Children's Home run by Shropshire Council in Shropshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2558682 1

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Information about this children's home

A local authority operate this children’s home. The home provides care and support for up to two children, who have social and emotional difficulties, who may also have had adverse experiences.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022 and is suitably qualified and experienced. At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home, and one child living away from the home, on a short break arrangement.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place following specific concerns that Ofsted had been notified of, by managers at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the outcome of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager was on annual leave at the time of the inspection. Therefore, the responsible individual led the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are unable to consistently manage or de-escalate children’s behaviours. As a result, there have been serious incidents when staff have been harmed. Furthermore, harm has been caused to a child.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken prompt action following an allegation at the home. Measures are in place to safeguard the children. Managers have ensured that the home is suitably staffed to safeguard the child at the home. There is a clear ‘on call’ system Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2558682 2 whereby managers can attend the home, in short time scales to provide additional support.

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This monitoring visit

Staff help children to attend school and they recognise that this is a positive experience for them. Children enjoy a range of activities and do enjoy spending time with staff.

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This monitoring visit

The previous requirements and recommendations were not reviewed at this monitoring visit. Therefore, they are restated. There are no additional requirements or recommendations as an outcome of this visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/04/2023 Full Good 03/05/2022 Full Good 27/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2558682 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, 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 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

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 to 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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)) 20 Sept 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— 20 Sept 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2558682 4 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result 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

and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c) 20 Sept 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2558682 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards' page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards' page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: 2558682 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND

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Inspectors

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2558682 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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