Children's home run by London Paramount Care Limited

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2704264 1 Registered provider: London Paramount Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to five children with learning disabilities and autism.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2023.

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Inspection date: 17 October 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. 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: 2704264 2

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Outcome 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.

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Findings from the inspection

This visit was undertaken following a whistle-blowing concern being reported to Ofsted. No evidence was found to substantiate most of the concerns raised. However, concerns were identified regarding leaders’ and managers’ response to whistle-blowing concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of this inspection, five children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home. One of these children moved out shortly after. While the initial assessment indicated that the staff would be able to meet the child’s needs, the child’s needs changed, and they moved to a specialist provision.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the children well. Information about children is easy to read and regularly reviewed. Staff use this information to ensure children enjoy their favourite activities and have new experiences. Children have experienced trips to different cities and beaches. One child has joined the Scouts and is going to their first scout camp. Staff help children develop their confidence and self-esteem.

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Findings from the inspection

Each child has their own team of dedicated staff. This helps children build trusting relationships with people who are consistent in their lives. Children also spend time in communal areas. This helps with socialisation. Two children regularly go to the gym, clothes shopping and out for drinks together. One child is planning a Halloween party for all children to attend.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the importance of children’s learning. One child attends school full time, and attendance is good. Two children attend school with a flexible timetable. This flexible arrangement has helped both children build their confidence, and there are plans for them to attend school full time by December 2023. Staff help one child learn independence skills at home as part of an agreed plan. The manager has advocated for another child to be registered at a suitable provision. Staff help children to learn new skills. One child has learned the alphabet and has started writing. This is noted as significant progress.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff regularly talk to children about their experiences and what they would like to achieve. However, the voice of the child is not captured in their plans. This is a missed opportunity for children to influence the care they receive. This was raised at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2704264 3 One child said, ‘I feel very, very safe living here. How could I not, with all these lovely people around me?.’ Any incidents where staff feel concerned for a child’s safety are recorded in detail, and assessments are reviewed.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical interventions are used as a last resort and to keep children and staff safe from harm. The manager consistently meets with children and staff after any incident. This helps the child talk about their experience and helps staff to reflect and consider alternative approaches.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff have a good understanding of each child’s behaviours and vulnerabilities. This is because children’s plans are easy to read and strategies are clear. When children have felt upset, staff have supported them as agreed in their plans. Staff have helped one child to have an improved understanding of their feelings. This has led to the child independently creating several ways to manage feelings that overwhelm them.

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Findings from the inspection

On two separate occasions, one child has been missing. On the first occasion, staff followed procedures and acted without delay. However, on a separate occasion, staff failed to notice the child had left the home without permission. The child was found in the community and returned home. The manager carried out a learning review, met with staff and made changes to the security of the garden. Since this incident, there have been no other incidents of children missing from home.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one complaint and one anonymous whistle- blowing concern raised. The complaint was investigated and reported to the local authority designated officer (LADO) and Ofsted. However, the investigation lacked independence. At this inspection, a further two anonymous whistle-blowing concerns were identified, and they had not been shared with the LADO or Ofsted. This limits the external oversight of safeguarding in the home, increases the potential of a closed culture developing and fails to follow safeguarding procedures.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live in their own flats. Each flat has a kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom. However, mops, buckets and broken cleaning equipment were visible outside two of the children’s flats. Not only is this a health and safety risk, but it also fails to provide a homely environment. This was raised at the last inspection as a recommendation and has now been restated as a requirement.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager is qualified and experienced to manage the home. Two deputies support the manager. One deputy manager is qualified to level 5 and the other deputy manager is undertaking a relevant level 5 qualification. Staff said they felt supported by the management team.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not ensured that the majority of issues identified at the full inspection have been sufficiently addressed. The manager has met one recommendation. One requirement and two recommendations have been restated, and one previous recommendation has now been raised to a requirement. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2704264 4 Managers understand the importance of staff being trained to meet the complex needs of children. Some new staff are not yet enrolled on a level 3 qualification, but all other staff are working towards the relevant level 3 qualification within the specified timescale. Staff are skilled at working with other professionals to provide tailored care. One social worker said, ‘If Ambleside staff hadn’t been there, [name of child] would not have made it this far. They really understand the impact of trauma on mental health.’

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Findings from the inspection

The manager uses external and internal monitoring to have good oversight. A comprehensive development plan is in place. The manager demonstrated how the analysis of incidents helps reduce anxiety for children. One child would regularly become worried on the day they received pocket money. Understanding this pattern led to pocket money being given to the child in a different way. As a result, the child felt calmer and more able to manage their money.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been some improvements to safer recruitment procedures. However, gaps remain, with at least one member of staff being recruited without appropriate exploration of why they left previous employment. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2704264 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2704264 6

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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 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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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)(a)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any allegation of harm is shared with the LADO and that any subsequent investigation is sufficiently independent to ensure each child is safe and protected. 25 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure all cleaning equipment and broken buckets are removed and stored securely out of sight of children. 17 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2704264 7 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, verify, so far as reasonably practicable, the reason why the staff’s previous employment with children or vulnerable adults ended. 17 November

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; and

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 17 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ and support children to view and regularly contribute to the records in a way that reflects their voice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2704264 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: London Paramount Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mardoc House, Spinney Gardens, Breachwood Green, Hitchin SG4 8BW

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2704264 9 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.

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Inspector

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