Children's Home run by Platform Childcare Ltd in Gloucestershire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2746315 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The provider is a privately owned company. The home provides care for up to five children who have experienced trauma and who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Inspection date: 13 August 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2746315 2

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Findings from the inspection

we did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

his inspection took place due to increased notifiable events occurring in the home. However, shortfalls in staff practice and management oversight were found.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, in April 2024, children have generally continued to receive good care. For example, staff encourage children to spend time with people who are important to them, providing this is safe and beneficial to their well-being. Staff support children to attend school and ensure that alternative arrangements are in place when this is not possible. Staff promote children’s interests by supporting their hobbies. They also respond appropriately when children make complaints.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager continues to strongly advocate for children, sharing their views, wishes and feelings with other professionals. However, he also recognises that sometimes children’s wishes are not in their best interests and can lead to them experiencing harm. On these occasions, he has appropriately challenged social workers about children’s plans and the effectiveness of established boundaries with parents.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have observed an increase in children’s distressed behaviours. In some instances, their decision-making not promoted the safety and wellbeing of children., for example, staff have not provided sufficient support to children when they have been away from the home and vulnerable during periods of crisis. This complacency means that staff have not always used appropriate risk mitigation strategies and they have not been prepared for escalating behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

On some occasions, the registered manager’s oversight of serious incidents has been weak. He has not supported staff to critically reflect on their decision-making or the effectiveness of interventions. Consequently, there are missed opportunities for learning and making changes to practice that could help children. Most of the staff team are new to children’s residential care. They are therefore reliant on the registered manager to identify shortfalls in their practice, as well as any training or development needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Before this inspection, the registered manager had already identified that staff were unable to meet one child’s needs and he had informed the local authority of this. He has acknowledged the shortfalls found during the inspection and promptly devised an action plan to address them, providing some reassurance. Two requirements have been made to reflect the inspection findings. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2746315 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/04/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2746315 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)) 20 November

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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)) 20 November

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Recommendations

 The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged to develop positive relationships with other children living in the home, as set out in the positive relationships standard. However, staff should be alert to the possibility Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2746315 5 that children may be at risk from such relationships and should take appropriate steps to protect children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2746315 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 2 Millennium Court, First Avenue, Burton-on- Trent DE14 2WH

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Inspector

Tara Webb, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2746315 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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