Children's Home run by Action for Children in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 1 Registered provider: Action for Children Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in August 2023. It provides care for up to four children with physical and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened in August 2023 and is undertaking a suitable qualification.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: this is the home’s first inspection

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 2

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improvement to be good

Since the home opened, two children have moved into the home. Their moves were well planned, with picture stories to explain the changes for them and short visits to get to know the staff and the environment. This helped the children settle in and build relationships with the staff and each other.

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improvement to be good

Both children have continued to attend their previous schools and attend daily. However, while regular review meetings of children’s education have been attended by the staff, targets from the children’s education plans are not incorporated into children’s care planning routines. This is a missed opportunity to support children’s development.

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improvement to be good

The staff are proud of the progress that children have made in the short time that they have been living at the home. For example, one child has started to carry out self-care tasks, such as using cutlery and learning to feed themselves. Another child has been nominated for an achievement award by the local authority and will attend an award ceremony. However, children’s progress in other areas is limited as care planning processes do not help staff to understand what children’s goals and aspirations are or the actions agreed in their statutory reviews.

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improvement to be good

Staff can communicate with children on a basic level to understand their daily needs and how they feel. However, only one staff member is trained in the children’s specific communication needs. While this staff member has shared some knowledge with others, it limits children’s options to be able to share their views, wishes and feelings and contribute to their care planning.

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improvement to be good

There are several shortfalls in the arrangements for children’s healthcare and the administration and records of prescribed medicines. For example, one child follows a preferred feeding plan. However, there is no written record that demonstrates the medical advice that was received to support this plan. Furthermore, changes to the plan have been implemented without medical oversight. There are confusing instructions for one child’s medicine. Records also suggest omissions in children’s medication which could not be explained. Therefore, on some occasions, it is unknown whether children have received some of their medicines as per the prescriber’s directions.

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improvement to be good

The home is spacious and well furnished, and children have personalised their bedrooms. However, measures such as window locks, assessed as being needed to keep children safe, are not being monitored or implemented as intended and keys Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 3 were left in these. There are several other instances where staff have become complacent and not always followed policies and procedures intended to keep children safe, for example leaving cleaning products out and not clearing knives away after meals.

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improvement to be good

An assessment of fire safety highlighted actions for the registered provider to take. While some of the actions were addressed, several actions have not been carried out and the responsible individual was unaware of this. Urgent action was taken during the inspection to address these shortfalls.

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improvement to be good

Overall, staff know children well. They use children’s strengths to promote positive behaviour. They recognise the importance of routines and boundaries for the children to feel safe. For one child, this has given them stability to be able to make progress in their self-care skills.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not use consequences but look at how to redirect children when they are upset or finding something difficult. This means that staff have not had to physically intervene to support children.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has taken action to report concerns that a child expressed. However, while staff offered the child comfort and support, risk and care plans have not been updated. Consequently, staff do not always respond consistently to signs of distress or trauma for this child.

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improvement to be good

Practices to ensure that staff are fully vetted before they work with children are in place for internal and agency staff. However, records do not demonstrate that Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates have always been viewed. The responsible individual has recently taken action to begin to address this shortfall following an audit of the records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the registered manager has been away from the home. In the interim, the responsible individual has supported the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have not implemented systems to ensure effective monitoring and oversight of children’s care. Some important records were not available, which have had a negative impact on children’s care planning. Shortfalls in medication administration and recording were not identified in a timely way. The response to health and safety matters, including fire safety, has not always been robust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staffing rotas are unclear and do not give accurate details of who has worked in the home and the hours that they have worked. Consequently, leaders are unable to assure themselves of the consistency of staff and records would not be accurate should they be required in the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 4 Guidance for staff to ensure appropriate practice is lacking. For example, all items of children’s clothing are labelled, adding to the stigma that children in care may feel. Furthermore, records containing children’s personal information are not always securely stored, failing to protect children’s privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Training records are poorly maintained. It is unclear whether all staff have completed mandatory training. Consequently, many staff lack important skills. This includes the skills needed to communicate effectively with children. One staff member has shared some knowledge with their colleagues. However, children’s worlds are limited to the signs and words that they use.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not always get the support that they need. For example, team meetings have not occurred on a regular basis. Records of supervision sessions are poor and there are gaps. This makes it impossible for managers to be assured that staff receive good-quality, frequent supervision. The staff say that they feel supported by each other, and the responsible individual is starting to make improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered provider has not included some of the required details in the statement of purpose relating to leadership and management. Therefore, it does not provide information regarding the experience and qualifications of the staff, or the arrangements for their supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A recent review of the quality of care was carried out by the responsible individual that highlighted some of the shortfalls found during the inspection. An action plan was started in January 2024 and some of the changes have started to become embedded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 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

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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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

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;

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that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vii)(b)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

 Reviewing and updating children’s relevant plans to ensure that there is effective risk mitigation.

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Requirement Due date

 Ensuring that staff are aware of the policies and procedures to keep children safe, and reviewing their effectiveness.  Taking action to address avoidable hazards in the home. 31 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 6 If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(b)) 31 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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

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achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider should ensure that they follow and review all children’s healthcare planning and seek medical consultation where required to inform this planning.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider should also ensure that children receive their prescribed medicines in line with the correct directions, and make arrangements for omissions in children’s administration of medicines to be addressed without delay. 31 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 7 The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider should ensure that staff are able to communicate effectively with children using relevant communication tools so that children can communicate their views, wishes and feelings and provide feedback on the quality of care they receive. 31 March 2024

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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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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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

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

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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;

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use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(h)) 31 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 8 Specifically, the registered provider must:

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Requirement Due date

 establish effective oversight and monitoring systems of the quality of children’s care  seek the views, experiences and wishes of children, using effective communication, to make improvements to children’s quality of care  ensure that staff have the skills, support, development and experience to support children’s care.

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The care planning standard is that children—

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

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

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that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)(f)) 31 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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ensure that the records are kept up to date.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staffing rosters. 14 April 2024

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The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. 14 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 9 (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should review practice around labelling of children’s clothing, and respecting children’s right to privacy regarding where their records are kept so that only people who need access to personal information have this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.13)  The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice and should ensure that guidance relating to (DBS) checks is followed to verify the original certificate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 60, paragraph 13.1)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2742583 11 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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Inspector

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