Children's Home run by Azalea Care Ltd in Peterborough

Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 1 Registered provider: Azalea Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to five children with physical or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager. A new manager has been in post since December 2023 but has not yet submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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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 inadequate

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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

Date of last inspection: 17 October 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Following a full inspection in October 2023, Ofsted served a compliance notice in relation to the leadership and management of the home. On 16 November 2023, Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit to establish the provider’s progress in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notice; the steps had not been met. A further compliance notice was served in November 2023. The steps in the compliance notice have been assessed at this full inspection. The steps have been met and the restriction of accommodation has been lifted. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2023 Full Inadequate 15/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home. Two children have moved out of the home since the last inspection. One child experienced an unplanned end to living at the home. Managers made this decision due to the risks and effect on another child living at the home. However, managers have not identified any lessons from this situation to prevent further unplanned endings. The other child who moved out had a clear transition plan from their placing authority and experienced a positive ending.

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improvement to be good

Communication with school staff is not always effective. One child’s school raised concerns about information not being passed on following incidents at the home. A teacher from another school said that there was a lack of communication and organisation. There is a home–school communication book, but the relationships with school staff do not provide enough support for children.

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improvement to be good

The staff do not always follow children’s plans for spending time with their families. One child’s care plan indicates that they should see their family member at the home. However, the family visit took place in the community. The manager did not identify this and, therefore, the staff have not been reminded of the guidance for these visit arrangements.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to take part in activities. Staff are aware of children’s likes and interests and plan activities to support these. Children are asked for their views using communication methods that they understand.

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improvement to be good

Allegations against staff are not always appropriately reported. An allegation from a child was reported to managers; however, no referral to the local authority designated officer (LADO) was made. The staff member concerned has continued to work at the home since the allegation. Managers spoke to the staff member involved and also to other staff who were present; however, these conversations were not recorded. This lack of appropriate referral and reporting could mean that children are at risk of being cared for by inappropriate adults. Other allegations have been referred to the LADO. However, there has been a delay in receiving an outcome from the LADO. Two staff members were allowed to return to work without any outcome from the LADO. Managers spoke to the staff members and training was provided but there was no rationale explaining why the decision was made for the staff members to return to the home without a conclusion to the allegations.

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improvement to be good

There have been a number of incidents when staff have required police assistance. Managers identified that police were being called too frequently to manage Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 4 incidents. However, management oversight of the incident reports does not always detail other actions staff could have taken. Behaviour management training was identified for the staff team and was provided.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practice is not always followed. For example, a reference for a new staff member was not obtained until after they had started working at the home, and a full employment history with dates of previous employment was not obtained. This could mean that unsafe adults are working with children.

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improvement to be good

Restraints are proportionate and used to keep children and staff safe. Debriefs with staff and children take place following restraints and other incidents. There is a system to monitor other measures of control used to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not addressed some practice concerns. In addition, the actions to address the concerns identified in previous inspections are not effective. At this inspection, four of the previous requirements have been restated and a further three requirements have been raised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Concerns raised by staff are not always investigated. Staff raised some concerns about not being able to contact the on-call member of staff. These concerns were not investigated by managers. This could leave staff feeling unsupported while working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The investigation into a complaint about the home received by Ofsted was limited. The provider was asked to provide a response regarding the complaint. The response was sent outside the allocated timescale. The report into these concerns failed to provide evidence to support the findings. Some actions were identified but these have not been concluded. This means that the provider has not fully investigated the concerns raised to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to address these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Notifications to Ofsted are not always made. An allegation about a member of staff was not notified to Ofsted. This limits Ofsted’s oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The updated statement of purpose has not been sent to Ofsted. The current manager’s details are not included in the statement of purpose. This means that families, Ofsted and professionals are not aware of who is managing the home. The quality of care report is not yet due; therefore, this requirement has been restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager joined the home to support management arrangements and officially started as the manager in December 2023. The manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted and is working towards their level 5 qualification. Staff said that they feel more supported by the new manager. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 5 Appraisals for staff are carried out. Staff supervision sessions and team meetings take place regularly. This supports staff to develop their knowledge and reflect on their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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; 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; 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)(f)(h)) 9 February 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 9 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 7 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is

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Requirement Due date

restated. The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or 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, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 16 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 9 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to 8 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 8 the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (d)) In particular, ensure that there is effective communication and working relationships with children’s schools. The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 16 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b) (4)(a) (5)) This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 16 February 2024

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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: 2682522 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Azalea Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 6, Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6FT United Kingdom

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Inspector

Leanne Lyon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2682522 10 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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