Children's Home run by Star Bright Living Limited in Derby

Inspection report children's home: 2737432 1 Registered provider: STAR BRIGHT LIVING LIMITED

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This a privately run children’s home. The home is registered to have care for up to two children. At the time of inspection one child was living at the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: n/a

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2737432 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

not previously inspected Inspection report children's home: 2737432 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Staff do not ensure that they are aware of all known risks to a child prior to their admission to the home. Staff fail to recognise suicidal ideation and arson risks when reading information about children. This results in staff not being appropriately prepared. However, when staff do become aware of risks, they strive to adapt the care to meet the needs of children. This includes making prompt adaptations to the home to try and increase safety.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff do not receive essential training to support them to meet the child’s needs. This results in staff not always understanding how a diagnosis may impact on a child’s response. On one occasion a child was taken to a location which was likely to provide a sensory overload for them. When the child did not behave in a desired way, staff gave a consequence which was neither proportionate nor restorative. This shows a lack of understanding of how an environment can impact on a child’s behaviour. On occasion, this lack of understanding also leads to a few staff writing records in a way which appear to blame the child for their behaviour. However, some records are written with nurture and care in mind.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support children to engage in education within the home. Staff also encourage the child to have new experiences. This results in the child participating in activities they have not done in a long time. For example, the child has enjoyed spending time in the community and visiting a theme park. Whilst out with staff, the child has not left staff without permission. This is a behaviour the child used to regularly display.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff work with other professionals and agencies to try and create continuity of care for the child. When staffing ratios are increased for safety reasons, staff try and ensure the child knows their carers. Staff care about the child and enjoy spending time with them.

p.3

improvement to be good

The children’s guide is not written in a way that is helpful for the child. There is an overload of information and professional terms which a child may find confusing or scary when first moving into the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Management do not always thoroughly investigate allegations made by the child or their family members. Staff have also failed to notify Ofsted and other key professionals of all allegations made. Although the manager makes some enquiries to mitigate risk, these are not appropriately recorded or evaluated.

p.3

improvement to be good

There are not appropriate policies or risk assessments in place for when people working at the home are related. This has resulted in a family member overseeing an allegation Inspection report children's home: 2737432 4 which involved their relative. The manager and responsible individual have also failed to arrange for an authorised person to have oversight of physical intervention records if they are involved in, or witness to the incident. This prevents records from having impartial oversight.

p.3

improvement to be good

When a child displays self-injurious behaviour staff offer support and seek appropriate medical attention. Staff are proactive in liaising with relevant professionals and updating appropriate family members. Staff seek to work in a multi-agency manner to create safety for the child and ascertain the best course of care.

p.4

improvement to be good

When staff are recruited to work at the home, the timeframe of their previous employment is not appropriately requested. This results in gaps in employment not being explored.

p.4

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

The manager is committed to her role and is a strong advocate for the child. Although the manager has the child’s best interests at heart, at times she has been naive to the complexity of the child’s needs balanced against the inexperience of her staff team. This results in the management team responding in a reactive manner. In turn, they have not been able to balance the differing aspects of overseeing a children’s home.

p.4

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

The manager does not have consistent or robust oversight of written documents. This means that the quality of documents varies. The manager does not always realise what information is required to be documented. For example, it is not routinely recorded how staff try to de-escalate a challenging situation, where physical interventions take place or how long they last. The manager also fails to ensure that staff clearly record who is the author of written accounts.

p.4

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

When the medication audit shows an anomaly, the manager does not prioritise an investigation. The manager believes the error to be one of recording and is accepting that she did not prioritise the investigation as she should have done. It is positive that the manager is open to learning and developing herself and her team.

p.4

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

The manager and responsible individual actively seek oversight and guidance from outside agencies to develop themselves and the staff team. They are open to constructive criticism and have a clear plan in place to improve the quality of care provided to children. This open learning culture supports the staff to have continued levels of positive morale, even during very difficult periods. This has supported the home to retain its staff team and provide the child with consistent carers. Inspection report children's home: 2737432 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— 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; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; (regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person ensuring that all allegations about staff made by children, or through their family members are robustly investigated. It also relates to ensuring that appropriate professionals are consulted. 26 September 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. 26 September 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2737432 6 (regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person ensuring that they thoroughly read all information relating to a child prior to their admission to the home. It also relates to ensuring that the admission of a child is in line with the homes statement of purpose and skill set of the staff team.

p.6

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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 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; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 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)(c)(f)(g)(i)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person ensuring that they have robust systems in place for the oversight of the home and it's recording systems. This also relates to ensuring that staff have the relevant training to support the needs of the children and care as outlined in the statement of purpose. It also relates to ensuring that clear policies are in place for when family members work for the home. 26 September 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— The registered person must ensure that— 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— the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 26 September 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2737432 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”)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 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

p.6

Requirement Due date

measure. (regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person ensuring that they arrange for an authorised person to have oversight of physical intervention records if they themselves have been involved in, or witness to the incident. It also relates to the registered person ensuring that all records of physical intervention include, the de-escalation techniques attempted, location and length of the intervention.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person notifying HMCI and other relevant persons without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against a person working in the home, or any other incident the registered person finds serious. 26 September 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (regulation 36 (1)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person ensuring that staff sign and date all written records so that it is clear who the author is. 26 September 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which 26 September 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2737432 8 the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that— 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))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person ensuring that they are aware of any gaps in a staff members previous employment. It also relates to ensuring that they receive written explanations of any gaps in employment.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (regulation 23 (1))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered person appropriately investigating any discrepancies found during medication audits. It also relates to the registered person ensuring staff appropriately record the signing in and out of controlled medication from the home. 26 September 2024

p.8

Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children using language that cares. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4).  The children's guide must be age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 24, paragraph 4.21).  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 46, paragraph

p.8

Recommendations

9.38). Inspection report children's home: 2737432 9

p.8

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: 2737432 10

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider: STAR BRIGHT LIVING LIMITED

p.10

Inspector

Ellen Monk, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2737432 11 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11