Children's home run by Care Perspectives Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699473 1 Registered provider: Care Perspectives Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home that cares for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 16 November 2023 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Inspection date: 24 January 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

p.1

Information about this inspection

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: 2699473 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

This inspection took place in response to information received by the independent visitor.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There are no children currently living in the home. Since the last inspection, in April 2023, three children have moved on from the home. One child recently moved out in line with their care plan. Two children moved out in an unplanned way. This was because staff did not have the skills to meet their complex mental health needs.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home has a new manager who has been in post for three months. The manager recognises that children were not always receiving therapeutic care. This was not in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Staff have not always understood how to meet children’s needs. The care children received was not consistent and left children feeling frustrated.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home has not had a stable staff team. Since the last inspection, several staff members have left, including the manager. The provider decided not to admit children for a period to allow them to recruit and train a new staff team. When the previous manager left, leaders undertook a detailed audit. This identified several shortfalls in the management of the home and the quality of care that children received. Leaders have identified learning outcomes and are taking action to improve the service.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Since the new manager has been in post, there have been significant improvements, in particular to the home environment and training for staff. The home is undergoing refurbishment and the decor will provide a more homely environment for children. This continues to be a work in progress and there are no plans for children to move in until it is complete.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

One child who lived at the home did make progress. The new manager reviewed their care plan. This showed that supervision levels had been appropriately reduced. As a result, improvements were reported in the child’s emotional well-being.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff advocate for children to receive education. One child attended an alternative provision and completed an animal care course. The child had not been in education before moving into the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children did not always receive care from staff who understood their needs. This is because staff had not received detailed training in children’s mental health and self- injurious behaviours. As a result, children received inconsistent levels of care. This has at times exacerbated their distress. However, the new manager has developed a detailed training plan for all staff. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699473 3 Record-keeping practice in the home varies. The recording of some significant incidents is inaccurate and lacks detail. As a result, it is not always clear what action staff have taken after a significant incident. Consequently, the manager’s review of these incidents may not always be effective.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The monitoring and oversight of the home require improvement. The manager is developing new monitoring systems. They have a good understanding of the areas in need of development in the home. They show commitment and determination to drive improvement. Leaders have a plan in place to improve the monitoring of the service, including external monitoring by the independent visitor.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Managers have failed to notify Ofsted of significant safeguarding events. This compromises the external scrutiny of the home.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699473 4

p.3

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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.4

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;

p.4

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)(c)(f)(h))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff receive adequate training which equips them with the skills to meet the needs of the children they care for. In particular, training in relation to children’s mental health and self- injurious behaviour should be undertaken before children move into the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers should ensure that they have effective systems in place to consistently monitor and review the quality of care children receive. These systems should include finding out children’s views, wishes and feelings. 20 March 2024

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 20 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699473 5 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.4

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, that the provider ensures prompt notification to HMCI of a serious event.

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, must have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). The registered person may extend the period if the member of staff has not worked in the role for a prolonged period, such as sick leave or maternity leave, or if it is not reasonable to expect the member of staff to complete in this timescale due to the nature of the hours they work. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should only move children into the home when they are satisfied that they have carried out a full and comprehensive assessment of the child’s needs and that they feel the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. The registered person

p.5

Recommendations

should then ensure that they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on all children. The home’s statement of purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699473 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Perspectives Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care Perspectives Limited, 36 Frederick Street, Loughborough LE11 3BJ

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rodrigo Ferreira

p.6

Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2699473 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7