Children's home run by Purple Oak Support

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 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 from aged three to 19 years with additional and sometimes complex needs. There was one child living at the home on a medium-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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This monitoring visit

On 5 September 2023, an assurance inspection was carried out at the home. Serious concerns were identified at the inspection and the provider was subsequently issued with a notice restricting accommodation at the home. One child continued to live at the home. Following the inspection, the organisation provided Ofsted with an action plan that gave assurances of the safe care of the child who remained living in the home. The action plan identified how senior leaders would ensure that staff are equipped with the knowledge, information and skills needed to care for the child effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the provider’s progress against their action plan. At the time of the visit, the external investigations that were initiated prior to the assurance inspection were ongoing.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found that none of the proposed actions identified in their action plan had been addressed or completed. The restriction notice had been complied with as no further children had moved into the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2504775 2 Prior to the monitoring visit, the responsible individual informed Ofsted that several staff had been made subject to non-lone working arrangements. This meant that some staff were not permitted to work by themselves with the child living in the home. These agreements were implemented due to the ongoing external investigations. However, the responsible individual permitted a member of staff, subject to a non-lone working agreement, to work by themselves with the child living at the home. This means that the provider failed to implement effectively their own procedures to ensure the safety of the child and staff.

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This monitoring visit

The provider’s failure to implement their action plan and additional safety measures resulted in the child being placed at risk of harm. Consequently, Ofsted is not currently assured of the provider’s ability to keep children and others safe. Furthermore, the failure to implement the identified safeguards raises significant concerns about the leadership and management of the home. As a result, the provider was issued with a notice suspending their registration the same day as the monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Previous requirements that were raised at the last full inspection and assurance inspection were not reviewed at this monitoring visit and, therefore, remain. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2504775 3

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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 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2504775 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 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

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 harming each other; 13 October 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2504775 5 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.

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Requirement Due date

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. This 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 13 October 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2504775 6 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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;

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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 consider the individual needs of each child. Also, that individuals visiting the home have their identification checked before access to the home is permitted.

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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: 2504775 7

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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

Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Compliance Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2504775 8 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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