Children's Home run by Blue Kite Children Care Limited in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 1 Registered provider: Blue Kite Children Care 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 was first registered with Ofsted on 5 May 2023. The home is owned and operated by a private provider. The home provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post, who is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

During a full inspection on 5 and 6 July 2023, inspectors identified significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice and leadership and management arrangements at the home. As a result, an immediate notice to suspend registration of the home was served.

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This monitoring visit

The focus of this visit was to monitor the suspension notice and review the actions taken by the provider to address the identified shortfalls. The provider has taken action to reduce the risk identified at the full inspection on 5 and 6 July 2023. There is a clear strategy on how the provider plans to improve the care delivered to children, specifically around the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

A new manager has been appointed who has relevant experience and knowledge of working with children. The manager has a clear understanding of the previous shortfalls, and a clear focus on continuing to improve the quality of care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have recruited eight new staff to support the existing staff team. Leaders and managers have identified that, in order for children to receive consistent care, there is no intention to use agency staff. Leaders and managers have shared a plan to stagger admissions to the home as they continue to recruit a full staff team. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 2 A two-week induction training programme is being delivered to the new staff team. This is a detailed induction that covers areas such as the home’s policies and procedures, safeguarding, physical restraints, managing allegations, and safe administration of medication.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have monitoring systems in place to ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities, and have relevant, up-to-date experience to meet the needs of children in the home. Staff capabilities will be monitored in team meetings and through reflective supervision.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s plans have been revised. Risk management plans now incorporate behaviour support plans and consider proactive and reactive strategies to reduce the risk of harm to children. A staff sign sheet is now included with each plan, to support leaders and managers with their monitoring.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have a plan to monitor the care provided to the children. The home’s electronic recording system will alert leaders and managers when incidents have occurred.

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This monitoring visit

Rotas have been reviewed by leaders and managers. Rotas will now be completed six weeks in advance to support staff to plan when they are working. The first aider and shift leader will be identified on each shift.

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This monitoring visit

The suspension notice has now been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements raised at the full inspection have not been considered at this monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders, managers and staff ensuring that children have an opportunity to personalise their bedrooms. Furthermore, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that they identify any potential hazards in the home environment that may be a risk of harm to children and that the home meets the needs of each child. 16 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 5 the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

make each child aware of and, if necessary, remind them of each of the matters in sub-paragraph (d)(i) to (iii);

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

has access to the home’s children’s guide, and the home’s complaints procedure, when the child’s placement in the home is agreed and throughout the child’s stay in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about—

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Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any such complaint or representations will be dealt with; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the children’s guide and complaints procedures must be kept up to date and explained to the child. Leaders, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 6 managers and staff must ensure that children are consulted about the care that they receive and receive feedback following any complaint or allegation made.

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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 each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the requirement for leaders and managers to establish appropriate links with education providers and the headteacher of the virtual school, to seek support for children to access meaningful and relevant education. 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 7 In addition, ensure that those caring for children are able to identify the barriers to learning and take appropriate action and escalate any concerns with the local authority.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must maintain links with the placing authority and education providers and communicate effectively to ensure that children are appropriately accessing education in line with their plans.

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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;

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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

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Requirement Due date

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; 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 8 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand how to identify and respond to risks and are clear about their roles and responsibilities. Leaders and managers must ensure that there are relevant and up-to- date plans in place for children and that those who care for children are aware of relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

Managers must ensure that those who care for children understand safeguarding policies and procedures and are appropriately experienced, skilled and trained to safely care for children.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers should be satisfied that those staff caring for children have the appropriate qualifications and skills to meet the needs of children and keep them safe from harm.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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; 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 9 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the home is appropriately staffed to meet the needs of the individual children. Staff should be appropriately trained, skilled and experienced to deliver relevant and safe care.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers should update all relevant plans and ensure that these plans are read, understood and followed by those who care for children.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must support staff and the running of the home by having systems in place to monitor and review the quality of care provided to children.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

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— 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 10 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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must consider effectively how to meet the needs of children admitted into the home and how new admissions may impact on children already living in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children are supported to move into and move on from the home in a planned and positive way.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is accurately updated to reflect current staffing arrangements and qualifications. 16 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 11 children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children can access all areas of the home and that bathrooms are not separated into adult and children’s areas.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders, managers and staff must ensure that medication is administered in line with the provider’s own policies and procedures. There must be a clear and accurate record of any medication administered. 16 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire;

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Requirement Due date

make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention; and 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 12 ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that persons working in the home are familiar with the fire risk assessment and understand where fire equipment is available in the home. Regular fire drills must be completed with staff and children, ensuring that they are aware of the procedure to follow in the event of a fire.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that at least one person on shift is appropriately first-aid trained. 16 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation; and

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Requirement Due date

provide each employee with a job description outlining the employee’s responsibilities.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provides for the suspension from work of an employee if necessary in the interests of the safety or welfare of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 13 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to leaders and managers ensuring that staff are receiving practice-related supervision and have their performance appropriately appraised. Each member of staff should be provided with a job description, outlining their roles and responsibilities, within their appropriate probationary period.

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Requirement Due date

Arrangements and records must be in place to detail when an employee has been suspended from work.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

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Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(d)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that a record is made of any allegation. Records should identify the actions taken and consultation with other agencies and individuals. 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 14 The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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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")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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 (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 15 In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that accurate records are made of all restraints deployed in the home. Furthermore, records must be evaluated, and demonstrate that all those involved have been spoken to about the measure used.

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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)) 16 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the register of children is up to date and contains information detailed under schedule 4.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, leaders and managers must ensure that there is an accurate record of the actual hours worked by staff and includes details of any temporary staff who have worked in the home. 16 August 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that regulation 40 notifications are submitted without delay. 16 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 16 Furthermore, leaders and managers must ensure that notifications are submitted following a serious incident or when there has been an allegation of abuse made against a person working in the home.

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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: 2718067 17

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Kite Children Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 14 Reedham Gardens, Wolverhampton WV4 4HE

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2718067 18 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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