Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC044745 1 SC044745

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Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered to provide care for up to six children who may have experienced childhood instability resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The current registered manager holds a level 5 qualification. He is planning to take up the position of deputy manager and another manager in the organisation is applying to register.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is situated in a remote area. There is a school in the same grounds as the home. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to consider the progress made following the full inspection on 14 and 15 May 2024, when the home was judged inadequate, and to monitor the steps the provider has taken to meet the compliance notice issued on 23 May 2024 in relation to regulation 13 of The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not met all the steps set out in the compliance notice to bring about sufficient improvement to the care and safety of children. This is because they have failed to respond adequately to a serious safeguarding concern raised by children and staff about a staff member’s conduct and care of children. Leaders and managers have still not shared all relevant information setting out the scope and extent of the concerns with children’s social workers. This failing means that those with parental responsibility for children have not been able to make an informed decision about measures that need to be taken to protect children and promote their welfare. Not sharing information with others as needed means that Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC044745 2 leaders and managers are not working transparently and effectively with others to safeguard children. This does not help to promote a healthy safeguarding culture

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This monitoring visit

that prioritises children’s welfare at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Some action has been taken to address concerns raised at the full inspection. For example, managers have now shared the full context of the concern with the local authority designated officer. In addition, senior leaders have communicated with registered managers in the organisation to challenge decisions made by external professionals when these may not be in the best interests of children.

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This monitoring visit

Not all staff are aware of the home’s safeguarding procedures and how to access these. As a result, some staff do not have the knowledge they need to help them in their care and protection of children. Managers have arranged for staff to receive safeguarding training and so have the opportunity to address this issue.

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This monitoring visit

Team meetings are held regularly and staff are now receiving supervision. However, managers have not used these opportunities to help staff reflect and learn from what happened previously. This does not help staff to develop an understanding of their roles and responsibilities when it comes to protecting children. Nor does it contribute to the development of a healthy safeguarding culture.

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This monitoring visit

There is one child living in the home. He now has an individual placement plan that provides staff with information about him and how to care for him. The child is attending an independent school that is part of the same organisation. The child has recently reported some struggles with his peer group in school. These concerns have been shared by managers with teachers in an effort to support him.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have not used physical intervention since the last inspection. Leaders and managers have reviewed previous incidents and identified learning that relates to maintaining accurate and detailed records. In addition, there are plans in place for staff to receive further training on behaviour management.

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This monitoring visit

Staff rotas are now accessible and include the full names of staff and dates and times they are working in the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC044745 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Inadequate 18/04/2023 Full Good 05/07/2022 Full Good 04/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC044745 4

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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

*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—

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last two full inspections and is subject to a compliance notice for a second time. 2 September 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

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; 2 September 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC044745 5 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)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is repeated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC044745 6

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Inspector

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC044745 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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