Children's Home run by Resicare Alliance Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report children's home: 2737316 1 Registered provider: Resicare Alliance

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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 is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager position has been vacant since 3 January 2024.

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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: 2737316 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2737316 3

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improvement to be good

A homely environment has been created. Children have personalised their rooms and chosen decoration for communal areas. However, maintenance issues have not always been addressed in a timely manner.

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improvement to be good

The children have good relationships with staff. Children like the staff and are comfortable spending time with them. One child said, ‘I find it peaceful here and staff are very supportive of children’s rights.’

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improvement to be good

The children’s care plans are incomplete. Important sections and information are not recorded in the plan. This includes details of a child’s health needs and staying safe. As a result, staff do not have access to the information needed to provide specific care to each child.

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improvement to be good

Children’s education has been minimal. There is some home tutoring for one child. The other child has no education. There is no programme of learning for children who are not in schools. However, the regional manager has worked closely with the local authorities to address this.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to lead a healthy lifestyle. They encourage healthy eating and exercise. There are good procedures for medicines. Staff know the reasons for children taking each medication. Health plans are not in place for every child though. They have also not been reviewed regularly.

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improvement to be good

Children and staff have constructive one-to-one discussions. These key worker sessions are held regularly. They are specific to the individual needs of each child. Children can express their wishes and feelings and feel listened to.

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improvement to be good

The assessments of risks to children are inconsistent. There are assessments that are no longer in line with the child’s current situation. Other important issues are not mentioned. Therefore, staff cannot always see the way to work to address known risks.

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improvement to be good

Staff respond appropriately to children’s self-injurious incidents. Children feel able to talk to staff about their worries and anxieties. Specialist mental health services are accessed when required. As a result, incidents have significantly reduced.

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improvement to be good

The regional manager responds well to any allegations and complaints. He ensures that a thorough investigation takes place. Children are written to and spoken to about the outcome. However, there was a delay in the home manager reporting an allegation. Inspection report children's home: 2737316 4 Staff understand the risks associated with children missing from the home. There are clear procedures to follow should this happen. Staff respond immediately if a child leaves the home. This has meant there have been very few occasions where a child has been missing.

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improvement to be good

Staff’s recording of incidents is inconsistent. Physical interventions are rarely required. When used, the record of this does not always include the full details required by regulation.

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

There has not been a registered manager of the home since the last inspection. A home manager was appointed but left before registering. A new manager has been appointed. The changes in management were recognised by a child who said, ‘the home has lost its structure, with a lack of management it’s lacking stability.’

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

The manager has not ensured that staff receive supervision in line with the provider’s policy. This includes a staff member new to the home. Therefore, staff do not have one- to-one time with a manager or experienced worker. This limits the opportunity for staff to discuss and develop their practice.

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

Team meetings have not been held regularly by the manager. Therefore, staff have not had the opportunity to contribute to decision making and develop as a team.

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

The manager has not ensured that the statement of purpose for the home is accurate. This was a requirements from the last inspection. This document does not correctly identify the home.

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

Quality assurance processes have not been used by the manager. Management comments are also not evident on most records of incidents. The manager has not completed a quality-of-care review as required by regulation. The provider’s quality assurance officer recently completed a comprehensive audit. This recognised the gaps and weaknesses, especially around recording.

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

There is good senior management support of the home. Staff feel they have people they can go to, to report concerns and feel they will be listened to. The regional manager and responsible individual come to the home regularly. There are thorough plans in place to develop practice and make the necessary improvements. Inspection report children's home: 2737316 5

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the care plan including all important information for children. It also refers to ensuring that records are clear, detailed and demonstrate management oversight, reflection and learning. 31 July 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—

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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) and (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place, used regularly, and recorded. 30 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and 30 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2737316 6 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the statement of purpose accurately reflecting the details of the property.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to staff receiving regular, reflective supervisions in line with the provider’s policy. 30 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

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; 31 July 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2737316 7 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; and

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Requirement Due date

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) and (c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to records of physical intervention being detailed and including all the aspects of the regulation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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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 quality of care provided for children;

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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

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and 30 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2737316 8 make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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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 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(3)(4)(a)(b) and (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to a review of care being completed and sent to Ofsted at least every 6 months.

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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: 2737316 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 147 Stamford Hill, London, N16 5LG

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2737316 10 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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