Children's Home run by Shropshire Council in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 1 Registered provider: Shropshire Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this children’s home. The home provides care and support for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties and who may also have had adverse experiences.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022 and is suitably qualified and experienced. However, since the last full inspection, the registered manager has been absent from the home. An interim manager is currently overseeing the day-to- day running of the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home. Another child has recently moved on from the home. The child who is currently living in the home did not wish to be involved in the inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A full inspection of the home was completed on 26 June 2024. The home was judged to be inadequate as inspectors identified significant shortfalls relating to the leadership and management of the home. As a result, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation and a compliance notice under regulation 13 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the adherence with the restriction notice and assess the progress the provider has made towards meeting the steps in the compliance notice. The provider has adhered to the restriction notice as no new children have moved into the home. Additionally, the provider has taken sufficient action to address the steps outlined in the compliance notice and has met the recommendation issued during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 2 The interim manager has made improvements to the environment. Areas of the home have been decorated, and new carpets have been fitted on the landing. The child’s bedroom is clean and tidy, and the home now appears more homely and better maintained.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The interim manager has made improvements to children’s risk assessments. Historical and present information is now considered as part of risk planning. Control measures are now clear and guide staff practice, and staff and the child are involved in the review process.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The quality of restraint records has been improved. Staff are now recording more accurately and effectively. The interim manager has introduced a colour-code system to highlight the child’s voice or staff’s use of de-escalation strategies. When de- escalation has not been effective, restraint has been used as a last resort and is proportionate.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Training is now more effective. Since the last inspection, staff have received a range of training that is specific to understanding and meeting the child’s needs and in line with the home’s therapeutic approach. Managers have tracked staff’s learning, understanding and knowledge of each training module through the use of feedback. Results indicate a positive learning experience for staff.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Monitoring systems have been improved. The interim manager has introduced new weekly and monthly monitoring tools to ensure more effective oversight of the service. In addition, the new manager is having more effective oversight of any incidents alongside the responsible individual. New systems for tracking children’s progress have also been introduced.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The quality of care provided to children has been reviewed effectively. Another manager within the company has completed an independent learning review, which identified areas for improvement. The interim manager has ensured that actions are completed. Furthermore, the child’s voice is now actively captured during incidents and in resulting debriefs. One-to-one sessions are being completed and have been positive in allowing the child to exercise their wish to move on from the home soon.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Feedback from staff was positive. A staff member said the interim manager had completely changed the home and was a breath of fresh air. They feel there is now clear management oversight and staff are supported to understand their roles much better. Staff now feel better supported, and as result, they feel the quality of care provided to the child has improved significantly.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Requirements made at the last inspection are outside of the scope of this visit and have not been reviewed. These will be reviewed at the next inspection. No additional requirements or recommendations have been issued following this visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2024 Full Inadequate 26/04/2023 Full Good 03/05/2022 Full Good 27/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 4

p.3

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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s care planning fully considers all the information about their needs and risks, and that there are clear strategies in place to safely manage risk to children. 20 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 5 This also relates to ensuring that the staff have the required skills to provide safe and effective care to children, that staff are professionally curious to understand children’s experiences and that there are effective monitoring and review systems in use.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff understand and adhere to children’s plans, in particular, levels of supervision. 20 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 6 This also relates to ensuring that staff have the skills to assess risks to children and take action to keep children safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Also, that managers have effective oversight of care arrangements to ensure that children and staff are safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Also, that managers ensure that the home’s policies are reviewed for effectiveness.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(i)((iii)(b)(i)(iii)(e))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff acting in response to children’s wishes and feelings. This includes sharing information with relevant others to safeguard children. 20 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 7 This also relates to managers and staff advocating for children to ensure that they are accessing all the services they need.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

p.7

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.7

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(xi))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff having the skills to de- escalate children’s behaviours to prevent conflict and harm to children and staff.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This also relates to ensuring that there is no delay in seeking external support to help children’s learning about positive relationships. 20 September

p.7

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.

p.7

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND

p.8

Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2558682 9 regulates and inspects 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.

p.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9