond accordingly. Staff are aware of the complex care needs of children and strive to ensure that their plans are followed. Generally, children’s plans are detailed and specific to their individual needs. However, for one child, these plans lacked detail and have not always been closely followed.

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The care of children

Staff have strong relationships with parents of children who use the service. They keep parents informed of any concerns about their child and work with them to ensure that their child has a positive stay. Staff provide activities that allow the children to explore and enjoy their environment. The garden and all the activities available to them are firm favourites with the children. Children have fun with the staff.

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The care of children

There is a strong staff team in place. Staff work well together and talk positively of the work that they do with the children. They produce clear records of each child’s experience of their stay at the home. Staff interactions with children are warm and nurturing.

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The safety of children

Some children who use the service have complex health and care needs. Safety measures are designed to protect and safeguard each child at the home. For instance, bedroom door alarms are set at night for all children. This is because waking night staff is not routinely used and when a child opens their bedroom door at night this triggers the sleep-in staff to respond where necessary. However, this system is not effective for non-mobile children, who are unable to open their bedroom door independently and leave their bedrooms unaided. This is further Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 4 exacerbated if these children are also non-verbal, as they are unable to alert sleep- in staff that they need support. Some children have sleep systems that promote safe and comfortable rest, but they are not always used effectively.

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The safety of children

Children have individualised risk assessments that form part of their placement plans. However, one child’s risk assessment was not sufficiently comprehensive, and, consequently, a child suffered harm. The provider has since provided an action plan to Ofsted that gives assurance of the safety of the child who remains in the service.

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The safety of children

External professionals have not expressed any concerns about the care of children who access this service. One professional was confident in the care and progress of a child for whom they are responsible. This child continues to live in the home. use the home.

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The safety of children

Systems are in place to record and report any injury to a child. Incident reports are completed by staff and are detailed. There is oversight by the registered manager. Parents are informed of any injuries to their child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have a clear understanding of what the service does well and where it needs to improve. Following the recent serious incident and the identified shortfalls around the effectiveness of children’s plans, leaders and managers have started a review of the service. This includes what they need to change, and lessons learned. The review is ongoing and the outcome will be disseminated to staff and external professionals once concluded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers provide a supportive environment for staff. Following the recent incident, a trauma-informed debrief has been arranged for staff as a team and individually. Staff have access to an employee assistance programme. Staff are supportive of each other and work to promote well-being for those accessing the service and those who work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have been responsive to the requirements of the external investigation and have provided information as required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The requirements raised at the last full inspection were not reviewed at this inspection and therefore remain. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2022 Full Good 01/11/2021 Full Good 04/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/09/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager has oversight of children’s risk assessment records. 13 October 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from 13 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 7 harming each other;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers must ensure that staff have clear plans for how to support children when they display behaviour that challenges. If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 F1 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 particularly refers to ensuring that fire-evacuation procedures are explained to visitors on arrival at the home. It also refers to visitors signing in and out of the building. 13 October 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; 13 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 8 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 premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that arrangements for monitoring children overnight considers the individual needs of each child. Also, that individuals visiting the home have their identification checked before access to the home is permitted. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Andover & District Mencap, The Wellington Centre, Winchester Road, Andover Hampshire SP10 2EG

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2504775 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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Inspector

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