Children's Home run by Prime Nurture Services Limited in Nottinghamshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2665204 1 Registered provider: Prime Nurture Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for four children who may have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There is an acting manager who is not registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

There were no children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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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 these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: 2665204 2

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The care of children

Instability in the management team is impacting on consistency of care for children. There has not been a registered manager since July 2022. A number of managers have been appointed but not made a long-term commitment to the home. As a result, there has been disruption to the way in which care is delivered.

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The care of children

Despite this, staff have built positive relationships with children. They spend time with children doing things they enjoy and help them to feel valued. Children have requested to keep in contact with some staff when they have moved. This has been supported where possible.

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The care of children

Three children have moved since the last full inspection. One child was very unhappy about the way in which her placement ended. She felt rejected by the home. The child made complaints which were not responded to in a satisfactory way. This means the child feels that she was not listened to. This could impact on her ability to build trusted relationships with adults in the future.

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The care of children

There were no children living at the home at the time of the inspection. This has been the case since December 2023. Leaders and managers are currently making decisions about children who they can care for. Managers are building relationships with placing authorities to demonstrate they can meet children’s needs. This work is ongoing.

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The care of children

Managers have refurbished the home whilst it has been empty. It is a welcoming and comfortable place for children to live.

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The safety of children

Staff have been required to deal with some serious incidents involving children. One child experienced high levels of distress which overwhelmed her at times. Staff worked hard to keep her safe from significant harm on many occasions. This required the use of physical intervention at times. Overall, these incidents have been recorded thoroughly and the child was able to talk about her feelings following a serious incident.

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The safety of children

Children have made allegations about staff. These have been fully investigated and referred to the appropriate agencies. Where concerns about staff have been evidenced managers have taken action using disciplinary processes where appropriate. This prevents children from being cared for by unsuitable adults.

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The safety of children

At the time of the inspection managers were considering information about a child who may move into the home. They did not have a shared understanding of some of the risks and vulnerabilities affecting the child. They had not fully considered all of Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2665204 3 the known risks in the context of a children’s home. This could present difficulties in the future which could impact on the stability of the child’s placement. Managers have developed a new system for assessing risks, however this is not yet fully implemented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Three managers have been appointed since the last inspection. The two previous managers left their positions with very little notice which caused disruption for children and staff. Staff speak positively about the current manager and have confidence in her approach. She is the registered manager for another home owned by the provider and the intention is for her to register for this home. There is a relatively new regional manager who is providing some support to the manager as she establishes herself in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have not had the benefit of developing an ongoing trusting supervisory relationship with a manager. This hinders opportunities for learning and development as well as establishing confidence in a permanent leader. There is a risk that the ethos of the home will be diluted without clear direction. This can affect staff motivation, commitment and levels of resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders recognise that continuity in terms of the direction of the home has been impacted by the absence of a permanent manager. For example, the ongoing learning and planning for the home has not been a fluent process. The deputy manager and staff team have had to respond to a number of new management styles and recording systems. This has been unhelpful in terms of maintaining consistency in the home. There are plans in place to help staff move forward in a positive way. Following inspection, managers understand that this needs to be an ongoing process rather than a ‘one off’ event.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The requirements and recommendation made at the last full inspection will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2665204 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/11/2022 Full Good 12/07/2022 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2665204 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, 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children's home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider— is an organisation or a partnership; (Reg 27(1)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that a manager is appointed and registers with Ofsted within the required timescales and informs Ofsted of the reason for any delay to this process. 14 May 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— that staff—

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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

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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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that all staff have a full understanding of and can implement children's risk management plans and that this is consistent across the team. Where specific equipment or checks are required for children then the registered person must ensure that these are available and/or communicated at all times. 14 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2665204 6 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 promotes their welfare.

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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 the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff understand the model of care being used in the home and that it is implemented consistently with all children. If there are changes to children's care plans the registered person must ensure that this is clearly communicated to all staff working in the home. 14 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children's home if—

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must only appoint a manager after gaining full information regarding their employment history and explain any gaps in employment. 14 May 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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 14 May 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2665204 7 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that complaints made by children are fully investigated and responses provided in a timely and sensitive way.

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. Professionally qualified staff employed by the home, e.g. teachers or social workers, should be provided with relevant professional or clinical supervision by an appropriately qualified and experienced professional ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2). Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2665204 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Prime Nurture Services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Newstead House, Pelham Road, Nottingham, NG5 1AP

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Inspector

Laura Walker, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2665204 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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Inspector

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