Children's Home run by Jules Private Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report children's home: 2659026 1 Registered provider: Jules Private Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This privately operated home provides care for up to three children who have emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is being led by an acting manager who is not registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There was 1 child living at the home at the point of this inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

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

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2659026 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2023 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2659026 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the last inspection, notice has been served on the placements for two children, resulting in an abrupt ending to their placements. One child moved to an unregulated provision. The child currently living in the home has only recently moved in.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Records and children’s case files are of poor quality. There is a failure to fully record information about incidents, and there are omissions in basic information. There is a lack of oversight and quality assurance from leaders and managers. Poor recording makes it difficult to track incidents and assess the quality of care being provided to be assured that children have been safeguarded.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children have not always been listened to. When a child reported an allegation about a staff member this was not investigated, and the child was asked to apologise to the staff concerned. The manager did not act on this concern. When a second child raised a concern in relation to being hurt by a member of staff, this again was not investigated. This prevents children from feeling heard and being safe.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children do not live in a homely environment. The child’s bedroom had an overwhelming and unpleasant smell. This has the potential to have a significant impact on the child’s health. Other health and safety issues have not been rectified. For example, a hole in a door had a piece of wood stuck to the door to cover the hole and another door was poorly fitted and unable to close. This is unpleasant for children and not in keeping with a homely environment.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s needs have not been met in a responsive and compassionate manner. For example, one child who lived at the home became unsettled during the night and asked for staff support as struggling to sleep. The child was not provided with reassurance and support. As a result, the child became distressed banging their head on the door and subsequently had to be taken to hospital.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Several members of staff have left since the last inspection. This has impaired the children’s capacity to form and maintain positive, trusting relationships with staff. Changes in routines and staffing have led to increased instability for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The language used in the children’s written daily records is not child centred. It lacks emotional warmth and fails to fully capture the child’s journey. Records are not written in a manner that will provide children with all the required information that reflects their experiences while living in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child does not consistently enjoy healthy and well-balanced meals. Although the child creates a menu each week, this is not consistently followed. Instead, highly processed, convenience food has frequently been provided. This does not support the Inspection report children's home: 2659026 4 child to have a healthy lifestyle. It also does not help the child to understand the impact that an unhealthy diet has on their health and well-being.

p.3

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

Safeguarding practice is not sufficiently robust and the arrangements for safeguarding children are inadequate. Furthermore, changes within the leadership and management team, coupled with a fluctuating and inexperienced staff team, mean that children’s behaviours that challenge have not always been managed effectively. In addition, leaders and managers have not been professionally curious or rigorous in their approach to reviewing safeguarding concerns.

p.4

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

The management of risk to children is poor. Children’s risk assessments are not up-to- date and do not contain relevant information about the nature of known risks. Information contained in children’s risk assessments and plans is not accurate. The actions required to manage risk is not sufficiently documented. As a result, staff and managers have not always taken actions they need to mitigate risk. This leaves children in a vulnerable position.

p.4

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

Leaders and managers fail to work with safeguarding professionals to ensure they provide safe and effective care for children. They have failed to notify the local authority designated officer [LADO] and other professionals when children have made allegations. One staff member was suspended following an allegation made by a child. However, this was not referred to the LADO and the staff member has returned to work despite this allegation not being investigated or concluded. This places children and staff at significant risk of harm.

p.4

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

On one occasion a child that has a staffing ratio of one-to-one support was left in the home alone while staff took another child to school. The manager failed to address staff performance concerns and did not report this to the LADO.

p.4

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

Following one incident in the home, a child made an allegation about a member of staff. The child was told by a staff member this did not happen and was asked to apologise to staff involved. This allegation was not referred to the LADO or Ofsted. This prevents the regulator and other professionals from having oversight of serious incidents. Managers have also failed to ensure the child’s concerns are listened to and acted on.

p.4

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

Children have not always been responded to by the manager and leaders following them raising concerns about staff. For example, on one occasion a child made a complaint that resulted in the staff member being suspended and a disciplinary investigation taking place. However, the manager was not able to provide any records in connection to this and demonstrate the response to the child.

p.4

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

Managers have failed to review and have oversight of incidents. Children and staff do not always have debriefs following concerning incidents. This limits opportunities to evaluate and learn from incidents in order to prevent children coming to harm in the future. Inspection report children's home: 2659026 5 Not all consequences used by staff, to manage children’s behaviour, are restorative and proportionate. Managers have failed to ensure oversight of these records and there has been an over reliance on the online recording systems notifying managers when records need review. Managers have also failed to identify when consequences have been recorded in children’s daily records, that have not been recorded and reviewed as consequences.

