Children's Home run by Netheredge Care Limited in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 1 SC489226 Registered provider: Netheredge Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager’s application to register with Ofsted is currently in progress.

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted received a whistle-blowing complaint and brought the inspection of this home forward. The responsible individual investigated this complaint and provided his findings to Ofsted. This response was reviewed as part of this inspection. The inspectors found that the responsible individual’s investigation did not sufficiently investigate the complaints raised.

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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 widespread failures. This means that children and young people are not protected and their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded. In addition, the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 17 October 2022

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2022 Full Outstanding 17/05/2021 Full Outstanding 05/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The provider has failed to ensure that the manager is equipped to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns adequately. This failing hinders the children’s overall experience and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

This home does not provide the children with a warm and nurturing environment. When inspectors arrived at the home, two of the children’s bedrooms were not welcoming. They were not clean and tidy, and the children’s bedroom furniture was damaged in both rooms. This was addressed during the inspection. However, issues with decor, fixtures and fittings still needed to be addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are not encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle. While the staff create a weekly menu planner of healthy meals, they do not help the children to maintain a healthy diet. While some staff speak to the children about healthy lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise. The staff do not limit the children’s purchases and consumption of unhealthy snacks and fizzy drinks. This does not reinforce the message to children of making healthy lifestyle choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child’s identity is not consistently promoted. The child was misled and given incorrect information as to their rights while they were in a foreign country. In doing so, this child was discouraged from dressing as they wished while they were on holiday abroad. This approach does not teach the children the value of being open and honest and does not encourage the children to embrace their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are not helped in line with their care plans. This is because the children’s local authority care plans are not consistently obtained by the staff. The manager is not aware of two of the children’s legal status. This means that the staff do not understand the children’s current situation and the level of emotional support that they may need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The children’s education attendance has increased. Children say that the staff help them to attend school, as they are transported to and from school by the staff. This is positive and ensures that the children are helped to reach their full educational potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The staff understand the value of providing the children with different experiences. Children are encouraged to take part in groups and activities, such as attending youth clubs, playing football, and having trips to the seaside and holidays abroad. This helps the children to increase their social skills and peer networks.

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

The manager does not inform all safeguarding agencies when there is a serious incident relating to the children. This does not allow these agencies, including Ofsted, to evaluate the appropriateness of the care that is provided to the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 4 The manager was informed of an allegation made by a child to an inspector. The manager was not clear what his response should be in relation to this allegation. This approach does not safeguard the children and does not promote an open and transparent culture in this home.

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

Management responses have failed to ensure that the children are safeguarded effectively. Investigations completed by senior leaders are poor. A serious whistle- blowing complaint was made to Ofsted regarding the management of this home. The responsible individual completed an investigation into this complaint, and he found all the concerns to be unfounded. However, during this inspection, the inspectors confirmed that there were elements of the complaint that could be substantiated. Children have been provided with unhealthy foods, and they have not been cared for in line with the home’s statement of purpose, as, at times, the children have been cared for by just one member of staff. During the inspection the responsible individual accepted that the investigation that he completed was not sufficient, and that he had relied heavily on the information he had been given from the manager. This calls into

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

question the responsible individual’s ability to provide effective support, scrutiny and challenge to the provider and the manager.

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

The quality of the children’s risk assessments are inconsistent. They do not inform the staff of the children’s safety plans as they do not reflect the children’s individual needs. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the manager has had oversight of these documents since the registered manager left in April 2023.

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

While the children know how to complain and feel that they can speak to any member of staff, the manager was dismissive of an allegation made by a child. The manager’s first response to hearing an allegation made by a child during the inspection was to assume that the staff were telling the truth. This failing exposes the children to the potential risk of harm as their experiences are not fully investigated by someone impartial.

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

The serious risks in relation to the children entering each other’s bedrooms at night- time have not been fully considered by the manager. However, the staff have used their initiative and responded to this appropriately and have completed one-to-one sessions with the children. Since these sessions have been completed, there has been no repeat of this behaviour.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been one missing-from-home episode. Despite the safety plans and missing-from-home protocol not being up to date, the staff responded well to this and encouraged the child to return home safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager left in April 2023. Since this time, there has been significant shortfalls in the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The manager states that he feels well supported by the senior leaders in the organisation. However, this support was not evident throughout this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 5 There are shortfalls in safer recruitment files. While all Disclosure and Barring Service checks are in place, the leaders and manager have failed to verify a member of staff’s reference with their previous employer. In addition, the manager was not able to provide the inspectors with evidence that he had received safer recruitment training while at this organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider has failed to ensure that the manager and staff receive adequate support. Staff supervision records were missing. The manager was only able to provide one supervision record for a member of staff. A second member of staff’s supervision records were almost identical and appeared to be copied. The supervision records viewed were not reflective and did not include a detailed discussion about the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are significant failings in the manager’s monitoring and reviewing tools. There is no evidence of the new manager’s management oversight in key documents relating to the children. Shortfalls in the children’s documents have not been identified by the manager and, therefore, these have not been addressed. The manager does not consistently escalate concerns with the local authority when the children’s documents are not provided, nor does he establish vital information in relation to the children’s care plans. Consequently, the manager and staff are not aware of the children’s legal status and their current care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s independent visitor does not capture the views of the children. The manager states that this is because they often visit when the children are at school. This is not helpful for the children and does not give them the opportunity to provide their view of what is happening in their home. This was discussed at the last inspection and continues to go unaddressed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 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, 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

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. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(i)(b) (c) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the children are encouraged to maintain a healthy diet and provided with healthy food options. 10 November

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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

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; 10 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 7 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, 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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is a monitoring and reviewing system in place that ensures oversight of the quality of care provided to the children; that the staffing in the home is sufficient and in line with the home’s statement of purpose; that concerns with the children’s relevant local authorities are escalated; and that the staff are consistent in their care for the children.

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the children’s risk assessments and missing-from-home protocols are regularly updated and individualised to each child, to ensure that the staff know how to keep children as safe as possible. 10 November

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 10 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 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;

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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)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to obtain a verified reference from the employee’s most-recent previous employment. 10 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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 10 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (4)(a)(b)) 10 November

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 9

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. They will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. In particular, the registered person should repair the wear and tear in the home and redecorate the areas of the home that look tired. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC489226 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Netheredge Care Limited

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Inspectors

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 11 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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