Children's Home run by Young Options Group Ltd in Surrey

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2737107 1

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Young Options Group Ltd

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides medium- and long-term care for up to two children aged between 11 and 18 years who have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 4 September 2023.

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This monitoring visit

On 21 September 2023, Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection in response to significant concerns and allegations raised in relation to the home. This assurance inspection identified serious concerns. To prevent risk of harm should any children be moved in to the home, Ofsted issued the provider with a notice suspending the registration of the home. This suspension notice prevents the provider from moving any children in to the home while it is in place.

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This monitoring visit

This is the second monitoring visit completed since the assurance inspection. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to monitor compliance with the suspension notice and to consider the provider’s response to the requirements raised at the assurance inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The external investigations regarding the serious concerns and allegations, which led to the suspension of registration, remain ongoing. The provider has continued to comply with the suspension notice. No children have moved in to the home since it was issued.

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This monitoring visit

The leadership team demonstrated that they have made some progress towards improving systems, processes and policies. They continue to address the shortfalls Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2737107 2 identified at the assurance inspection and have maintained their progress based on the detailed service improvement plan submitted to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Improved systems to ensure the safer recruitment of non-care staff are in place. However, the system remains untested in relation to care staff who will have direct responsibility for children. Leaders have produced a new staff behaviour and code of conduct policy. This is to help to address concerns raised about the behaviour of staff.

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This monitoring visit

The staff who remain working for the home have received training around child protection and keeping children safe. All managers have completed designated safeguarding lead training. The have also completed training around positive relationships and communicating with children in care.

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This monitoring visit

While leaders and managers have made some improvements, it has not been possible to test these fully. Therefore, the requirements have been repeated at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2737107 3

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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, 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

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).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

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)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 3 March 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.

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so 3 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2737107 4 as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

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

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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: 2737107 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Young Options Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Astra House, The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8RZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Lindsey Alexander

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2737107 6 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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