Children's Home run by Impact Childcare and Education in Northumberland

Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 1 Registered provider: Impact Childcare and Education

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for five children with learning disabilities. There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered in January 2024. This was the home’s first inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 2

p.1

inadequate

Leaders and managers do not maintain effective management oversight of the running of the home. Poor safeguarding practices have exposed some children to the risk of harm. Significant shortfalls were identified that have contributed to the inadequate judgement.

p.2

inadequate

Staff do not follow children’s care plans consistently. In addition, not all staff have the necessary skills required to provide children with safe and supportive care. This leads to confusion over routines and boundaries for children and does not support children to learn from their behaviours in order to make progress.

p.2

inadequate

Staff support and encourage children to engage in their health appointments. One child has stopped smoking because of the support provided to them by staff. However, staff have not always followed instructions in relation to one child’s medication. This means the child does not receive consistent care in line with medical advice.

p.2

inadequate

One child has not had a good experience of moving on from the home. The manager identified that staff were not able to meet the child’s needs and gave notice to the local authority. The communication between the manager and local authority was not effective in planning for the child to move on in a positive way. Consequently, the child was moved from the home in an unplanned way. This did not give the child or staff time to arrange an appropriate transition to the new home. This was a poor experience for this child.

p.2

inadequate

Children attend school regularly. Staff provide children with support for their education to ensure they have a provision that meets their needs. This helps those that need it to overcome any barriers to their learning.

p.2

inadequate

Children can identify staff who they feel safe with. Children say they are happy and enjoy spending time with staff. Although the organisation’s policy is that all children should have named staff members to provide them with additional support, one child does not. This does not provide consistency of care and prevents the child from understanding who their main point of contact is.

p.2

inadequate

Children are engaging in leisure interests that they enjoy, such as attending a local youth club. This helps children to improve their social skills and provides them with opportunities to make friends. Staff also identify opportunities to help to educate children in the community. One child has been supported to attend the local fire station, to support their interest in fire engines. Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 3

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Risk assessments do not reflect risks to children. Strategies to manage these risks and children’s behaviours also lack the necessary detail. For example, for one child, a significant event has not been recorded, and therefore, safeguards have not been communicated effectively to staff. This prevents staff from having the guidance they need to ensure that children are protected effectively from harm.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Poor care arrangements have resulted in children going missing from home without staff’s knowledge. This is particularly concerning due to the additional vulnerabilities of the children living in the home. Staff do not consistently follow procedures when children go missing. This causes unnecessary delay in taking steps to identify where children are. Leaders and managers have not put in place arrangements to ensure that staff are following the correct procedures and supervising the children effectively.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not know how to use effective behaviour management techniques. For example, staff lack understanding of when it is appropriate to use a physical intervention. On one occasion, a member of staff used an unauthorised hold on a child. This places children at risk of being injured.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff do not consistently record accurate and complete accounts of incidents, including those involving behaviour management techniques. This prevents the manager from understanding children’s changing needs and behaviours and from having oversight of whether the steps taken by staff are necessary and proportionate.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff have witnessed inappropriate conduct towards children from other professionals. This behaviour has gone unchallenged and was not reported to the manager. Staff are not following the organisation’s policy or ensuring that children are safeguarded at all times. Furthermore, this impacts on the child’s ability to trust that staff will act to keep them safe. This contributes towards the unsafe care that children receive.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The manager and staff do not keep accurate accounts of children’s complaints. There are some occasions where children have made a complaint, but it has not been recorded or investigated. This does not reassure children that their concerns are being heard and addressed.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Children have access to hazardous household substances because the storage cupboard is not always locked. Children have additional needs and behaviours and may not understand the dangers of these products. This could pose a significant risk of harm to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 4

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of the quality of care provided to children. Monitoring systems are not used by the manager to evaluate and understand what the home does well or what it needs to improve. Furthermore, the manager is not able to identify, challenge or address poor and unsafe practice. This leaves vulnerable children at risk of harm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not have the skills, experience and qualifications to meet the needs of children with learning disabilities. On one occasion, children were cared for by staff who were not trained in safe holding. This leaves children vulnerable to being harmed. The home’s statement of purpose details a therapeutic approach to caring for children. Staff have not received training to deliver this care. The home is not providing care in line with its own model of practice as represented to local authority commissioners.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not receive supervision in line with the organisation’s policy. Some staff have not received supervision for several months. Consequently, the manager does not have sufficient oversight of the needs of staff or their ability to perform their role. This also prevents staff from having the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the care that they provide to children. This also contributes towards the manager’s limited understanding of staff practice and the shortfalls identified during the inspection.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff find it difficult to understand and navigate the new recording system implemented by leaders. This prevents them from being able to locate the key documents required to inform the care that children receive. This has contributed towards an inconsistent approach in the care that children receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent visitor identifies examples where safeguarding practice can improve. Following each visit, they provide the manager with recommendations for how they can raise practice standards to improve the quality of care that children receive. Leaders and managers do not take steps to address the recommendations made by the independent visitor. Consequently, children continue to experience poor care and are vulnerable to ongoing risk of harm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s review of the care provided to children does not evaluate areas for improvement. Consequently, the manager lacks a good understanding of the steps required to improve the service that children receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

As a result of the shortfalls in how children are helped and protected and the effectiveness of leaders and managers, a restriction of accommodation notice has been issued alongside two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. Additional requirements and recommendations have also been raised. Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 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, 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.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

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

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

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; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 3 November

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 3 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 3 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 7 understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.7

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.7

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (a)(b)(c)) 3 November

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. 3 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 8 (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.8

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.8

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,

p.8

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 31 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(b)) 3 November

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5)) 3 November

p.8

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.8

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the review of the quality of care identifies the areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 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 for children’s home: 2758201 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Impact Childcare and Education

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3-5 Brenkley Way, Blezard Business Park, Seaton Burn, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE13 6DS

p.10

Inspectors

Julia Hagan, Social Care Inspector Mark Cryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2758201 11 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.10

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.11

Inspectors

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

p.11

Inspectors

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

p.11