Children's Home run by BTTLR Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2592228 1 Registered provider: BTTLR LIMITED

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. The home is registered to provide care for two children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 10 October 2023. Although new to role, the manager is suitably experienced.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged as requires improvement, with inadequate leadership, at the full inspection on 2 and 3 May 2022. Widespread failures were identified in the leadership and management of the home and the protection of children. At the time of the inspection, there was no registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance inspection was undertaken on 13 December 2022. There continued to be no registered manager in post. Ofsted did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection. However, the child living at the home presented with complex care needs that could not be met by the staff team, and they subsequently moved out of the home.

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This monitoring visit

A condition was placed on the registration of the home on 22 February 2023. The provider must inform Ofsted, three months in advance, of any intention to admit a child into the home. This notice was given to Ofsted on 6 April 2023, and was later retracted on 22 May 2023, by the responsible individual. Notice of the home’s intention to accommodate a child was given again to Ofsted on 31 July 2023.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to evaluate the progress made since the previous inspections and in response to the notice given to admit a child into the home.

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This monitoring visit

There have been no children living in the home since February 2023. A thorough Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2592228 2 clean and refurbishment have been undertaken. As a result, the home appears to provide a warm and welcoming environment.

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This monitoring visit

The home had been without a registered manager since March 2022. The responsible individual has now appointed a suitably qualified and experienced manager who commenced in post in June 2023. His application to register with Ofsted was deemed suitable on 10 October 2023.

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This monitoring visit

An accurate picture of the staffing structure is available from the provider. This is positive and has enabled the regulator to evaluate the experience and qualifications of the staff who work at the children’s home. Staff have demonstrated the capacity and willingness to learn from the concerns and shortfalls raised at the last visits.

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This monitoring visit

Most staff have now completed their residential childcare diploma qualification. During the period of closure, additional training was offered to staff, which is positive. Supervision meetings and team meetings have been used to collectively reflect on lessons learned and to uplift the staff team during a difficult period.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the statement of purpose. This now provides a more accurate reflection of the service provided to children and will assist stakeholders who may be considering placements with the provider.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual does not meet the regulatory requirement for their nominated position. They lack the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home. Ofsted has undertaken a full evaluation of their suitability. It remains Ofsted’s view that the current leadership is not sufficiently robust. This will be addressed through the issuing of a compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

Given the recruitment of a suitably qualified and experienced manager, and progress made, the condition on the home’s registration will now be lifted. Progress against the statutory requirements that were made at the full inspection in 2022 was not reviewed at this monitoring visit, and it will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2592228 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2592228 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 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff being prepared and supported to respond to incidents of challenging or unsafe behaviour in a good manner that prioritises the safety and care of children. 29 December 2023

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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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to the sufficiency and quality of staff and leaders to make sure that care is delivered in line with the home’s statement of purpose. 29 December 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2592228 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is followed. They must ensure that the recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. This is in relation to the recruitment of staff from an agency who are on temporary contracts. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2592228 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Shamiso Ringisai

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2592228 7 and inspects 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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