Children's home run by Care Perspectives Ltd

Inspection report children's home: 2699473 1 Registered provider: Care Perspectives 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 is a private children’s home that cares for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been in post since 16 November 2023 and has applied to register with Ofsted. They are suitably qualified and experienced.

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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: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2699473 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2023 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2699473 3

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improvement to be good

No children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. The manager was also on leave. Since the last inspection one child has moved into the home. The child moved out within three weeks. The child's overall experiences while living in the home were poor. The child had complex mental health needs. Inexperienced staff did not have the confidence or skills to meet the child's needs. This compromised the child's safety.

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improvement to be good

The child's move into the home was not well planned. Managers and external professionals did not adequately prepare the child for the move. They did not thoroughly consider the child's needs and the skill set of the staff team. On the day after the child moved in, they went missing. During this time, they engaged in self-injurious behaviour. This led to a hospital stay for six days which included their birthday. Staff did their best to create positive memories for the child. They remained with them continuously to ensure that they felt supported.

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improvement to be good

Managers do not thoroughly explore potential risks to children before they move in. For example, risks in the local area were not considered. This compromised the child's safety. Managers have since reviewed the home’s location risk assessment. This is now much more detailed and there are plans to meet with the police to explore risks in the local area.

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improvement to be good

The homes arrangements for the administration of medication require improvement. The handover and transition of medication when the child moved in and out of the home was poor. Records contain gaps and do not explain why the child, at times, did not receive their medication.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff showed empathy and were sensitive to the child's needs. As a result, the child was able to confide in staff about their wishes and feelings. The manager advocated for the child to other professionals. This helped the child to feel listened to and valued. This resulted in the child moving into a provision better able to meet their needs.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff receive support from the organisations clinical team. This is helping them to reflect on their practice. While there are no children living in the home staff are working at other homes across the organisation. This provides them with opportunities to learn and develop their practice.

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improvement to be good

The home has undergone refurbishment. The addition of new furniture and soft furnishings creates a warm and homely feel. However, some of the internal doors have locks on them. Doors are not locked but the presence of locks detracts from the homely environment. Inspection report children's home: 2699473 4

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improvement to be good

The quality of safeguarding practice requires improvement. Managers do not always share accurate information when reporting safeguarding concerns. On one occasion they did not share enough detail with the designated officer and Ofsted. This compromises the external oversight of safeguarding practice in the home.

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improvement to be good

When the child went missing, staff were relentless when searching for them. They consulted with professionals such as the police and the child's placing authority. This helped to locate the child quickly. However, during one missing incident staff did not follow the child's risk assessment. When staff located the child, they left them alone in an area where there was a known risk. Leaders and managers have undertaken an investigation in relation to this. They have taken appropriate action to prevent shortfalls reccurring. The child later reported a serious incident which occurred while they were missing. This remains under investigation by the police.

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improvement to be good

Overall, staff responded appropriately when the child was at risk of harm. Risk assessments contained detailed information about the child's needs and risks. However, managers did not always update them promptly. This had potential to compromise the child's safety.

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improvement to be good

Staff respond with sensitivity and empathy to incidents of self-injurious behaviour. However, they did not always present as confident to do so. This does not help children who engage in self-injurious behaviour to feel safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff responded promptly when the child shared sensitive information which compromised their safety. For example, after concerns arose when the child was using their mobile phone, staff devised a child-friendly mobile phone contract. This helped the child to understand their boundaries and expectations. The manager collaborated well with relevant professionals to ensure a coordinated approach. This helped to keep the child safe.

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improvement to be good

Record keeping in the home has improved. In particular, in relation to safeguarding incidents and important conversations with the child. This has resulted in improved management oversight of safeguarding in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have not consistently monitored the service. As a result, they have not fully understood how the child was being cared for. Monitoring systems have been sporadic. Therefore, there has been delay in identifying concerns about staff practice. Shortfalls in the quality of care the child received were not identified. Inspection report children's home: 2699473 5 Leaders and managers are now aware of the areas for development in the home. They are already implementing an action plan to address them. This will help to improve the quality of care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff team is newly formed and there is a strong focus on staff development and training. However, it remains an ongoing piece of work to ensure that staff have the skills to meet children’s needs. In particular, in line with the homes statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers have visited the homes where staff have been redeployed. They continue to undertake supervision and reflective sessions with staff. As a result, staff are reflecting on their practice and can recognise what they need to do to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the previous inspection, there have been changes in the home’s senior management team. The home has a new experienced responsible individual. They are developing new systems to monitor the quality of care children receive. They are fully aware of the areas for development in the home. They have been instrumental in identifying shortfalls in staff practice and are implementing appropriate measures to ensure children’s safety. Inspection report children's home: 2699473 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 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

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

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;

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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

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff understand and implement the guidance contained in children's risk assessments. They must ensure that staff respond in a timely manner to situations where children may potentially be at risk of harm. In addition, managers should ensure that they 30 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2699473 7 promptly update children’s risk assessments with any pertinent information.

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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 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

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

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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff receive adequate training which equips them with the skills to meet the needs of the children they care for, in line with the homes statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that they have effective systems in place to consistently monitor and review the quality of care children receive. In addition, that these systems include finding out children's views, wishes and feelings.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 June 2024

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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. 30 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2699473 8 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 whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, childrens needs must be thoroughly considered prior to them moving into the home. This includes the consideration of the experience, skill and stability of the staff team in addition to the location of the home and any relevant risks within the local area.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation— must include details of—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40(4)(a)(b)(e)(5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all serious events are notified to Ofsted and all other relevant professionals. They must ensure that they provide the full detail of these events in a timely manner. 30 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2699473 9 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23(1)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that a review of children's medication takes place by an appropriately qualified health professional when they move into the home. In addition, that records for the administration of medication are consistently completed to a good standard. 30 June 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children's home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 children's home: 2699473 10

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Care Perspectives Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 47 Morris Road, Leicester LE2 6BR

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2699473 11 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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