Children's Home run by GAC Family Services Limited in Middlesbrough

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 1 Registered provider: GAC Family Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care for one child with emotional and social difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since 5 May 2023. There is an interim manager in post.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

This monitoring visit took place to assess the home's progress in relation to shortfalls identified at the full inspection on 27 June 2023.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

Leaders and managers had continuously failed to ensure that the previous child’s care plan included sufficient information relating to a health condition, for which the child was prescribed medication. In addition, staff had no guidance as to what additional support that child required relating to their medical condition. Staff had no protocol to follow to support the child effectively.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

The current child’s care plan is not yet complete and, despite assurances that this would be completed following this monitoring visit, a copy was received by the regulator on 4 September 2023 which still contained significant gaps. This does not provide staff with clear guidance as to how to support the child.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that when a child goes missing from the home, staff safeguard the child effectively. There is insufficient information in the current child’s plan relating to the contact details and addresses of people the child might go to when their whereabouts are unknown.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that behaviour support plans are sufficiently detailed. The plans do not describe how staff should intervene and apply Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 2 their training and when this may be needed. This leaves staff to decide on their own course of action, which prevents consistency of support to the child.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

Children have not been attending education since the last inspection. This limits opportunities for them to learn and make friends.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

Leaders and managers have updated the statement of purpose but it does not contain the required information to advise the regulator or others regarding what services are provided and how. This also hinders staff in fulfilling their role.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

The registered provider has failed to provide Ofsted with a clear plan that details the information required in regulation 48. The registered provider has not identified someone who is suitably qualified and experienced to have day-to-day responsibility for the running of the home.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

Leaders and managers have continued to fail to ensure that all information received from the local authority is transferred into plans before children move into the home. Staff do not have the guidance to provide consistent support to the current child living in the home.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

Leaders and managers have continued to fail to implement effective monitoring and auditing systems. Serious and widespread failings in the leadership and management of the home have resulted in multiple shortfalls not being identified or fully addressed. This leaves the child at risk of harm.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

The registered provider has failed to ensure that the interim manager has regular, effective supervision. This does not provide the interim manager with the support they need to lead the home and improve the quality of care staff are providing to the child.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

The interim manager has supervised staff, and staff reported that they feel supported by her. The interim manager has made progress in the home in a short period of time. She has not had the time to complete the work started. Staff need continued supervision and guidance to develop further.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

Staff have completed training courses and have had the opportunity to shadow colleagues in another home. This has helped them to gain confidence in their roles and responsibilities. Staff are underway with their qualifications. The training has increased staff skills and knowledge.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

The interim manager has made notifications to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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Inspection date: 31 August 2023

At this monitoring visit, the inspector has amended and reissued the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. The requirements under regulations 6, 8, 10, 11 ,14, 16, 33, 36 and 46 that were issued at the last inspection have not been evaluated at this visit. Therefore, they have also been reissued. One new requirement, under regulation 48, has also been raised. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 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, 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

ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child that—

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Requirement Due date

satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

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Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(ii) (3)(b)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of 1 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 5 exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; and

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 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

that staff— 1 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 6 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi))

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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

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 to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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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)(a)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 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; 1 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 7 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the 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 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))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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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 (1)(a) (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 October 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;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 8 The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 1 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

If the person who is in day-to-day charge of the children’s home proposes to be absent from the home for a continuous period of 28 days or more, the registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI of the proposed absence.

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Requirement Due date

Except in the case of an emergency or unforeseen absence, a notice under paragraph (1) must—

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Requirement Due date

be given no later than one month before the proposed absence commences, or within such shorter period as may be agreed with HMCI; and

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Requirement Due date

specify with respect to the proposed absence—

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Requirement Due date

the arrangements which have been made for running the home during the absence;

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Requirement Due date

the address, name and qualifications of the person who will be responsible for the home during the absence; and

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Requirement Due date

in the case of the absence of the registered manager, the arrangements that have been, or are proposed to be made, for appointing another person to manage the home during the absence, including the proposed date by which the appointment is to be made.

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Requirement Due date

If the absence arises as a result of an emergency or is unforeseen, the registered person must give notice of the absence—

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Requirement Due date

within one week of the beginning of the absence; and 1 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 9 specifying the matters in paragraph (2)(b).

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Requirement Due date

If the notice required under paragraph (2) or (3) has not been given as required, it must be given without delay. Regulation 48 (1) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v) (3)(a)(b) (4))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2679276 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: GAC Family Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 29a, The Link, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ

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Inspector

Carol Jagger, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2679276 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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