Children's Home run by Personal Security Service Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 1 Registered provider: Personal Security Service 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, which is run by a private organisation, provides care for up to four children. The aim of the home is to provide children with a safe, stable, happy and comfortable home and to enable children to build on their confidence, self-esteem and resilience as they progress into adult life.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the organisation in July 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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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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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/08/2023 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 3

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improvement to be good

The home has been through a difficult period of time. This is because of the group dynamics and related incidents. During difficult times, the staff have failed to provide appropriate responses. The manager has failed to ensure that children receive consistent and safe care at all times. A new manager is in post, and this has led to recent improvements. The new manager was present at the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Four children have moved in since the last inspection. The manager has given notice on two children as they did not feel they could safely care for them. They have continued to work alongside their local authorities until more suitable places are found. One child moved in a planned way into supported accommodation. Two children were at the home at the time of the inspection, and one child was being supported at another home owned by the company as a holiday arrangement. The two children at the home took part in the inspection.

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improvement to be good

There have been periods of time when there has been significant damage to the home environment. Although staff have repaired the damage, there are areas of the home that are in need of attention. These areas do not provide a nurturing home feel.

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improvement to be good

The health needs for one child have not been followed up consistently to ensure that they were fully met. The social worker for the child said, ‘The placement has not been able to respond to the child’s needs appropriately.’ There were delays in making the child a doctor’s appointment, and the manager did not follow up on the child’s identified health needs in the child’s plans. This approach does not provide care that is individual and fully supports the child’s health.

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improvement to be good

Children access education that is tailored to their individual needs, and staff support them with this. Children are offered activities that they enjoy. The children enjoy swimming and go several times a week. One child has joined the local football team and goes to training twice a week. The children take pride in participating in these activities.

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improvement to be good

The home has recently been more settled. Leaders and managers are trying to create incentive-based opportunities to encourage children to make positive choices.

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improvement to be good

At times, the staff have managed children’s behaviour in a reactive way that does not help children. One of the strategies the manager used was to restrict children’s access to areas of the house by locking them. It is unclear if this restriction was Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 4 agreed with social workers each time it was used. This restriction was not recorded effectively, and there was no regular review of this measure.

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improvement to be good

Staff have physically intervened with children to help keep them and others safe. The supporting records do not always describe the intervention in detail. It is unclear if children are offered any medical treatment afterwards. The manager’s review of these incidents is not thorough.

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improvement to be good

On one occasion, a child said that they had been hurt during a physical intervention. The manager did not pick this up in her review. The allegation was not reported to the local authority designated officer or other appropriate authorities.

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improvement to be good

Some of the consequences used by staff are punitive and do not relate to children’s behaviour. The responsible individual did pick this up in a recent audit, and improvements have been made in this area.

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improvement to be good

Children have positive relationships with staff. One child identified staff they would be able to talk to about any worries they had. Staff engage with children positively.

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improvement to be good

The home has a counsellor who visits weekly. She supports children in one-to-one sessions and offers advice to the staff team.

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improvement to be good

The police said that they have a good relationship with the manager and staff and feel that communication was good.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have undertaken relevant safer recruitment checks for all new staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been no registered manager since July 2023. The previous manager was appointed in April 2024; however, they did not submit an application to register as manager. She has recently stepped down to be the deputy manager. A new manager has been appointed and has submitted her application to register.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The previous manager did not have effective day-to-day oversight of the care. She did not have the experience or skill to manage the changing dynamics between children. In addition, her assessment and review of incidents lacked scrutiny and clarity. There was a lack of understanding of the Children’s Homes Regulations and the actions needed to meet these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Several professionals have identified poor communication from previous the manager. They did not feel that they were adequately informed of situations that had taken place. This does not allow for effective multi-agency working and limits the oversight that social workers have of children’s care plans. Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 5 The manager made basic assessments before children moved into the home. However, these did not show enough curiosity. The manager said that she was not experienced in this area. This has resulted in difficult relationships between children and children experiencing further moves and rejection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s case records are not up to date. The staff do not have access to the most recent reviews for one child. This does not help staff to understand how they are working to meet the agreed objectives in the child’s local authority care plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager did not provide a manager’s review of care within the required time frame. The report did not include feedback from professionals, families or children to help the manager understand the quality of care received.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Some of the language used by the staff and manager is institutional. This does not help children to feel cared for in a homely environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are a number of ongoing complaints from the local community about children’s behaviour outside the home. Leaders and managers have responded to this promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff said that they have felt supported by the manager. The staff have received regular training for their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 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, 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 26 June 2024

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)) 15 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 7 In particular, ensure that all allegations of harm to children are reported to the local authority designated officer.

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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

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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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)) 5 August 2024

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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

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; 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. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(vii)(viii)) 5 August 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 5 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 8 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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 15 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

that staff— 15 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 9 understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, help children to learn from their behaviour without using punitive consequences.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(b)(c) (5)) 26 August 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. In particular, repairs to the home should be made promptly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff record information about individual children in a non-stigmatising 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, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 1258658 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Personal Security Service Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Laser Quay, Culpeper Close, Kent ME2 4HU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Frederik Booysen

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Inspectors

Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Rebecca Hannell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1258658 11 regulates and inspects 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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