Children's home run by Eliali MPC

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2675423 1 Registered provider: Eliali MPC 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 registered in February 2023 and is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted when the home opened in February 2023.

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Inspection date: 27 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 27 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: 2675423 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Poor management oversight leading to ineffective responses to increasing risks for children at risk of exploitation.  A lack of clear, consistent, up-to-date and accurate guidance for staff on how to manage risks or meet children’s needs.  A failure to follow existing risk assessments and guidance when children go missing.  A lack of adequate learning opportunities being provided for children in the home.  A lack of appropriate action in response to children’s health needs in respect of substance misuse, vaping and sleep hygiene.

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection was brought forward because of concerning notifications received by Ofsted relating to the safety of children.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and one has moved out. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Ineffective monitoring and a lack of professional curiosity mean that the manager does not have sufficient oversight of the home. The manager has failed to respond effectively to children’s increasing risks and risk management strategies have remained the same. This means children are not being kept sufficiently safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are at serious risk of criminal and sexual exploitation when missing from home. Leaders and managers have not ensured that risk assessments fully recognise these risks or wider implications, such as potential gang affiliation. Strategies to mitigate risks are unclear and contradictory. This means staff do not have good enough guidance to respond when children are missing from home.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not ensured that responses when children go missing from home are strong enough. It is unclear when children should be reported missing or what efforts staff should make to contact them when they are missing. Despite children’s risks, they are often not reported as missing to police for over an hour. This means that external partnerships are not used effectively to safeguard children. Staff do not consistently follow guidance that is in place. Risk assessments state that a child is to be accompanied when they are out of the home and, when they are missing, staff are to search areas of concern. Reports of children going missing show that staff do not follow these instructions. This means staff are not taking appropriate steps to find children when they are missing. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2675423 3 Managers have not identified poor practice. When staff have not followed risk

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Findings from the inspection

assessments, managers have evaluated that staff have followed procedure. This means that staff do not receive relevant guidance and support to ensure safe and effective care is provided to the children when they are missing from home.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite the risks of exploitation, children have full access to mobile phones. These are not checked, and children keep hold of them overnight. The risks relating to this have not been fully explored by managers. This means children are potentially constantly accessible to unsafe people and those who may exploit them, without appropriate safeguards in place.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of the inspection, leaders and managers had accepted a referral for a third child. The impact risk assessment for the third child does not accurately reflect the presenting risks for the children living in the home. The impact risk assessment states that risks of going missing and criminal exploitation risks for children living in the home are low, however, this is not the reality. This misleads placing authorities.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not ensured that staff have received training in subjects related to children’s risks, such as county lines, gang affiliation, knife crime and substance misuse. Staff have not been given the appropriate knowledge and skills to support the children safely in accordance with their relevant plans.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders, managers and staff do not provide the children with good routines. Care plans state that children have poor sleep hygiene, however, there is no guidance for staff to help children develop good sleep hygiene. One child’s daily plan states that the child wakes up late. During the inspection, children were in their bedrooms all day, with little interaction attempted by staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders, managers and staff do not ensure that children are provided with adequate learning opportunities. Both children are out of school. Education planners for the children are ineffective and do not reflect their needs or interests. This lack of structured activity, together with no routine, does not support children to prepare for education and does not provide a diversion from unsafe options.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health needs are not met. Children use vapes and misuse substances. Staff do not respond adequately to these issues. Consequently, children are not learning about the importance of making healthy choices.

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Findings from the inspection

Care plans are of poor quality. They lack sufficient detail and do not give staff the information they require to meet children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not always ensure that they notify Ofsted of serious incidents in the home. On several occasions when they have notified Ofsted, the notification has not been done in a timely manner.

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Findings from the inspection

A social worker gave positive feedback about the holistic care provided to a child at the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2675423 4 Four requirements were made at the last inspection. Three of these have been met.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2675423 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 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;

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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

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)) 1 January 2024

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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 1 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2675423 6 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;

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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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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 barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure children have structured educational routine in the home that includes informal learning that meets their interests and needs. 1 January 2024

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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 1 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2675423 7 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;

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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)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, support children to improve their sleep hygiene and provide clear guidance on how to support children who use vapes and misuse substances.

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 1 January 2024

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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)(a)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2675423 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tax Assist Accountants, 476 St Albans Road, Watford WD24 6QU

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Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2675423 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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