Children's Home run by NET PEX LTD in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 1 Registered provider: NET PEX LTD

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation and provides care for one child with social, emotional and mental health needs. At the time of the inspection, no children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was an ongoing investigation by the appropriate authorities due to safeguarding concerns raised in regard to the care of the child living at the home. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incidents were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out on 26 and 27 June 2024 and the home was judged inadequate. This inspection identified serious concerns. Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the home. This prevents the provider from moving any children into the home.

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This monitoring visit

A safeguarding investigation in respect of serious concerns and allegations, which resulted in the suspension of the home’s registration, remains ongoing. The outcome of this investigation is not yet known.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor compliance with the suspension notice. The home has not provided care for children since the full inspection in June 2024. The provider has complied with the suspension notice and the suspension notice remains in place. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 2 Since the inspection, the registered manager has resigned with immediate effect, and the full staff team have resigned or been dismissed following concerns relating to their conduct. Therefore, the registered provider is unable to demonstrate that the staff have the skills and experience to operate the home in line with the registered provider’s statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has taken action to review all incidents relating to the care of the children since the home opened and ensured that they have informed Ofsted and the local authority designated officer of any retrospective and new safeguarding concerns from these findings. They have appointed an independent consultant to investigate all concerns in liaison with the police, the local authority and child’s placing authority.

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This monitoring visit

The registered provider has begun to implement an action plan to address the serious and widespread shortfalls identified at the last inspection, and there are ongoing recruitment efforts to employ a new manager for the home.

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This monitoring visit

As no children have lived in the home since the last inspection, it has not been possible to demonstrate that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered to keep children safe. Therefore, the requirements from the last inspection will be reissued to enable the registered provider the opportunity to demonstrate how they will provide effective and safe care for children. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 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 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—

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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

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;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(e)) 13 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 5 This specifically relates to the steps set out in the notice of suspension:  The registered provider must ensure that allegations and concerns are shared appropriately, without delay, with relevant agencies, including Ofsted, and investigated thoroughly. And:  Staff can demonstrate they take effective action when there are concerns for a child’s welfare.  Risk assessments are reviewed to reduce risks for children and help them understand how to be safer.

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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 premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d)) 13 October 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

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 13 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 6 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the steps set out in the notice of suspension:  Demonstrate that staff have the skills, competence and capacity to deliver the care to the children as set out in the provider’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

And:  The registered provider must establish an effective system to ensure there is oversight and monitoring of children’s care.  Children receive good care.

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child. (Regulation 19 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to consequences used in relation to children’s behaviours. 13 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 7 The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 13 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure agency staff have been suitably vetted and original Disclosure and Barring Service certificates are verified for all staff working in the children’s home. 13 October 2024

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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. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure children have a healthy, balanced diet. 13 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 8 The registered person must ensure that—

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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; 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; 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)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all consequences used to support a child’s behaviour are recorded in line with the regulation. 13 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 9

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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: 2708482 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Offices Rear Of 93c, Upper Clapton Road, London E5 9BU

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2708482 11 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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Inspector

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