Children's home run by Next Step Independence Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2730493 1 Registered provider: Next Step Independence Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in July 2023 to provide care for up to two children. Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2730493 2

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improvement to be good

The home environment is comfortable, warm and welcoming and children are able to personalise their bedrooms. Progress for children living in this home is mixed. Since living in this home, one child’s needs and risks have escalated significantly. Staff told the inspector they do not feel confident that they have the right skills to support this child effectively and safely.

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improvement to be good

One child said they like living in this home. This child has formed positive relationships with some staff members. These relationships have contributed to this child making progress in some areas. For example, before moving here, this child spent extended periods of time in their bedroom. They now regularly spend time in communal areas of the home and eat their meals with staff in the dining room.

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improvement to be good

Since September, this child has returned to school on a part-time basis and is attending regularly. This follows a period of around a year when they had not attended school. They have also started online tuition and recently passed foundation level exams, enabling them to move on to studying GCSEs.

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improvement to be good

One child is not currently attending school. Plans detailing the arrangements for this child’s education contain out-of-date information. Guidance for staff about learning that should be encouraged at home, daily routines and how to support school attendance is not specific.

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improvement to be good

Children’s needs are considered before they move into the home. However, there is not always in-depth assessment of the skills and experience of the staff team when considering if a child’s identified needs can be met at this home.

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improvement to be good

Due to staff having difficulty in managing one child’s behaviour, certain foods have been removed from the kitchen and locked away. This action has not been properly recorded in children’s plans. The impact of this restriction on both children has not been considered and there is no clear timescale identified for review of this measure.

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improvement to be good

One child has a significant health condition that requires specialist support and monitoring. Since living here, the risks for this child around the management of their condition have escalated significantly. For example, the child has not always followed the specialist plan in place to safely manage their condition. They have also not always taken their medication regularly or as intended. Support from staff for the child has not been successful in reducing these risks. As a result, they have needed to attend hospital six times in the past four weeks. Inspection report for children's home: 2730493 3 Records of checks carried out as part of the monitoring of this child’s condition are not always completed fully. When checks have not been completed due to the child being in hospital, records do not clearly show this.Staff said they do not feel confident in managing the child’s current behaviour alongside their condition and

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improvement to be good

that the child needs more support than can be offered at this home.

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improvement to be good

Several incidents have taken place involving the two children living in the home. This includes one incident of the children leaving the home together and several verbal and physical altercations between them. Staff have responded appropriately to children during these incidents. However, this support has not yet successfully contributed to any significant reduction in incidents between the children.

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improvement to be good

When allegations are made, appropriate safeguarding processes are generally followed. However, on one occasion, an allegation was not reported promptly and a member of staff remained on shift after the allegation was made against them. Once managers became aware of the allegation, the appropriate safeguarding process was followed. Issues around staff practice and understanding of safeguarding procedures are addressed during individual debriefs.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing, staff follow appropriate procedures. They follow the children and report them as missing.

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good

At the time of the inspection, the manager was unavailable. Discussions regarding the management and development of the home were held with the responsible individual.

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good

Staff said that they feel well supported by the responsible individual and managers within the wider organisation. However, the recent increase in risk around one child’s health needs has led to staff feeling anxious and uncertain about how best to support them. Staff did receive the appropriate training before the child moved into the home and said they have a good understanding of the practical management of this child’s condition.

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good

However, guidance for staff around this child’s health does not include up-to-date information or strategies that consider their recent presentation. This has led to the child not receiving a consistent response from staff and an increase in visits to hospital in recent weeks.

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good

When incidents take place involving both children, records are not always kept separately for each child. Debriefs following incidents have not always taken place and management oversight of records is not consistent. As a result, staff have not always had the opportunity to reflect and build on their practice. Plans to reduce risk are not regularly reviewed or updated to reflect the evolving needs of both children. Inspection report for children's home: 2730493 4 When serious incidents have happened, notifications to Ofsted have not always been made. The responsible individual has identified and acknowledged concerns about the oversight and management of risk in the home.

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good

At the time of the inspection, several meetings had taken place with one child’s placing authority to review the support available to the child and the staff team.

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good

The responsible individual has a good understanding of children’s individual risks and needs. A clear and appropriate action plan has been put in place to support and safeguard children in the short and longer term. For example, waking night staff have been put in place due to most incidents happening at night, and additional supervision and support have been provided to staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2730493 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 13 December

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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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 24 January 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2730493 6 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 staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met;

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Requirement Due date

and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 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)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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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;

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 24 January 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2730493 7 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the reasons for any restrictions preventing children accessing items in the home are fully documented and regularly reviewed.

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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)) 29 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children attend education and that when they do not, they are supported to maintain appropriate routines. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.5)

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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: 2730493 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Step Independence Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wellington House, East Reach Court, Queen Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3UF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Bridget Drew-Spyer

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Inspector

Janet Jauregui, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2730493 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 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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