Children's home run by Prosperity Children’s Services Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696604 1 Registered provider: Prosperity Children’s Services

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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 operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. 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: 2696604 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection was carried out in response to a complaint received by Ofsted in relation to behaviour management and the maintenance of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders have identified shortfalls in the care provided to children. This includes the matters raised in the complaint. Leaders have recruited an independent quality assurance consultant to provide an evaluation of practice. This process had not concluded at the time of this inspection. However, the independent consultant said that leaders had taken action to respond to immediate learning.

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Findings from the inspection

There is damage throughout the communal areas of the home and children’s bedrooms. Managers have identified that the home environment needs to improve and have taken steps to refurbish the home. Refurbishment of the home started prior to this inspection. Managers took immediate action to resolve hazards identified during the inspection. This means that the children live in a safe environment. Children have chosen décor and furnishings. This enables children to personalise their home.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager was not working in the home at the time of this inspection due to an unplanned absence. Interim management arrangements are ineffective. Management oversight of staff practice is inconsistent. This means that managers do not understand how staff practice impacts on the experiences of the children. Leaders have recruited a new manager and a deputy manager to start working in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Some staff feel unsupported by the management team. Since there has been no manager in the home, staff do not receive regular supervision. This is a missed opportunity to guide and develop staff practice. Despite this, staff work closely with external professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans do not capture their current needs. Staff cannot always access children’s plans due to system difficulties. This was not resolved at the time of this inspection. As a result, staff do not always have access to information about children’s needs. This does not support consistent care practices. Despite this, some children make progress. For example, one child’s sleep routine has improved since they moved into the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers do not ensure a clear understanding of how children’s needs will be met before they move into the home. In particular, managers have not consulted with key professionals to consider how children already living in the home may be affected. This means that children’s needs are not fully understood, and staff feel unprepared to care for them. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696604 3 Staff hold children as a last resort to keep them safe. Staff and children involved in a hold are not always given the opportunity to discuss this with managers. This is a missed opportunity to understand children’s experiences and to develop staff practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696604 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696604 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home environment is maintained to a high standard and that any repairs are completed. 1 April 2024

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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—

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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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; 1 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696604 6 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that managers provide staff with regular supervision, evaluate staff practice and act on any shortfalls identified.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that before a child moves into the home there is a clear understanding of how their needs will be met alongside other children already living in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to the registered person ensuring that children’s plans include current information and that staff have access to these. 1 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 1 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696604 7 within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a) (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that following a physical intervention, children and staff who were involved are given the opportunity to talk about this, and that records reflect the outcome of these discussions. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696604 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prosperity Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Prosperity Childrens Services Ltd, 8 Mercury Rise, Altham Business Park, Altham, Accrington BB5 5BY

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Inspector

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696604 9 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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