Children's Home run by Wandsworth Borough Council in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2683465 1 Registered provider: Wandsworth Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is run by the local authority and provides care and accommodation for up to eight children with autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities and associated conditions. The home is on the same site as a sister home of the same size. All of the children living in the home attend the organisation’s school, which is located on the same site.

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Information about this children’s home

There were eight children living in the home at the time of this visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 25 April 2023. However, neither the manager nor the interim manager are currently managing the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2683465 2

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improvement to be good

This service is judged requires improvement overall, primarily due to shortfalls in areas of safeguarding, and leadership and management oversight.

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improvement to be good

Managers have not ensured that the home is suitably well maintained and comfortable. One child was sleeping in a cold room and another in a room with considerable ceiling damage. One child’s door had a fire strip that was loose, causing a trip hazard. Leaders responded to these issues during this visit, but it is of concern that the response had not been sooner.

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improvement to be good

Staff generally support children to maintain good health. However, there is a lack of urgency and understanding of some of the children’s continuing, and sometimes complex, health needs. In one instance, a child missed a medical appointment and staff did not cancel or rearrange it until a medical professional raised a concern. One child had not been registered with a local general practitioner and, consequently, the child’s medication ran out.

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improvement to be good

Although some shortfalls were noted during this visit, children do make individual progress and enjoy living at the home. One child is better able to manage their emotions and is sleeping better at night. Another child is more confident and able to communicate with staff. Another child’s social awareness has improved, making it easier for them to manage visiting public places.

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improvement to be good

A parent spoke positively about the care that their child receives and the progress that their child has made. The staff maintain good communication with the parents, and support family time well.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to have healthy routines. They engage well with education and enjoy their time in school. Staff support the children in their interests. One child is an avid football fan and chose the decoration of their bedroom to reflect this. Other children swim, enjoy arts and crafts, and go on shopping trips in the local area. Staff encourage the children to develop life skills. For example, one child was successful in raising funds for charity through selling cakes in the school. Another child has improved in their patience and is better able to manage their emotions.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to develop independence skills, appropriate to their ability and interests. Staff encourage the children be involved in day-to-day tasks, such as managing their laundry, making breakfast, cooking, and baking. Children have opportunities to make choices. Staff take their wishes and feelings into account when making decisions about the house. This helps children to engage with the development of their environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2683465 3

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improvement to be good

Staff know the risks that each child is vulnerable to and any risks that they may pose to others. Staff are guided on the management of risk through detailed risk management plans.

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improvement to be good

Staff generally manage behaviour incidents well. They sometimes use physical interventions to keep children safe. Staff receive specialised training in behaviour management and there are clear strategies in place to help children in crisis to feel calm. However, on occasion, staff do not follow these plans. On one occasion, staff used a restraint that was not part of the child’s behaviour management plan or the least restrictive approach. One social worker said that they are not always informed of incidents that happen in the home.

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improvement to be good

The emergency remedy medication protocol for one child did not provide staff with clear guidance as to what to do in a crisis. Consequently, there is the potential for staff to not understand what to do in an emergency.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers work effectively in partnership with external agencies to report and investigate any safeguarding concerns. Staff know how to raise any concerns. However, staff do not feel that they always receive information on the outcome of any concerns raised. This is a missed opportunity to keep staff engaged.

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good

Management arrangements are currently unsettled. The registered manager has recently left the service but has not yet cancelled his registration with Ofsted. An interim manager was appointed to cover this post but he was away from work at the time of this inspection. The responsible individual is providing additional oversight to support the staff in day-to-day charge of the home.

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good

Staff do not receive regular good-quality supervision. One staff member had not had supervision since July 2023. This lack of good-quality supervision undermines the support for managers and staff to reflect on their work and learn and develop.

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good

Staff do not feel well supported and consulted about changes. Some staff raised concerns about recent restructuring and redeployment of staff. They felt that they were not consulted by managers and had some worries about the negative effect of children moving at short notice between the various homes across this large site.

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good

There is not always enough staff available to support the children’s complex needs. Consequently, staff do not always attend important meetings about the children.

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good

Staff are offered training to maintain their skills and knowledge. However, some staff indicated that they are not given the time to complete this training. Despite a child having epilepsy, not all staff have completed managing epilepsy training. Inspection report for children’s home: 2683465 4 Considering the significant needs of the child, it is of concern that staff may not be able to meet their complex needs.

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good

The home’s manager knows the children well and has good relationships with them. They have put in place a range of events and activities to show that they value children and staff, such as having an employee of the month and building memory books for the children.

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good

The manager promotes equality and diversity, and positively recognises difference. They take time to find out about each child and their family and what might work for them during their time in the home. There is celebration of religious and cultural festivals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2683465 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, 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 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the quality and maintenance of the premises are kept under regular review to keep children warm, safe and secure. 30 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

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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 30 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2683465 6 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f))

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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.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s health plans are followed and that children attend health appointments as planned. Additionally, ensure that staff attend relevant meetings about the child in relation to their health or well-being. 30 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the child’s placing authority is informed of any incidents relating to the child. 30 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— 30 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2683465 7 how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that restraints are carried out only in accordance with a child’s support plan.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that systems are in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2683465 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wandsworth Borough Council, The Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London SW18 2PU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Penelope Doswell

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2683465 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 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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