Children's home run by White Orchid Marston Moretaine Limited in Dacorum

Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 1 SC483714 Registered provider: White Orchid Marston Moretaine Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to six children. It aims to provide specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in September 2023.

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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 that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2023

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2023 Full Good 03/08/2021 Full Outstanding 05/02/2020 Full Outstanding 08/10/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 3

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inadequate

At the time of this inspection, five children were living at the home. One child has moved out since the last inspection. There are serious shortfalls in the care provided. These are in regard to concerns about staff practice, which has left children at risk of harm.

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inadequate

During the inspection, one member of staff was observed shouting aggressively at a young child. This caused the child to become distressed and upset. There were other staff present who did not intervene. The staff did not comfort the child immediately. This does not provide children with therapeutic relationships as described in the home’s statement of purpose. The member of staff has now been issued with a written warning.

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inadequate

A plan to complete work on the property is in place. However, while this is awaited there are several issues with the quality of the environment. Children’s bedrooms are in a poor state of repair. There are stains on the carpet in one child’s bedroom. A strip of wallpaper has been torn from the wall and the paintwork is scuffed. There are household items piled up on the landing outside the child’s bedroom door. One child cannot draw their curtains and instead has to use Velcro fastenings to put the curtains up at night. There is wear and damage to doorway surrounds and floor trim in bedrooms. At the time of the inspection, this did not provide children with a nurturing environment.

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inadequate

Care plans do not evidence children’s progress. The progress section of children’s plans is identical from month to month. Other progress sections are blank. This does not recognise children’s achievements.

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inadequate

Childrens care plans do not specify how neurodiversity affects children individually. The strategies provided in health risk assessments are identical for different children, despite them having individual health needs. This fails to provide individualised care planning.

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inadequate

Children attend school and are making progress. One child started at a mainstream secondary school in September 2023. One child has increased their timetable as they manage extra time in school. Children take part in activities after school such as dance, parkour and football. They have been on holidays over the summer. Children’s birthdays are celebrated. These events are captured in photos which provide the children with meaningful memories of their childhood.

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

Staff fail to follow behaviour management strategies in children’s risk assessments. Two senior staff responded to a young child in a way that is not aligned with Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 4 behaviour management strategies. Managers did not identify this incident as harmful.

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

One child said that an electronic device is taken from them if they are ‘bad’. Staff confirmed this practice. This is not recorded on the relevant forms and is not a therapeutic strategy. This affects children’s self-confidence and is not transparently recorded for managerial oversight.

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

The risk assessments include behaviour management strategies which are identical, despite being for different children. Some children’s risk assessments are unclear. One child was involved in a serious incident, which is not identified in their risk assessment. This means that behaviour management strategies are not individualised and staff do not have clear guidance on how to respond to each child.

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

The window in the garden shed is broken. Inside the shed, there are a number of screws and shards of broken plastic. The shed door is unlocked, meaning that children can access these items. This was identified at the inspection, however it was not rectified until later on that day when it was raised with the director who then advised the staff to clear these items up.

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

There has been one incident of a child going missing from home. The child said he did not come home as he was worried that he would be in trouble and would be shouted at by staff. There was limited exploration of this concern.

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

The location risk assessment is thorough. It has been written in consultation with the police. This examines the strengths of the local area as well as the risks.

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

The use of physical intervention is low. When restraint is used, the rationale is made clear in recordings. The manager monitors these records and provides debriefs for children and staff.

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

There is a high ratio of staff to children. This meets the children’s needs .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers’ oversight and monitoring of the home is not sufficiently effective. There are elements within the provision that increase the risk of a closed culture. Insufficient management oversight increases the potential for these risks to be realised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers report whistle-blowing to relevant external professionals when it occurs. However, there has been a failure to protect the whistle-blowers. Leaders and managers have not explored whether staff are comfortable to whistle- blow. Staff said that they feel ‘scared’ of what might happen to them if they raise concerns. This has prevented them from raising concerns about staff practice and has left children at risk. Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 5 Following whistle-blowing concerns about members of staff shouting at a child, a letter was sent to all staff explaining that shouting is not acceptable. However, during the inspection, staff witnessed another member of staff shouting at a child. The staff present failed to report this. The member of staff who shouted at the child is closely related to the manager. This indicates a closed culture that fails to protect children. Staff use an emotional tone that does not reflect the intended aims and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

objectives set out in the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not provide adequate support to staff following investigations. One staff member has been the subject of two investigations. An action from the first investigation highlighted the need for training on how to respond to children when they are in crisis. It is not clear from training records and supervision sessions whether this training has taken place. Training has not been provided following the second investigation. This means that staff are not provided with learning opportunities to support them to improve their practice. This delay and lack of action fails to recognise the seriousness of these allegations. The member of staff is currently not working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The staff receive supervision sessions, however, these fail to include discussions about practice concerns. The manager has failed to recognise poor practice from a member of staff who is also a family member. Therefore, inappropriate and harmful responses to children are not properly addressed in supervision sessions. This has meant that staff continue to practise in ways that are not therapeutic.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual visits the home and has an interest in the welfare of the children, he also maintains the garden. However, he has not read the investigation report into the whistle-blowing concerns and, as a result, does not understand the seriousness of the issues raised. Staff spoken to, do not view the responsible individual as someone who they can raise concerns with.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Notifications made to Ofsted are sometimes late. On one occasion, 30 days passed between the incident occurring and the notification being sent. This limits transparency and means that Ofsted is not aware of serious incidents within a reasonable time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has relevant experience and is in the process of completing her level 5 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Feedback from social workers about the home is positive. One social worker said communication is good and that their child has made progress. Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 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, 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

and 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)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all staff work therapeutically with traumatised children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that leaders and managers identify staff practice shortfalls and address them appropriately. 18 December Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 7 Ensure that leaders and managers monitor care plans and risk assessments, taking any necessary action.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that following the outcome of investigations into staff conduct or practice, leaders and managers provide staff with the necessary training and guidance.

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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;

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

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have a clear understanding of the home’s whistle-blowing policy.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that managers and staff take effective action to address inappropriate staff practice in the management of children’s behaviour and safeguarding incidents.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that children receive safe and effective therapeutic care in line with their individual care plans and risk assessments.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that sharp items such as screws and broken shards of plastic are not accessible to children. 18 December

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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

mutual respect and trust; 1 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 8 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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have 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. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, help staff understand how to respond to the behaviour of young children, taking into account their needs and ages.

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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— ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(iii)(iv)) 1 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 9 In particular, ensure an approach of care, nurture and enrichment and that children in crisis are responded to appropriately.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that care plans are up to date and evidence children’s progress. 1 December 2023

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or

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concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry);

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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)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 17 November

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC483714 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: White Orchid Marston Moretaine Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 1LF

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Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC483714 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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