Children's Home run by Azalea Care Ltd in Peterborough

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2682522 1 Azalea Care 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 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

A new manager has been in post since December 2023 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Following a full inspection in October 2023, Ofsted served a compliance notice in relation to the leadership and management of the home and issued a notice restricting accommodation. On 16 November 2023, Ofsted carried out 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. Ofsted carried out a full inspection in January 2024 and found that the steps in the compliance notice were met and the notice restricting accommodation was lifted.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out due to concerns being raised to Ofsted. At the time of the visit, one child was living at the home. The inspector reviewed records and spoke to staff and the management team. The inspector also spent time with the child.

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This monitoring visit

The management team is committed to making the required improvements. The manager has applied to register with Ofsted. A new deputy manager has been appointed. Staff said that support from the management team has improved.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the manager has provided additional training to staff. This includes training in safeguarding disabled children, recording and reporting, communicating with disabled children, autism awareness, and an approach based on Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2682522 2 communicating and building relationships with children. This means that staff are trained to meet the child’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and deputy manager have not yet received training in physical intervention but are booked to attend. Since the last inspection, there have been no restraints or incidents. Both managers have relevant childcare experience and qualifications, which enables them to have good oversight of any future incidents or physical interventions.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has made progress with the safer recruitment of staff. They have improved systems to ensure that all recruitment checks are carried out before starting employment. The staff files reviewed include all the required checks to ensure that staff are safe to work with children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has improved the regularity of staff supervision sessions. Files sampled evidence that all staff have received monthly supervision since December 2023.

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This monitoring visit

Staff work closely with the child’s school. Staff have learned how to use a Picture Exchange Communication System from the school staff. The school has shared resources with staff. This ensures that the child receives continuity in their preferred way of communicating. As a result, the child has started to make choices and let staff know how they feel.

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This monitoring visit

Staff organise activities that they know the child will enjoy. The child has experienced messy play, sensory experiences, football, shopping, and meals in the local community. An interim arrangement is in place which limits the child visiting an trampoline park. This is because staff lack the skills and confidence to keep the child safe. Additional training has been identified to help staff manage the risk. The child has access to a trampoline in the garden, which allows them to enjoy their interest while being kept safe. The manager keeps this arrangement under review and offers alternative experiences to the child.

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This monitoring visit

The manager understands the importance of monitoring the quality of care provided. While internal systems are not yet fully embedded, she is aware of the child’s progress, any concerns, and she manages staff performance. A new independent visitor has been appointed. This will ensure that there is an independent level of scrutiny.

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This monitoring visit

Staff follow care plans which help the child to experience their preferred routines and favourite activities. However, these plans are not reviewed regularly, and information is not updated. This means that the child may experience inconsistency in the staff’s approach.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has met four requirements from the previous inspection. Three of the requirements are not met and have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2682522 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/10/2023 Full Inadequate 15/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2682522 4

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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 with 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 22 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2682522 5 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

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

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 22 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 1 March 2024

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2682522 6

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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

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2682522 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 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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