Children's home run by Seva Childcare Ltd Assurance visit report: 2548794 9

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548794 1

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Seva Childcare Ltd

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run home for up to five children. The home cares for children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this monitoring visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2020. The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

During this monitoring visit, inspectors were aware that new serious allegations had been made anonymously against staff members at the setting. The allegations were under investigation by the appropriate authorities. 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, where appropriate, alongside other evidence available at the time of the visit to inform the inspectors’ judgements.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken as a result of Ofsted being notified of serious allegations made against staff and managers at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have responded promptly to the safeguarding allegations. They have worked in close partnership with safeguarding professionals, including the local authority designated officer (LADO). Leaders and managers have completed internal investigations and are implementing an action plan to ensure the safety of children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are in the process of improving the development opportunities and support offered to the staff team. They plan to provide staff with regular, reflective supervision and external safeguarding training. This will monitor Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548794 2 staff’s understanding of safe care practices and check that staff are implementing learning from training effectively. Staff spoken to showed an appropriate understanding of safeguarding procedures and did not raise any safeguarding concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers work well with other professionals, including social workers, the LADO, and families. Working collaboratively enables the team around the child to strive towards helping children in a more coordinated and effective way. Professionals and parents are very positive about the care provided to children. However, leaders and managers did not share information about an internal investigation against staff members with the two placing authorities.

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This monitoring visit

Children spoken to said that they feel safe and happy in the home. They can identify a trusted person to talk to if they have concerns. Children were observed acting freely and comfortably in the home. The warmth and confidence of the staff help children to feel safe and secure.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s voices are central to the home. Staff use visual aids and short stories that describe social situations to help children to share their views and choices, alongside increasing their level of understanding. Children are supported to choose their activities and what they want to eat. Children’s views and wishes are listened to for all aspects of their lives.

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This monitoring visit

Children benefit from high staffing levels and there are clear behaviour support plans to support their needs. Staff support children to understand boundaries and routines. This is done in a child-friendly way, using the child’s preferred method of communication. Incidents are well managed by staff, with appropriate management overview. However, staffing levels, particularly at night, do not always align with children’s assessed and required supervision level; however, this has not impacted on children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

Staff access training in core areas, which include safeguarding, medication, and health and safety. They undertake more-targeted training that includes epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder awareness. However, not all staff have completed the training offered, including restraint training, which limits their understanding of how to meet the individual needs of the children they care for.

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This monitoring visit

Staff say that they feel well supported and work well as a team. However, they do not always receive regular practice-based supervision in line with the company’s policy. In addition, the manager does not have a record of her supervision discussions to demonstrate the support given to help her to lead the home effectively. As a result, staff members do not have the opportunity to reflect on their practice and consider their developmental needs.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s physical environment is safe for children. The home is homely, clean, tidy, well maintained and well decorated. Children’s bedrooms and communal spaces Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548794 3 are well furnished, personalised, and comfortable. There are no health and safety concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements and recommendations from the previous full inspection have been met. However, three new requirements are made regarding staff training and supervision, staffing levels and communication with placing authorities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/05/2023 Full Good 29/06/2022 Full Good 10/01/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548794 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 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a) (2)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff undertake training that helps them to meet the needs of the children in their care. This includes behaviour management and physical intervention training.

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that the staffing levels reflect assessed risks for children, particularly during the night. 27 October 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 involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they maintain effective communication with placing authorities, including updating social workers about allegations made against staff in the home. 29 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548794 5 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 27 October 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: 2548794 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ

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Inspectors

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Miss Aneta Wasilewska, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2548794 7 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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