Children's Home run by BTTLR Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 1 Registered provider: BTTLR LIMITED

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for one child who may be experiencing emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager at the home since January 2022.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 5 and 6 June 2023. Serious and widespread failures were identified in the leadership and management of the home and the protection of children. On 9 June 2023, Ofsted issued a notice of restriction preventing any new admissions of children to the home. This notice runs until 31 August 2023.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 24 July 2023, Racheal Sprigg, social care regulatory inspector, completed a monitoring visit of the home. The purpose of this visit was to monitor compliance to the restriction notice. There were no children in the home. Little progress had been made and the restriction notice remained in place.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 23 August 2023, Debbie Holder, social care regulatory inspector, completed a monitoring visit to the home. The provider remains compliant with the restriction notice, with no children living at the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home has been without a registered manager since January 2022. A new manager commenced in post on 28 June 2023. He has not been safely recruited. Senior managers have failed to complete essential recruitment checks prior to his appointment. Therefore, managers have not assured themselves that the manager is suitable to work with children. It is of concern that neither the responsible individual nor the manager was aware that some checks were required. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 2 Leaders failed to demonstrate that they have sufficient staff available to safely meet the needs of a child. All but two members of the staff team have been placed on statutory lay off. The responsible individual was unable to demonstrate they have sufficient staff immediately available to work at the home. Leaders were unable to provide an accurate staff list and provided conflicting information regarding the

p.1

This monitoring visit

availability of staff working elsewhere. Since the last inspection, the deputy manager has left the home. The statement of purpose was requested following the inspection, but not provided. This has hindered the inspection process.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders cannot demonstrate that staff have the essential skills and experience for their roles. Staff have still not completed key training. Many staff are new to the residential care of children and have significant gaps in their knowledge as a result.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders have failed to demonstrate that they have effectively supported staff to develop their understanding of their roles and responsibilities, their shortfalls in practice and areas to develop. Managers were unable to demonstrate that staff have had access to team meetings to reflect on their practice. Team meeting minutes were requested on inspection, but not provided. This has hindered the inspection process.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The responsible individual lacks the skills and experience to lead the care of children. It is Ofsted’s belief that the current leadership, management and staffing arrangements are not sufficiently robust. As a result, Ofsted issued a second notice of restriction to prevent admissions into the home following this inspection.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Progress against the requirements was not reviewed at this inspection and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2023 Full Inadequate 12/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.4

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

p.4

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))(b)(e))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to staff understanding and following children’s risk assessments and care plans in 5 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 5 relation to known safeguarding risks. It also relates to ineffective safeguarding practices when the child was being cared for away from the children’s home.

p.4

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

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)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to leadership in the home. There has been no registered manager since January 2022. The current post-holder has resigned. This impacts on the stability for both children and staff. This also relates to ensuring an appropriate skill mix throughout the staff team of adults who are qualified and experienced to work with children. It also relates to a lack of robust management monitoring and review systems, which impacts on the quality of children’s care. 5 October 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 5 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 6 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5)) 5 October 2023

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

p.6

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; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 5 October 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 5 October 2023

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(d) 5 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 7 The registered person must—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)) 5 October 2023

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.7

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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")—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

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 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv)) 5 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 8

p.7

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.

p.8

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 3, Ground Floor, Michael Way, Raunds, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN9 6GR

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shamiso Ringisai

p.9

Inspector

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2556338 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10