Children's Home run by Azalea Care Ltd in Peterborough

Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 1 Registered provider: Azalea Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to five children with physical or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager left in August 2023. A new manager has been in post since August 2023 but has not yet submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 15 February 2023

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 3

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inadequate

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted. Three children were living at the home at the time of inspection.

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inadequate

Serious failures in respect of the safeguarding and leadership and management of the home compromise the safety and well-being of the children. As a result, Ofsted has served a notice restricting accommodation.

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inadequate

Poor record-keeping means that there is a lack of clear documentation outlining children’s experiences. Plans for children are not up to date and contain inaccurate information. For example, a child who has recently gone missing from care has a plan that states that they have not gone missing. This does not ensure that staff have clear guidance on children’s current needs and has the clear potential to affect the quality of care.

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inadequate

Several important documents were unavailable, with leaders and managers unable to find them. Plans for children’s moves into the home could not be located by leaders or managers. Several incident reports could not be found. This means that leaders, managers and staff do not have a full and accurate record of children’s experiences.

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inadequate

Despite the shortfalls, children are making some progress and have some positive experiences. This includes progress in self-care skills and developing the ability to express their views.

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inadequate

Professionals and families talk positively about the support offered. Professionals say that children have made progress and that communication from managers and staff is regular and detailed. However, some information had not been shared with placing authorities in a timely manner.

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inadequate

Children all receive education. One child was on a reduced timetable from school and the staff worked with the school and placing authority to find alternative education for them. Staff support this child to receive tutoring at the home. Staff advocate for the child’s views regarding education, and this has contributed to the placing authority starting to explore alternative courses that the child is more interested in.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Leaders and managers were unable to show that appropriate safe recruitment procedures had been followed, with no evidence that up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks had been sought or seen in respect of several staff. Staff had continued to work with children despite the manager becoming aware that Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 4 there was no DBS in their files or confirmation that one had been seen by managers at the home. The inability to provide assurance that staff have had the appropriate checks completed means children were at risk of being cared for by inappropriate people. As a result of this issue being followed up at the inspection, leaders and managers undertook action to ensure that where they were uncertain about the staff members DBS, they would not work in the home until this was resolved. Consequently, seven of the fifteen staff employed to work with the children were

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

When reviewing incident reports, it was identified that some were unable to be found. Managers and staff have said they have noticed that incident records are being removed or deleted. Managers are unaware of where they are or how many have gone missing. Despite this, the data breach was not reported outside of the organisation until managers were asked to do so at inspection. Leaders and managers have not yet started an investigation into the concerns about missing documents.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children have been able to access harmful items. One child was able to access a blade left by contractors. The child should be supervised at all times, but on this occasion was left unsupervised and was able to put the blade in their mouth. This could have had significant consequences should the child have swallowed the blade. As a result of the incident being explored during the inspection, additional measures to reduce risk were added to the risk assessment. Another child was able to access sharps from the locked sharps cupboard. Following this incident, staff took action to secure the sharps cupboard. However, they did not ensure that all sharps were accounted for. This led to the child, who has a known history of self-harming, to be left with two knives overnight. Since this incident, the location of the cupboard has been moved to reduce the risk.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There has been one missing-from-care incident since the last inspection. The information within the record is not clear. It is unclear at what exact time the child went missing. This was due to differing information being included in the record. No return interview was completed following the missing-from-care episode and the managers did not follow this up with the placing authority.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

There have been six restraints since last inspection. Debriefs with children following restraints do not consistently take place. There have been times where an unapproved restraint of carrying a child has been used and the manager has not commented on this as part of their management oversight. Measures of control are not regularly reviewed. One child wears reins when out of the home. However, there is a lack of review about the frequency of use of this measure and whether it is still a proportionate control measure to use.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Safeguarding concerns are not always fully explored. A child returned home from school with an unexplained bruise. Staff attempted to explore this with the school but did not receive an explanation about the cause of the injury. The staff’s challenge to the school was not strong enough. The child’s social worker has been informed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is a manager in place, but they have not yet applied to register with Ofsted. The manager started in August 2023. The manager is working towards their Level 5 qualification. A new responsible individual started in October 2023.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The overall management oversight is poor and ineffective. The managers have identified some of the shortfalls at the home but have not yet put an action plan in place to address these. There is little learning identified following incidents to try and prevent similar incidents occurring again. There is not always management oversight following incidents. When there are management comments, it is not clear whose comments these are.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have not carried out appraisals with staff. This means leaders and managers are not providing all the necessary support, oversight and challenge to help staff develop their skills, knowledge and performance. Supervisions and team meetings do take place regularly to support staff with their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s quality of care review does not include feedback from children. The voice of the child is missing. In addition, the quality of care review has not been sent to Ofsted in a timely manner. These shortfalls limit the effectiveness of identifying and driving improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training is not effectively monitored. Leaders and managers are unsure what training staff have received to support the children effectively. The workforce plan does not identify what training staff have completed or any training needs. There is not an up-to-date training matrix in place. This means that the manager is unable to appropriately monitor that staff have all completed relevant training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Notifications to Ofsted are not always made appropriately. Some notifications for incidents which are not significant have been made. For other more significant incidents, no notification was made. This current practice lacks transparency and affects Ofsted’s ability to effectively regulate the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The shortfalls identified at the last inspection have not been fully addressed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 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 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

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

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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)(f)(h)) 15 November 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 15 November 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 7 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)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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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

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c)) 15 November 2023

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

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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

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 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 (3)(a)(v)(vii)(b)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are routinely debriefed following incidents, the manager comments on the actions taken by the user and that measures of control including the use of reins are reviewed to ensure they remain appropriate. 15 November 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 8 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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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 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 15 November 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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 15 November 2023

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(c)) 15 November 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 19 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 9 supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b) (4)(a) (5))

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Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that there is a workforce plan that can fulfil the workforce-related requirement of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Azalea Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 6, Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6FT

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Inspector

Leanne Lyon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 11 regulates 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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