Children's Home run by The Kennedy and Elliott Partnership LLP in Newham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 1 Registered provider: Kennedy And Elliott Partnership Limited Liability Partnership Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider to care for up to four children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager both registered with Ofsted in August 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children are currently living in the home. The inspectors spoke to both children.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 3

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improvement to be good

The physical environment of the home is not always maintained to a standard that demonstrates to children that their well-being, comfort and care are a priority. In particular, one child’s bedroom was unkempt, dirty and in disrepair, with damage to walls that had not been repaired for several months and broken furniture.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are identified in their plans and the manager outlines actions that staff should follow to support children. However, some information is incorrect or conflicting and this may impact staff’s ability to keep children safe and healthy. For example, one child’s plan incorrectly states they are registered with a local GP.

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improvement to be good

Children’s complaints are not formally recorded. While children are supplied with a children’s guide when they first move into the home, staff do not remind them about how they can formally complain. This has this left one child feeling like their views were not heard.

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improvement to be good

One child has friendly relationships with staff, and their parent and social worker both said that the child was happy at the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children well to access education, encouraging children and using positive targets to promote their attendance. Staff collaborate with partner agencies to help children to progress. While there is more to do to ensure consistent attendance, it is positive that the children want to attend school. One child has begun attending school as a result of the care they have had since moving into the home.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to develop life skills such as cooking, shopping and managing their personal care routines. One child prepared a meal with staff and said that they enjoyed learning to cook.

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improvement to be good

Children attend a weekly house meeting and are supported to plan activities and menus for the week ahead. Staff consider activities that the children enjoy, including bike riding and movie nights.

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improvement to be good

However, children do not always understand or contribute to day-to-day decisions about their care. One child said they needed additional money for personal care items. Staff had considered this in the child’s plan and had spare items available but the child was not aware of this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 4

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always explore all potential risks for children. For example, one child had attempted to self-harm before moving to this home. However, their room contained items that could be used to cause self-harm. This was not identified in the child’s risk assessment.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always have the skills and experience to support children with complex needs. In one instance, this led a child leaving the home in an unplanned way. This disrupted the child’s care and led to some staff leaving their jobs at the home.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff have developed effective links with partner agencies and share information to safeguard children. Staff communicate with missing-from-home coordinators, police and social workers to reduce risks for children.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the risks that the internet may pose to children. They take action to reduce potential risks to one child living in the home. They discuss and review their actions with the child and their social worker.

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improvement to be good

Children have access to a drama therapist, who provides support in the home. However, these sessions are not at present used to inform the children’s care plans or staff learning.

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good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. The responsible individual is currently providing the manager with additional support as the post of deputy manager is vacant.

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good

Maintenance workers are contracted by the home, but there is damage to communal areas and refuse has not been removed. A kitchen cupboard door is missing. A large cardboard box was left at the front of the property and a child was able to retrieve a broken mirror that had been left outside for several weeks.

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good

The manager challenges staff when she identifies the need to improve communication with children. The manager provides appropriate support and challenge, and has organised training to address this issue, but not all staff have completed the training.

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good

Leaders and managers have developed a plan for trauma-informed training that they intend to use to improve staff skills, to have a positive impact for the children.

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good

Supervision is regular and is an opportunity for staff to make suggestions about how to improve the service. Staff share their views and concerns. In some instances, the manager acts on this, at other times not. Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 5 Leaders and managers undertake the necessary checks during the recruitment process but they do not always record that they check qualifications in line with regulation.

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good

The majority of shortfalls raised at the last inspection have been addressed. The requirement in relation to risk assessments was made at the last inspection and is restated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 6

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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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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to ensuring that:  risk assessments clearly set out and evaluate all known risks to children;  all known hazards are removed from children’s bedrooms. This requirement is restated. 21 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 7 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

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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 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)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 21 March 2024

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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

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 staff— 21 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 8 understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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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

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) 2(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(vii)(viii) (c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to ensuring that:  children have the personal items they require;  the premises is kept in a good state of repair and cleared of refuse in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) 2(a)(i)) 21 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— 21 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 9 develop positive relationships with them;

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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; ensure that each child—

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

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Requirement Due date

has access to the home’s children’s guide, and the home’s complaints procedure, when the child’s placement in the home is agreed and throughout the child’s stay in the home. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) 2(a)(ii)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that each child has access to details of each person they can contact to make a complaint.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. This specifically relates to ensuring that staff work as a team. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 10.13)

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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: 2654867 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kennedy And Elliott Partnership LLP

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Abacus House, Forest Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1DX

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Inspectors

Natalie Marshall, Social Care Inspector Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2654867 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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