Children's Home run by Bithoms Support Services Ltd in Medway

Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 1 Registered provider: Bithoms Support Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for up to two children who may have social, emotional or mental health needs. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection. Both children were spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first full inspection since the home was registered with Ofsted in December 2023. The registered manager resigned from their post in February 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 2

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improvement to be good

Weaknesses in the leadership and management of the home have compromised the experiences and progress of children.

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improvement to be good

The experiences and progress of the first child who moved into the home were not positive overall. This is because leaders and managers did not fully consider how the new and inexperienced staff team could meet the child’s complex needs. Consequently, the child only lived in the home for a short period and moved on in an unplanned way due to staff not being able to meet their needs. Following this, some learning was identified, and the admissions process was reviewed. Consequently, the children now living in the home have settled well, are developing positive relationships with staff and are making some progress. One child described the home as, ‘The best home I’ve lived in.’

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improvement to be good

Staff support children with their individual education plans. However, one child is not accessing full-time education. Leaders have not challenged external professionals consistently enough to address this. This has resulted in the child being unclear of their long-term educational plans and, at times, not engaging in their online tutoring. When this child struggles to engage in learning, staff support them to understand the importance of education. The other child in the home is accessing full-time education and is making progress.

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improvement to be good

Children are cared for by a nurturing staff team. However, gaps in staff training mean that not all staff have the required experience and skills to fully understand all the presenting needs of children.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to share their wishes and feelings. Regular house meetings and key-work sessions provide opportunities for children to share their views. Children make choices about how they want their bedrooms to look, and about food and activities.

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improvement to be good

Children engage in their hobbies and are encouraged to develop their interests. Staff support children to regularly access community activities, such as bowling and swimming. The child who moved into the home recently loves football. Staff have embraced this by enrolling the child into a local football academy. This has helped the child to settle well into the home and enabled them to continue with their hobby.

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improvement to be good

Children spend time with their families, in line with their agreed pans. Staff recognise the importance of family time and promote positive visits. As a result, one child recently enjoyed an overnight camping trip with their parent. This was a memorable experience for the child. One parent said how happy and well cared for their child is at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 3 Staff promote children’s independence and life skills. Children are encouraged to achieve individual goals using an incentive-based approach. The home recently hosted a barbecue, which was attended by children’s family members and professionals. Children helped to prepare for the event by improving the home’s outdoor space, including painting the garden decking. This was a positive experience for all.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are inconsistent due to gaps in the vetting process. Leaders did not ensure that a Disclosure and Barring Service check had been undertaken for a recently appointed staff member. This meant that the staff member had been working with children without leaders ensuring that they were safe to do so. Furthermore, leaders failed to check the identity of an agency staff member. These poor processes increase the risk of unsuitable staff working with children. These shortfalls were addressed during the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Staff use a consistent approach to promote positive behaviour. Staff encourage children to establish appropriate behaviour agreements and to take responsibility for their actions. This consistent approach to behaviour support has resulted in the reduction of incidents for one child.

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improvement to be good

There has been one incident of physical restraint since the home opened. This was in relation to the first child who lived in the home. No record was made of this incident. Leaders became aware of the incident following an allegation being made and the child sustaining an injury. Leaders took action when they became aware of the incident, liaising with relevant safeguarding partners and ensuring that an investigation was carried out. This resulted in some learning. Leaders provided staff with a learning workshop to help them to understand the recommendations. However, no further work has been done to ensure that staff receive relevant training and that learning has been embedded in practice.

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improvement to be good

Not all core staff are trained in the restraint model used in the home. Many staff have received no training, and there is a lack of urgency by leaders to address this. Other core staff and agency staff are trained in two different models of restraint to the one used in the home. Although there have been no incidents of physical restraint since the two children now at the home moved in, leaders have not recognised this shortfall.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand safeguarding procedures and know how to report concerns. The two children now living at the home have not gone missing. However, the first child to move in did go missing on several occasions. When these incidents occurred, staff took immediate action to search for the child and notified relevant external agencies. However, leaders did not ensure that staff explored with the child what occurred or that return home interviews took place as required.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise and understand the risks for children currently living in the home. Risk management and safety plans are clear and are reviewed and updated regularly. Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 4 Children are now supported to understand how to stay safe, through regular key-work sessions. As a result, one child is now able to safely access the community independently, in line with clear safety agreements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager submitted their resignation in February 2024. No new manager has been recruited. Although some attempts have been made to recruit a manager, these have not been sufficient. Consequently, the current management arrangements for the home are poor. The deputy manager, who is in day-to-day charge of the home, does not have the required experience to be appointed or registered as a manager. Furthermore, the responsible individual, who was present during the inspection, does not have secure oversight of the home. This has led to many shortfalls in how the home is operated. These shortfalls have compromised the quality of care and support provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When the first child moved into the home, there was a lack of management monitoring and oversight. This resulted in shortfalls in staff practice not being identified or addressed. Some improvements have since been made in limited areas, such as incident monitoring and admission planning, to ensure that children’s needs can be safely met. However, monitoring systems continue to be poor overall, particularly in areas such as staff training needs, education arrangements for children, safer recruitment and the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Training for staff is insufficient. No staff have achieved, or been enrolled in, a relevant level 3 qualification. While these qualifications can still be achieved by staff within the required timescales, there is a lack of urgency from leaders to address this. Leaders do not have oversight of staff skills or their training needs. Training relating to the presenting needs of the children has not been identified or provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership oversight of incidents is inconsistent. This is due to the accuracy of records and pertinent information not being clear. For instance, the responsible individual reported that what happened during a serious incident was not as detailed in the records. Despite this, no additional measures have been taken to determine what did actually take place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider notified Ofsted that an external agency had raised concerns about their arrangements for the sponsorship of staff. The external agency’s investigation has been concluded and the provider has expressed their intention to challenge the outcome. Ofsted continues to monitor this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders work closely with the professionals involved with the children in the home and have positive working relationships with them. Information is shared appropriately, with weekly reports sent to social workers. Children’s network meetings are attended by leaders from the home. One professional spoke of effective communication with leaders and staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 5 Staff are happy working in the home and feel supported by leaders. Staff receive regular practice-based supervisions. However, there is no manager in place to oversee the quality of these supervision sessions. Monthly team meetings are held, with good attendance by staff. These provide some opportunities for learning and reflection. Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 6

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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, 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 20 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

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 20 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 7 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

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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(h)) 20 October 2024

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there are arrangements in place for discussions with children following missing-from-home incidents. This should include requesting return home interviews from external safeguarding partners. 20 October 2024

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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— 20 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 8 the name of the child;

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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. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 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;

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iii)) 20 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 20 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(x)(b))

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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 for children's home: 2747588 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bithoms Support Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Portland Road, Gillingham ME7 2NP

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Inspector

Chris Warren, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2747588 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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