Children's home run by Unity Residential Care Ltd

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711614 1 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, one child was living at the home. This child has moved into the home since the last full inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out a full inspection on 16 and 17 July 2024. The inspection identified widespread and serious shortfalls which resulted in the home being judged inadequate. Two compliance notices were issued, under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. At this monitoring visit, the compliance notice raised under regulation 12 was deemed to have been met. However, the compliance notice raised under regulation 13 has been reissued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders have made good progress in addressing some shortfalls that were identified at the last inspection. However, some of these improvements are still in their infancy and some areas of practice remain fragile.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders have ensured that there is now an appropriate statement of purpose. This document is clear and thorough and outlines the vision for keeping children safe. Records are now contained in one database which gives managers and staff easier access to key information. The independent visitor has improved their regular reports about the home and makes clear recommendations. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711614 2 Leaders and managers have improved their recruitment processes. This includes verbal feedback being sought during the recruitment process.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders have implemented a series of training workshops to address specific areas of concern identified at the last inspection. These include topics such as the process to follow when children go missing from the home, the role of the key worker and developing professional curiosity.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders have scheduled training for staff about restraint and approaches to de- escalation, to ensure that staff have the right level of knowledge and skills in behaviour management.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff are beginning to have a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities and children’s vulnerabilities. Staff now manage incidents better and are using agreed strategies to de-escalate incidents.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Team meetings are now taking place. These are well attended by staff. Managers set a clear agenda that is relevant to the needs of the child.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers are ensuring that staff receive supervision. Managers are not yet consistently recording these meetings. However, when records are completed, the quality of these records has improved.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Despite the improvements found, there are continued shortfalls. Managers have not yet ensured that the recording and reporting of incidents is consistent, or that Ofsted is routinely informed of serious incidents. In addition, managers cannot yet be assured that every member of staff follows procedures to safeguard the child in the home. Leaders and managers have not yet strengthened their engagement with local partners, including the community safety police team and local authorities.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home environment is not yet safe and secure. For example, leaders have not fully risk assessed access to the roof.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2024 Full Inadequate 05/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711614 3

p.2

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.

p.3

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.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

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;

p.3

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.3

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)(a)(f)(h))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 20 October 2024

p.3

Requirement Due date

If the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 20 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711614 4 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.4

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.4

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.4

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation— must include details of—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.4

Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. 20 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711614 5 (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.5

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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must fully risk assess access to the roof. 20 October 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.5

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.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711614 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unity Residential Care Ltd, 30 Chadwell Avenue, Romford RM6 4QH

p.6

Inspectors

Monique Lindsay, Social Care Inspector Naintara Khosla, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2711614 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspectors

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.7

Inspectors

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

p.7

Inspectors

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

p.7