p.4

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

Managers have not ensured that all staff were trained to undertake physical intervention to keep children and others safe. This was in the knowledge that one child required significant support with their behaviour. As a result, physical intervention was used on one occasion with a child when staff were not adequately trained to do so. This places children and staff at increased risk of harm. A second child with a health diagnosis previously placed at the home was held without consultation or consideration about the health needs of the child and how this may impact them. Managers have also failed to ensure they review records of physical intervention to ensure lessons are learnt.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been multiple changes within the management arrangements for the home in a short space of time. These frequent changes in leadership and management have significantly impacted the day-to-day running and oversight of the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A new manager has been appointed and is in charge of the day-to-day running of the home, and her application to register with Ofsted is in progress. The inconsistent management arrangements for the home have had a significant negative effect on establishing and embedding robust safeguarding practices. There have been high levels of staff turnover. As a result, not all staff have received the required training to care for the child including safeguarding and restraint training.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager knows the child and their needs well. However, the manager has not yet done enough to challenge practice that need to be improved. For example, she has not challenged staff when they have not worked in line with children’s plans and assessments.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management monitoring systems are currently poor. The manager has not identified shortfalls in practice, has not thoroughly evaluated incident records and children’s plans and assessments. For example, one child’s plan included another child’s name thirty- seven times, it also included information about a different child’s needs, risks, and background information. As a result, staff have not had access to accurate and factual information to enable them to meet the child’s needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The management of risk to children is inadequate. Risk assessments fail to provide staff with clarity on what actions they should take to keep children safe. Risk assessments are not up to date and do not include accurate information about the children’s risks and needs. Children’s risk assessments fail to provide staff with guidance on preventative risk management. This leaves staff without the guidance they need to manage and reduce risk. Inspection report children's home: 2659026 6 Serious shortfalls within management monitoring and review systems have resulted in allegations not being referred to the Local authority designated officer (LADO). Despite concerns being brought to the attention of the manager by the independent visitor. This places children at increased risk of harm.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The Local authority plan for one child was significantly out date, despite the child being living at the home for two months. The manager has failed to make efforts to escalate concerns. The plan was received during the inspection; however, the manager has not been able to ensure the local authority plan informs the child’s relevant plans. This is an impediment to good care planning.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to follow safeguarding procedures. Ofsted has not been alerted to serious safeguarding concerns. This impairs the regulator’s oversight in reviewing notifications and taking necessary action to ensure the safety of children.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have ensured staff receive regular supervision. However, this is of variable standard. Not all supervision records provide enough evidence to show how staff reflect on their care practice.

p.6

What does the children's home need to do to improve?

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children's home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that escalations are made if relevant documents are not received from local authorities. 24 June 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; 24 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2659026 7 children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(c)(2)(a)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring children are supported to have a healthy balanced diet.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff not always using the therapeutic approach adopted by the home. 24 June 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

that staff— 24 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2659026 8 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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.8

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies.

p.8

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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d))

p.8

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—

p.8

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 24 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2659026 9 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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

p.9

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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring accurate records are maintained. It also relates to the manager implementing and embedding effective monitoring and review systems. That staff receive required training and work consistently as a team.

p.9

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—

p.9

Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.9

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 24 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2659026 10 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.9

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")—

p.10

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.10

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 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring sanctions are recorded and contain all required information. It also relates to managers ensuring they have appropriate oversight of sanctions and physical interventions, identifying any shortfalls in practice and acting on these.

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI's request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (3)(4))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring all complaints are recorded and acted on. 24 June 2024

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; 24 June 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2659026 11 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.10

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.11

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.11

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.11

Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) (e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)))

p.11

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager notifying Ofsted of any serious incident that occurs in the home.

p.11

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.11

Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place say that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practise from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practise 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).  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping, and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising Inspection report children's home: 2659026 12 way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 62,

p.11

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: 2659026 13

p.12

Children's home details

Registered provider: Jules Private Limited

p.13

Children's home details

Registered provider address: The Old Rectory, Main Street, Glenfield, LE3 8DG

p.13

Inspector(s)

Zoey Lee, social care inspector Eleanor Quanbrough, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2659026 14 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.

p.13

Inspector(s)

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.14

Inspector(s)

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.14

Inspector(s)

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.14