Rush House Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rush House Ltd 1 Rush House Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation provider is a charitable organisation. The service provides three single occupancy placements in self-contained flats. It also provides supported accommodation placements in shared or group living situations.

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provider

The premises are used to accommodate looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17. The provisions may also provide accommodation for people who are not looked after children or care leavers.

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provider

At the time of this monitoring visit, this service provided supported accommodation for nine children aged 16 to 17.

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provider

The service manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit following concerns raised regarding poor oversight and management of children’s needs and risks. Additional concerns were highlighted around staffing issues, including a lack of support for staff and insufficient staffing levels to support children effectively. During the visit, the inspector visited the provider’s office. The inspector spoke to three staff members, the registered service manager, the head of housing and development, the head of business and finance, the nominated individual and a child’s social worker.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments are not always updated after significant incidents. In the risk assessment documents for some children, there is a lack of information around how to manage specific risks, such as children going missing from their home. This lack of information does not help staff to recognise potential risks to children’s safety. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rush House Ltd 2 The current system for recording information about children is not always effective. For example, on occasion, staff handovers are recorded, but this is not consistent practice. Consequently, important information relating to children’s progress and well-being is missed, and this potentially impacts on the levels of support that the children receive. Managers are aware of this issue but have yet to take sufficient action to address this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

Managers do not always notify Ofsted of significant events. The lack of information provided to Ofsted prevents oversight of the organisation’s safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff said that they feel well supported by their managers. They reported being able to ‘ask anything, at any time’. Staff are provided with an ‘on-call’ service during evenings and weekends, enabling them to access support from senior managers if this is required. All staff benefit from regular formal supervision, which helps them to feel confident in their skills and to support the children.

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This monitoring visit

All staff follow an induction programme when they start their employment with the service. Staff said that this process is helpful and prepares them for their role. They also receive ongoing training. The training covers a range of topics, such as how to keep children safe, and further ensures that staff have the knowledge and skills that they need to support the children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand the children’s needs. They recognise how previous poor life experiences may impact on children’s ability to cope in everyday life. Staff work to help children to build positive relationships so that they can support them to achieve their goals. Managers ensure that children are provided with additional support when needed to ensure their needs are being met in times of crisis. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rush House Ltd 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, The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including 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 supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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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 supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are clear records of daily events so that staff are provided with accurate information to support children. In addition, they must provide evidence of accountable decision-making. 30 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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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

have their individual needs met. 30 September 2024 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rush House Ltd 4 (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s risk assessments reflect their current risks and provide staff with clear actions to take to reduce risks.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the supported accommodation undertaking or a person working for it;

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry);

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Requirement Due date

there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f)) 30 September 2024

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to follow up information received by Ofsted and/or to ensure that the supported accommodation provider was complying with regulation.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rush House Ltd 5

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 18-19 Lindum Terrace, Doncaster Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S65 1NJ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Stephen Harris

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Inspector

Jamie Richardson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider - monitoring visit: Rush House Ltd 6 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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