Children's home run by Kent County Council

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2536967 1

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Kent County Council

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a local authority and first opened in December 2019. According to its statement of purpose, it is ‘a specialist service that delivers support for up to three children, male or female, aged 11 to 18 years, who demonstrate complex and challenging behaviour. Its aim is to provide a period of intervention and support to children for up to 12 weeks before they return to their families.’

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the visit, discussions were under way regarding the appointment of a manager.

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This monitoring visit

Following a monitoring visit in January 2022, the home had been made subject to a condition requiring them to give three months’ notice prior to the admission of a child. This visit was undertaken to consider if the home was ready for the admission of children.

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This monitoring visit

The premises were suitably decorated and the bedrooms were well equipped. The home appeared bright and welcoming. Measures are in place to ensure that children are cared for by experienced staff.

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This monitoring visit

While no manager had been appointed at the time of the visit, there had been significant steps taken to recruit a manager who would be able to run the service in line with its statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

As no children have been cared for since the last monitoring visit, compliance with the requirements and recommendations was not assessed at this time.

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This monitoring visit

The home is ready to become operational and the condition can be removed. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2536967 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2536967 3

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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 with the given timescales.

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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—

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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;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 1 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 1 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

any person who works as a nurse at the home is a registered nurse. (Regulation 31 (1) (2)(b)) 1 June 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2536967 4 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1)) 1 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. (Regulation 45 (1)) 1 June 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  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. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’‘, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  Regulation 35 requires a home to prepare and implement a behaviour management policy. This policy should describe the home’s approach to promoting positive behaviour and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations,

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Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.33) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2536967 5

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2536967 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kent County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sessions House, County Road, Maidstone ME14 1XQ

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Inspector

Teri Peck, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2536967 7 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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