Children's home run by Leicester City Council

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 1 SC039001

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Registered provider: Leicester 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. It provides care for up to seven children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Five children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2018 and is suitably qualified.

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Inspection date: 28 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 November 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. 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: SC039001 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:  A child’s risk assessment was not updated effectively in relation to emerging and escalating risks which placed them at increased risk.  Managers fail to provide guidance to staff regarding effective strategies to respond to changing risks to children.  Staff lack professional curiosity regarding children’s behaviour. Opportunities to understand and reduce risk are missed.  Staff do not follow the manager’s direction to follow up actions in relation to the well-being of children.  Leaders and managers fail to provide oversight and monitoring. This leaves children vulnerable as managers do not routinely check risk assessments and that actions are followed up.

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Findings from the inspection

This assurance visit was carried out in response to concerns identified in the independent visitor reports and the manager’s own review of the service.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments do not provide staff with the guidance they need on keeping children safe. This is because risk assessments do not include known risks. For one child, this was in relation to the possession of dangerous items. The risk assessment does not reflect how escalating concerns will be managed, or the risk associated with the risks to other children in the home. This places children at increased risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff lacked professional curiosity in relation to one child’s presenting behaviours. They did not act on signs that the child was increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and in possession of dangerous items, or take action focused on the child’s safety. Staff’s response to this child, following a confrontation in the community, has been poor. Staff do not safeguard children effectively and children do not receive support after being at risk.

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Findings from the inspection

There are differences of opinion and perception between managers and staff in relation to the time children spend together in the home. The associations between some children are difficult and, at times, lead to safeguarding concerns. Because staff have different views about peer relations, this has potential to confuse children and compromise children’s safety, their relationships with staff and each other.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders do not evaluate effectively the impact of direct work with children. Children’s meetings are held infrequently. Staff do not consistently record attempts to complete direct work with children or to complete follow-up work. Leaders have Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 3 assigned a staff member to develop staff’s understanding of the difference between key work, consultation and children’s meetings. This work is not yet embedded.

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Findings from the inspection

Children do not receive a coordinated approach to helping them understand concerns for their safety and well-being or influence their care and running of the home. However, one child said they were ‘ok’ at the home and they have no worries, and they have staff they like to talk to and spend time with.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children’s progress in education has regressed since the last inspection. They are not attending school. Leaders and managers meet with education services and other agencies to make plans to address this. One staff member said one child needed more guidance and boundaries to re-establish healthy routines and reintegrate back into school.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders’ and managers’ oversight and monitoring of the home are ineffective. The manager has identified that staffing pressures divert assistant managers from management responsibilities. Management meetings do not always happen as intended. Leaders and managers fail to carry out monthly quality assurance audits. This is contrary to the home’s statement of purpose. Staff do not consistently follow directions given by managers, for example, to update a child about their plan. Such shortfalls can compromise children’s safety and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Although stated in the statement of purpose, staff do not provide monthly summaries to social workers. This is a missed opportunity to evaluate the quality of care provided to children. The manager has identified that, on occasion, staffing levels were below what is required to meet the needs of children placed in the home. The manager identified in her own quality of care review in October 2023 that a reduction in staffing numbers had had a negative impact on team morale. Staff continue to report low morale.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s records are incomplete. The manager says new staff need more support to be equipped for their roles, for example, to ensure they complete records. One member of staff said there is a lack of cohesive working with support workers, who fail to have confidence to make decisions in line with their role.

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Findings from the inspection

Requirements set at the home’s most recent full inspection were not considered in detail during this visit. These requirements will remain in place and be reviewed at the home’s next inspection. Compliance notices have been issued, in relation to the protection of children and leadership and management, to support immediate improvement. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/02/2023 Full Inadequate 21/11/2022 Full Inadequate 19/07/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 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 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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(ix)) 29 June 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 6 This specifically relates to ensuring the children’s home environment is in keeping with a family home. This also relates to ensuring the children’s care plans are individualised and that children’s views, wishes and personal preferences, such as sexuality and gender, are supported.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have 29 June 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 7 the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(ix)(x)(xii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring children are supervised and supported to build positive relationships with peers and staff.

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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

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)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that all staff respond to, report and document all incidents of concern. 2 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

promotes their welfare. 2 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 8 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;

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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

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; 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)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place, used regularly and recorded to improve the care provided to children. It also relates to staff having up-to-date training and, therefore, improved skills, and staff working more cohesively.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. 29 June 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 9 (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children have planned and considered admissions into the home and that key paperwork is put in place quickly enough to be effective.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to fire extinguishers being readily available, as per the home’s fire risk assessment. It also refers to bedroom windows being able to open, to allow for escape in the event of a fire. 29 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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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) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that all staff have up-to- date Disclosure and Barring Service certificates. 29 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 29 June 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 10 This specifically relates to staff receiving supervision, which is of good quality, is reflective and enables staff to develop their skills in improving the care they provide to children. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they are refusing to, they and the staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should ensure that medication is accessible to children, including when on activities. Suitable arrangements should be made to ensure medication is managed effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Leicester City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ

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Inspector

Helen Gronhaug, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC039001 12 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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