Children's Home run by Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited in West Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 1 Registered provider: Northamptonshire Childrens Trust 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 is operated by a children’s trust on behalf of a local authority. It is a residential home for children with autism and moderate to severe learning disabilities. There are currently four children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s registered manager is currently absent from work. An experienced acting manager and assistant manager led the inspection.

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Inspection date: 30 January 2024

Date of last inspection: 25 October 2023

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Inspection date: 30 January 2024

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. The inspector has 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: 2616670 2

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted undertook this assurance inspection after receiving serious complaints. These complaints indicated that children were not safe and raised concerns for their welfare. The complaints also raised concerns over staffing and the leadership and management of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The last full inspection of this home was in October 2023. At that time, the home was judged to be good overall but required improvement in leadership and management. The managers have ensured that systems in the home have been strengthened. Staff now receive individual and reflective supervision meetings with a supervisor. Handovers, meetings and shift planning are more rigorous, which means important information is shared across the staff team. New staff employed to work in the home experience improved induction processes, and their induction is now linked to a senior staff member. Staff are also to receive training from the local authority designated officer about safeguarding, including whistle-blowing.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are encouraged to develop and maintain independent living skills in line with their developmental goals. For example, some children are developing skills such as how to put butter on bread, as part of making their own sandwiches. Other children are encouraged to take their own plates back to the kitchen after they have had a meal.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are encouraged to undertake a wide range of activities. These activities are in keeping with their interests. Some children go swimming, others have spent time at a beach and some children enjoy playing games within the home. During this inspection, children were outside enjoying the swings in the playground and enjoying each other’s company and that of staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers are working with other homes that provide a similar service, to share good practice in communicating with children with disabilities. For some children, this means they now have a more effective way to show staff if they are feeling anxious or upset.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have several ways to share their views, wishes and feelings. They have had key-work sessions about music that they enjoy listening to, preparing for the school holidays and getting ready to welcome a new child to the home. Additionally, all children meet weekly with staff, and information is provided by using alternative ways of communication, such as a social story.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that children’s cultural care needs are met well. This includes eating meals that they enjoy and having culturally specific care products. Some members of staff who speak the same language as one of the children. This has meant that these staff have been better able to help support family time for this child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 3 When concerns are raised about the care of children, leaders and managers put in additional safeguards. Monitoring is strengthened. This home has had several visits, both announced and unannounced, by senior managers, quality assurance professionals and children’s advocates. This ensures a comprehensive oversight of the children and that the functioning of the home is maintained.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have ensured that their staff know what action to take if they are concerned about a child in their care. Staff speak confidently about following the right procedures. They know how to escalate concerns to a manager and to record any concerns they may have.

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Findings from the inspection

When there are serious incidents involving children and staff, managers ensure that risk assessments are reviewed and updated. These changes direct staff in how to help children with their anxious behaviours. Further bespoke training is provided, the living environment is assessed, and staffing is increased.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has faced challenges due to a lack of managerial staff. At the time of this inspection, the home did not have an established registered manager or deputy manager. However, this home has an experienced acting manager and regular oversight from a senior manager.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last inspection, four requirements were made. At this inspection, three of the requirements had been met. The one remaining requirement will be reviewed at the next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/10/2023 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good 24/02/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 23/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period;

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)(6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is escalated from a recommendation at the last inspection and relates to delays in staff acquiring the relevant qualification in residential child care. 30 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northamptonshire Childrens Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: One Angel Square, Angel Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 1ED

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 7 regulates and inspects 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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