Children's Home run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 1 SC028905

p.1

Registered provider: Staffordshire County Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A local authority owns this home. It provides care for up to five children who have experienced childhood instability which has resulted in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A newly appointed manager oversees the day-to-day running of the home. They have applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Inspection date: 14 September 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 14 September 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

p.1

Information about this inspection

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, 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: SC028905 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

The care of children

Since the last inspection, five children have moved into the home and eight children have moved on to supported accommodation or other longer-term, specialist residential homes. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. They were in the process of moving on to another residential home, nearer to their family.

p.2

The care of children

Children have had mixed day-to-day experiences. They have had some positive opportunities, such as days out and activities. However, there have been occasions when children have had high-risk incidents and have been unkind to each other. There are also times when staff have not followed children’s risk assessments, which has left children vulnerable.

p.2

The care of children

Children have had some good relationships with staff. Staff and managers are realistic about the fact that sometimes relationships are challenging for children when living together. In addition, they recognise that high levels of staff sickness have impacted on the consistency of care children have received. Managers have reduced the numbers of children in the home to further reduce the impact on children.

p.2

The care of children

The inspector observed the child still living in the home to have positive and trusting relationships with staff. The child told the inspector he was happy, felt safe, liked living in the home and that he did not want to leave. He said he can talk to staff if he has any concerns. He also said that staff have spoken to him about his anger and he is now able to manage this better.

p.2

The care of children

Managers have not ensured that the home is maintained to a consistent, suitable standard. While some areas of the home have benefited from recent refurbishment, other areas of the home are dirty and unkempt. For example, children’s bathrooms need cleaning, there are stains on carpets and there is mould on windowsills. This does not provide a homely and welcoming environment for children to live in. This was raised as a recommendation at the last inspection and has been reissued as a requirement.

p.2

The safety of children

Overall, managers and staff know children well and have responded to children’s needs to keep them safe. However, there have been occasions when staff have not recognised that children are at risk of harm and have not consistently followed children’s support plans. For example, on one occasion, staff did not appropriately Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 3 supervise a child in line with their support plan. As a result, the child left the home without staff knowledge. Once staff were aware that the child was missing, they took appropriate action and quickly located the child. Managers have reflected on this incident with staff to prevent a reoccurrence.

p.2

The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments continue to be of variable quality. For example, one child’s risk assessment did not provide staff with sufficient guidance around substance misuse. Furthermore, the risk assessment did not contain information on all the child’s known risks. The risk assessment for the current child does contain more guidance for staff.

p.3

The safety of children

There have been no allegations and one complaint has been made. Managers responded to the complaint quickly. However, the record of the complaint lacked details of all the actions taken by the manager. In addition, the manager did not communicate the outcome of the complaint to the child, in line with the organisation’s procedure. This does not help children to feel listened to or give them confidence to raise concerns in the future.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff respond quickly when children go missing from the home. They search for children and liaise with the local police until children are found. Managers now ensure that return home interviews are completed with children so they can share their concerns. However, some missing-from-care records are poor and lack management oversight. The lack of oversight does not support managers to identify shortfalls in staff practice. Nor does it support managers to recognise patterns and trends for children and, if necessary, take further action to reduce the risk of harm for children.

p.3

The safety of children

There has been a reduction in the need for staff to physically intervene in incidents. When staff have intervened, it has been necessary and proportionate to keep children safe. While records of intervention have improved, one record viewed lacked detail of the events leading up to the restraint and there was no management oversight. Furthermore, managers have not ensured that staff are always spoken to following incidents. This impacts on managers’ ability to review incidents effectively.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff now talk to children about important topics such as relationships, bullying and substance misuse. This supports children to be informed and helps them to keep themselves safe.

p.3

The safety of children

Overall, managers follow safer recruitment practices. However, in one staff recruitment file, there was not a full work history from the time the member of staff left school. Managers had failed to identify this.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been no consistent manager in charge of the home since the last inspection. While senior managers made concerted efforts to recruit a suitable manager, this proved difficult. This led to inconsistency in the leadership and management of the home and to shortfalls in management oversight. The absence Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 4 of a consistent manager and staff shortages also contributed to the lack of progress on the requirements raised at the last inspection. Of the four requirements raised, three have been reissued at this inspection. However, five of the six recommendations have been met.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A manager has recently been recruited and management oversight in the home has been improving. Leaders and managers are realistic about the areas for development in the home and are taking action to improve the quality of care for children. Staff are positive about the new manager, saying he has brought stability to the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have recently completed reporting and recording training and have also received training in the home’s therapeutic model of care. However, not all staff have yet had training specific to children’s needs, for example, in substance misuse and anti-bullying, which impacts on staff’s ability to respond to children’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Team meetings are now regular and reflective and have supported improvement in staff practice and a positive change in the culture of the home. Staff say that while things have been challenging, they welcome the changes to improve practice and do feel supported by managers.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There have been improvements in staff supervision. Most staff now have regular supervision. However, staff have not received a review of their performance in the last year. This does not support staff to understand their own progress and areas for development.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2023 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Good 22/05/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them 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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the home being appropriately furnished, decorated, maintained and clean. 26 October 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; and 26 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 6 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that children’s support plans are clear on the actions that staff must take to support children and keep them safe from harm. In addition, staff must consistently follow children’s risk management plans to reduce risk and keep children safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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; and

p.6

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)) 26 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 7 This specifically relates to managers ensuring that monitoring systems are effective in identifying shortfalls in practice. Managers must ensure that oversight of children’s records is consistent, to improve the quality of records. Managers must also ensure that shortages in staffing do not impact on the continuity of care for children. In addition, managers must ensure that staff have the training to enable them to meet children’s needs.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees —

p.7

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 26 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

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. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that all records of restraint are consistently in accordance with regulation 35. In particular, the manager must ensure that staff are spoken to following any physical intervention. In addition, the manager must ensure that they review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond when issues or trends of concern emerge. 26 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 8 This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure that he records any action taken and gives feedback to the complainant, in line with the organisation’s policy and procedures. 26 October 2023

p.8

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice. They should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. In particular, the manager should ensure that all employees have a full work history, together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Staffordshire County Council

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Staffordshire County Council, 2 Staffordshire Place, Stafford ST16 2DH

p.9

Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 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.

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 .

p.10

Inspector

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