Children's home run by PCF Residential Childcare Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2503031 1 Registered provider: PCF Residential Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been in post since November 2023 and is aware of the need to apply to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

No children were present during the inspection.

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Inspection date: 21 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 21 November 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have 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: 2503031 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

Since the last inspection, one child has remained living in the home and continues to make good progress. One child has moved on. This was earlier than planned and due to concerns that their individual needs could not be met safely. The instability this caused the child has been acknowledged by leaders and managers. Following a learning review, they have made changes to support better assessment and planning for children who move into and out of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff value and promote the child’s education through good partnership working with the school. This has helped the child to remain in the same school and to attend regularly. The child’s aspiration to work with and care for animals is actively promoted by staff. This is through the child having responsibility for the care and upkeep of a horse. As a result, there has been an increase in the child’s self- confidence and independence skills.

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Findings from the inspection

The communal areas of the home environment have been redecorated to a high standard. There are photos and pictures of the child with their horse and of them enjoying positive activities with staff. These adorn many areas in the home and contribute to the homely feel that staff have worked hard to achieve for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The child continues to enjoy spending time with people who are important to them. They wish to stay with a family member over the festive period. Staff are working with professionals to arrange this. This helps the child to feel listened to and valued by staff.

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Findings from the inspection

A consistent approach to routines and boundaries has supported the child’s evolving needs. Formal and informal direct work and natural consequences help the child to learn from incidents. As a result of this good practice, there have been no complaints or allegations made by the child.

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Findings from the inspection

There are individual and up-to-date support and risk management plans in place for the child. These provide staff with clear guidance about how to keep the child safe and well. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities online and when using electronic devices. Appropriate safeguards are in place and active monitoring by staff helps the child to use these safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical intervention is not currently used in the home. Leaders and managers have recognised and made changes to the approach and training around this for the future. A few staff have not yet completed this training. They are booked to complete this and managers actively monitor staff training. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2503031 3 Since the last inspection, the management arrangements in the home have stabilised. A robust and proactive responsible individual had been in post for a few months prior to this inspection. They have been supported by a deputy manager. Together they have taken action to evaluate, review, learn and make some appropriate changes to the home and staff practice. This has been reflected in an updated statement of purpose for the home. A new manager has also been recruited, who understands the strengths and areas of development in the home. This will further contribute to the child and staff feeling settled and supported. The

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Findings from the inspection

manager needs to apply to register with Ofsted without delay.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual decided to put a pause on welcoming another child. This has given staff space to focus on the child and put their learning since the last inspection into practice. This has also given managers time to make improvements to processes and procedures in the home. This child-centred decision-making has been acknowledged and appreciated by staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has a stable staff team and this provides continuity of care for the child. Most of the team are qualified and experienced staff. One member of staff has not achieved their qualification within the required timescale. They are enrolled and in the process of completing their qualification.

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Findings from the inspection

Positive action has been taken by managers resulting in only one requirement being restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2503031 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/10/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2503031 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

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

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff complete the appropriate qualification in a timely manner. 5 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2503031 6 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2503031 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: PCF Residential Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Brook House, Moss Grove, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 9HS

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Charlotte Johnson

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Inspector

Nurul Kabir, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2503031 8 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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