Children's Home run by Active Young People Limited in Stockton-on-Tees

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 1 Registered provider: Active Young People Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to nine children with learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023. Seven children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the assurance inspection on 28 November 2023, inspectors found serious and widespread concerns. Failures in the leadership and management of the home impacted on the safety and well-being of children. In response, Ofsted issued a compliance notice under regulation 13 and also raised a further eight requirements and one recommendation.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 24 January 2024, a monitoring visit took place to review the actions taken by the provider in response to the compliance notice. The remaining requirements and recommendation were not assessed at this monitoring visit. The inspector found that the registered manager met five steps of the compliance notice. However, two of the steps were not met. The compliance notice will therefore be reissued alongside the requirements and recommendation made at the last inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Following the home’s own closed cultures assessment, there are still concerns about children being cared for on their own for periods of time. Staff often work on their own, and children still do not have free access to all areas of their home. While some children need this restriction, it is not needed for all children. This means that children continue to be isolated from their peers, inhibiting their social development.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not yet identified a system for supporting and supervising staff when they return to work following any allegations. Therefore, the manager does not monitor their return to work to ensure safe practice. This does Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 2 not provide assurances that children’s safety and well-being are a priority.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There is an improvement in the cleanliness of the home, and the manager has addressed the health and safety issues. A new process has helped to achieve this, and the management team has better oversight of the home’s physical environment. The manager has introduced twice-weekly home checks, including by the maintenance team. A new system allows the manager to keep track of any issues and ensure they are addressed. This helps to ensure that the home is a suitable place for the children to live in.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has implemented a new process for overseeing any injuries to children, including revised guidance for staff. The manager has consulted with staff to ensure that the guidance is clear and works in practice. This reassures the manager that any serious safeguarding issues are identified in a timely manner.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager has made sure that all staff have completed their mandatory training. When there are gaps, this is directly addressed with the member of staff concerned. Staff are also enrolled on the required diploma course. This will help to ensure that the staff have the right knowledge and qualifications to work with the children they care for.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager now completes appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service background checks for all staff. This means that there are robust checks in place to assess the suitability of those working with vulnerable children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/02/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 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 with 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 (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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)(a)(b)(f)(h))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This compliance notice was issued at the last inspection and is restated. 17 March 2024

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 17 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 5 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.5

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who— 17 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 6 has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(vi)(vii)(ix)(c)(i)(ii) (3)(c)(i)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 17 March 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1) (a)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 17 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 7 The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 17 March 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.7

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 17 March 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 17 March 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject of a compliance notice.

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that training undertaken by staff is clearly recorded and that refresher training is undertaken within timescale. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 8

p.7

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.8

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Active Young People Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Suffolk Way, Sevenoaks TN13 1YL

p.9

Inspector

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2625941 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

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 . 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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10