Children's Home run by THR SERVICES LIMITED in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 1 Registered provider: THR Services Limited

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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 operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has resigned and is currently on garden leave. A temporary manager has been appointed.

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Information about this children’s home

One child currently lives in the home and their views were sought and considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2024

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s experiences and progress have been negatively impacted by poor and unsafe care practices and a lack of leadership and management in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the last inspection, one child moved into the home and two children have left. One child left the home very quickly because staff were unable to provide safe or effective care in accordance with a court order that restricted the child’s liberty. This move initially had a negative impact on the remaining child, but he has become increasingly more settled and is now making some progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The standard of care planning is very poor. One child did not have an individualised or relevant care or behaviour support plan throughout their stay at the home. The details in their plan, including medical diagnoses and family time, related to another child and had been cut and pasted across documents. This meant that staff did not have a clear plan of how best to support the child and their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders and managers failed to adequately assess whether they could meet the needs of a child moving into the home or the possible impact on the other child. They demonstrated a lack of consideration as to whether staff had the necessary skills and experience to support the child and keep them safe. This led to a period of instability and the child having to suddenly move to somewhere that was deemed more suitable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The therapeutic services described in the home’s statement of purpose have not been utilised to provide support and guidance. This is especially the case with care planning or in response to incidents. Staff have not received support from leaders and managers, or from the therapeutic services to understand their own feelings and emotions following incidents. This includes incidents where staff have been hurt. The staff development in relation to good care practice has been limited, and this has led to situations where staff have not challenged poor responses to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The staff demonstrated some good and positive care toward the children who have lived at the home, and have a good relationship with the child currently living in the home. They have helped the child to develop more independence, and this has had a good impact on the child. The child has been supported to develop their relationships with family and spend regular time with them, including planning a family holiday.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child has some limited education that is delivered by a tutor and has recently been to visit a local college. They have been helping in the home with some maintenance jobs to support them in developing essential life skills. The physical environment has been improved and looks more welcoming. Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff have resorted to using a physical restraint that was disproportionate to the risk to the child. A child was held to retrieve a mobile phone from under their clothing. The child subsequently complained about being inappropriately held. The incident was overseen and evaluated by the interim manager, who was also involved in the incident and had also not had the correct training. There was a delay in reporting the allegation to external professionals. The responsible individual has not worked cohesively with external safeguarding agencies in taking appropriate action in response to this concern. Further concerns raised by the child during this incident about staff conduct have not been addressed or reported. Steps were taken during the inspection to investigate this concern.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

A child also received some injuries during a physical restraint. There is no record of any action being taken in response to the child’s medical needs or any professional curiosity as to how these injuries may have occurred. The restraint practice of staff is not being rigorously reviewed to ensure that it is being undertaken safely by staff and this leaves children and staff at increased risk.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff failed to record missing-from-care incidents accurately. Staff do not document when the child returned to the home and in what circumstances. Essential information relating to missing-from-care incidents has not been recorded or shared with external agencies. Staff failed to follow the steps within a court order that restricted a child’s liberty to prevent and mitigate the risk of a child going missing from the home. This places children at risk of harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans are poor. They do not include all the necessary information that staff require to alert them to a child’s risk and how to keep a child safe. This also includes the actions that staff should take to ensure that there is compliance with a court order.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Leaders and managers fail to ensure that risks for children who display self-injurious behaviour are shared with health professionals. They do not ensure that when incidents occur these are reflected in children’s risk assessment, support plan, or health plans. Guidance for staff on how to support children is poor and health professionals do not have oversight of a child’s emotional health and well-being.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff rotas do not consistently reflect who is working in the home or when they have worked. Some rotas were missing, notably the rotas for the time when a child on a deprivation of liberty order was in the home. Staff handovers and a daily logbook do not always contain information about who was in the home. This prevents any oversight or scrutiny as to whether sufficient staff were working to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has resigned and been placed on garden leave with no access to work documents. The interim manager is currently absent to allow for an investigation to take place following a physical intervention. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 5 management of the home is now being led by the current responsible individual, with support from a newly appointed consultant, who is considering applying for the role of responsible individual. This means that independent oversight of the home is currently limited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual has not provided effective scrutiny or challenge to improve practice. They have provided limited oversight and monitoring of the home. The responsible individual was unaware of some of the concerns raised during this inspection as they had not undertaken any internal audits.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home is poor. There is a lack of quality assurance and monitoring, which means that the home has failed to make progress since the last inspection. In some areas, there has been a decline in expected standards, which means that children are receiving less-than-good care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not being provided with regular or reflective supervision. The quality of staff supervision is poor, and staff are not being supported to reflect on their practice or develop their knowledge and skills. Staff do not have development plans in place as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have access to a range of training courses and have completed mandatory training, such as safeguarding and health and safety. None of the staff have the prescribed childcare qualification, but some staff are enrolled on the required course. The interim manager has yet to complete some training, including first-aid and behaviour management training, and this has impacted on effective oversight of incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s and staff’s files are not easily accessible, and some information requested during the inspection was not shared as leaders and managers were unable to locate it. It was not evident where some information was located or how it could be accessed. This meant that some essential information was not shared when requested.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Several requirements from the last inspection were not met and have been reset. As a result of the significant shortfalls and decline in standards, a restriction notice has been imposed to prevent any more children from moving in to the home. Three compliance notices have been set to address the most-significant areas for improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 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, 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

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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to children’s plans being relevant to the child, reviewed, updated, and known to staff. 12 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; 12 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 7 are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to children having relevant and current support plans, which are known and understood by staff. It also relates to staff being provided with opportunities to reflect on their working practices.

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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 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to children having a relevant and current risk assessment, which is understood by staff. This also relates to fully documenting any incidents of children going missing from care, including details of the return of the child. In addition, rotas should accurately reflect who has worked in the home and when. 12 July 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; 12 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 8 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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;

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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)(a)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to implementing systems and processes that allow for monitoring, quality assurance and oversight of the home. This also relates to ensuring that the statement of purpose accurately reflects the home and is known to staff.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the 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 who it is intended that 12 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 9 the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that any restraint of a child is in line with legislation and guidance, and staff are aware of this. 12 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience, and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the responsible individual providing sufficient scrutiny and oversight of the home and in having the knowledge and skills to manage all aspects of safeguarding. 7 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(c)) 12 July 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

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline, or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— 12 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 10 a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate;

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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)(b) (3)(a)(iv)(vii)(b)(i)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensure that there is effective management evaluation of restraint reports by a suitably qualified person; all restraints are properly documented; and debriefs are undertaken with children and staff by the registered or authorised person.

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2735355 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: THR Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Room 2 First Floor, Main Road, Middleton Cheney OX17 2PW

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Inspector

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2735355 12 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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