Children's Home run by iMapcentre Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 1 iMapcentre 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 is run by a private provider. It provides care for up to six children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. There were three children living in the home at the time of this visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022. However, they have been absent from work and have recently submitted a voluntary cancellation form.

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This monitoring visit

During a full inspection on 3 and 4 October 2023, inspectors identified significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice and in leadership and management. As a result, five compliance notices were issued under Section 22A of the Care Standards Act. These related to Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, Regulation 20, the restraint and deprivation of liberty standard, Regulation 6, the quality and purpose of care standard and Regulation 21, the privacy and access standard. A restriction notice was also served, which meant that no other children could move into the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 8 November 2023, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit. The purpose of the visit was to review the provider’s progress. The inspectors found that the provider had complied with the restriction notice. However, action had not been taken to address the steps outlined in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, a whistle-blowing complaint was received. This complaint indicated that one of the children from the home had been taken to a caravan. The child was reported to have sustained injuries and has been removed from the home to prevent Ofsted having contact with them at this visit. The interim manager confirmed that the child was in the caravan to enable maintenance work to be carried out in the home. The complaint was reported to the placing authority who visited the child. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 2 The registered manager has been absent from work since the last full inspection. There is an interim manager in post. They were also present at the previous monitoring visit. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that action was taken to meet the steps in the five compliance notices issued. As a result, children have continued to receive care that is unsafe.

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This monitoring visit

The actions in children’s plans do not support staff to safely care for children. In one child’s plan, staff were directed to lock themselves in another room when the child was in crisis. This means that children do not receive the support that they need to help them calm. During one incident, a child was left alone in a room with broken glass, resulting in the child sustaining an injury.

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This monitoring visit

Staff informed inspectors that they are scared of one child. They report that the behaviour support strategies used are inconsistent and reliant on who is responsible for the care of the child. This leads to confusion for the child and staff. Despite staff attending additional training to support this child, they have been reluctant to use restraint. Staff have relied on the police to manage the child’s behaviour. This leads to children being criminalised.

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This monitoring visit

In contrast, when other children have been restrained, the holds used have not always been the least restrictive option. Additionally, records of the restraints used do not include durations, and the manager does not evaluate records of restraint. This means that it is not clear if these restraints have been appropriate, necessary and proportionate.

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This monitoring visit

Staff say that they have not been supported by managers following difficult incidents. Staff report that they do not feel they have sufficient training to effectively support the children. This is leaving children and staff vulnerable.

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This monitoring visit

Allegations made by children have not been identified by staff as allegations. This has resulted in delays in relevant professionals being informed. This does not ensure that the safety of children is prioritised.

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This monitoring visit

The home has substantial damage that has not been addressed. This means that children are living in an unsafe and damaged environment. Staff have not supported children in times of crisis to prevent them from damaging the home.

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This monitoring visit

Although some locks have been removed from cupboards, locks on internal communal areas remain. This means that children’s movement in their home has continued to be restricted.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not follow or support children’s routines. One child remained off school and remained in their bedroom on the day of the visit, which was three days after a medical episode. This is despite clinical plans stating that the child is fit and well and is able to return to school. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 3 Managers have not identified poor and dangerous practice, which has meant that children have been left at risk. Oversight and monitoring systems are ineffective, resulting in poor practice going unrecognised and not addressed. Leaders and managers do not have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. As a result, children have not been supported to reach their full potential.

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This monitoring visit

Insufficient action has been taken to address the compliance notices. In addition, Ofsted is concerned that a number of existing inherent risks are leading to a closed culture in the home. Due to the vulnerability of the children in the home and the significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice identified, Ofsted has made the decision to suspend the registration of the home with immediate effect. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2023 Full Inadequate 07/06/2023 Full Inadequate 15/11/2022 Full Good 04/05/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 5

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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

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;

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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

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)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 5 November 2023

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Requirement Due date

*Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child); or 5 November 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 6 serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2))

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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; 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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 5 November 2023

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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; and

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 5 November 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 7 provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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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) (2)(b)(iv)(ix)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises. (Regulation 21 (b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 5 November 2023

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2613341 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Imap School Barrowmore Estate, Barnhouse Lane, Great Barrow, Chester CH3 7JA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Anthony Yearsley

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Inspectors

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Miss Sally Griffiths, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613341 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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