Children's home run by Serenity Housing Service Ltd

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2734050 1 Registered provider: Serenity Housing Service Ltd

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural needs. There was one child living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The registered manager has been in post since 25 August 2023.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children's home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 10 January 2024. A restriction notice was issued which prevented the provider from admitting any further children to the home. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to consider the areas of concern that led to the notice being issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of concern. The child currently living in the home described it as ‘calm’ and feels that things have improved in recent weeks. She is attending school and making progress in terms of learning to be more independent. Because of the progress she has made, she no longer needs more than one staff member to support her.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The child in the home reports that she feels safe, gets on well with the staff and has trusted adults there with whom she feels comfortable to raise any concerns.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The registered manager has recently left his position and the provider has recruited an experienced manager who is working part time to oversee the care practice in the home. She is actively recruiting a new full-time manager and is onsite daily to provide additional management support.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has recruited new staff who are experienced in the role and two staff who have level 3 residential care qualifications. A new deputy manager has also been recruited. These staff are not yet in post as they are awaiting employment Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2734050 2 checks to be completed in line with safer recruitment practice. Subject to these checks being satisfactory, the provider has sufficient staff to manage if more children are admitted to the home. The responsible individual has undertaken not to admit more children until the new staff are in place. She has a sensible plan to phase any admissions to ensure that any new children and the staff are settled and well supported.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager has addressed the shortfalls in relation to recruitment identified at the last inspection and has completed all checks to explore the reasons for any gaps in employment for the existing staff and new recruits.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has held a number of team events and provided additional training to address the concerns relating to behaviour management that were identified at the last full inspection. They have completed face to face training on understanding trauma informed care, how to manage conflict and how to model good behaviours when communicating with children. There are monthly team meeting facilitated by a therapist to allow space for staff to reflect on their work and to develop informed strategies to support children. All staff have now completed face to face first aide training.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There have been no incidents that would require notification to Ofsted. The responsible individual is now clear on what they are required to notify. She has better systems in place to maintain oversight to ensure that information relating to safeguarding concerns are shared with the regulator in future.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the physical environment and the home is clean, comfortable and suitable for children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

It was not possible to fully test some areas that were identified as shortfalls at the last full inspection. For this reason, the requirements in relation to managing behaviours appropriately and improving management monitoring will remain in place.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The recommendations relating to improving record keeping and staff responses if children are missing from the home were not tested at this inspection and will remain in place.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The provider has made sufficient progress to address the concerns set out in the notice and as a result, Ofsted has now lifted the restriction notice.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/01/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2734050 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 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)(b))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff respond appropriately to behaviours from children that they may find challenging. 1 May 2024

p.3

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— promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 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; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints

p.3

Requirement Due date

received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 1 May 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2734050 4 (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.3

Recommendation(s)

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, they follow-up with the responsible local authority to ensure that the child has an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion, and third-party information. Records are to also be kept up to date. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62,

p.4

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.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2734050 5

p.4

Children's home details

Registered provider: Serenity Housing Service LTD

p.5

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 320 City Road, London, EC1V 2NZ

p.5

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Keneisha Foreman

p.5

Inspector(s)

Lee Kirwin, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2734050 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.

p.5

Inspector(s)

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.6

Inspector(s)

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

p.6

Inspector(s)

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

p.6