Children's home run by Portsmouth City Council

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC037762 1 SC037762

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Registered provider: Portsmouth City Council

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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 operated by a local authority and is registered to provide care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There were four children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager. Leaders have appointed a manager, who will apply to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 23 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. The inspector has 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: SC037762 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

There is a reliance on temporary staff and on the interim manager to fill rota gaps. As a result, children are not benefiting from being looked after by a stable staff team. Monitoring and oversight of the home have been poor during a challenging period. Despite these shortfalls, children said that they enjoy living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The inspector observed some warm interactions between children and staff. However, the lack of a consistent staff team has caused some children to feel unsettled. This has led to an increase in incidents, including self-harming behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

When serious incidents occur, managers usually take swift and decisive action to ensure children’s safety and well-being. They involve external safeguarding agencies as necessary. Managers notify Ofsted as required, which enables the regulator to ensure that there has been a robust response.

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Findings from the inspection

On one occasion, there was a delay in the management team’s response to a child making an allegation against staff. Additionally, the inspector found that one child’s risk assessment included details of actions to take to keep the child safe, but these were not being consistently followed. Managers took immediate action to address this shortfall.

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Findings from the inspection

Steps are being taken to embed improved record-keeping processes. In the meantime, some records are missing, and some are being stored in multiple places. This affects the staff team’s ability to access all the information held about the children.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a shortfall in the monitoring of staff training. The system for recording staff training attendance does not currently demonstrate that staff have received training that is relevant to all the needs of the children that they are looking after.

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Findings from the inspection

The interim manager is being supported by senior leaders who are clear about their expectations of staff. As a result, there is a firm basis for improvement in the quality of care to be made. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC037762 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2023 Full Good 19/05/2022 Full Good 27/04/2021 Full Good 11/03/2020 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC037762 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 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff understand and follow all children’s risk management plans. 31 January 2024

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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— 31 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC037762 5 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(i)(v)) 31 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC037762 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Portsmouth City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth PO1 2EA

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Inspector

Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC037762 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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