Children's Home run by Omega Elifar Limited in Hampshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2718906 1 Registered provider: Omega Elifar Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2023. It provides short break services, for children with learning disabilities. A total of 20 children currently use the service for overnight stays. The home provides care for up to six children at any one time. At the time of the inspection, three children were staying overnight. Two children are on long term stays exceeding short breaks arrangements. The provider is in the process of reviewing their registration conditions.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2718906 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

There were shortfalls found where children’s well-being has not always been promoted. As a result, there are some new requirements and recommendations following this inspection. Since the full inspection in May 2024, the manager has met two of the three requirements raised. Not all the recommendations were reviewed at this inspections and have been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has reviewed all the children’s needs to assess whether the staff have the skills and experience to meet these. The needs of the children being cared for are within the home’s registration and statement of purpose. Two new children have started long stays in the home since the last inspection. The manager has carefully assessed their needs to ensure that they can be cared for by staff. The children have settled in well and staff are helping them to personalise their rooms and spend time with their families.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the children’s needs, vulnerabilities, associated risks and are passionate about the support that they provide. They have good relationships with children, and are proud of the achievements that the children have made since moving in. There is a positive team ethos amongst staff, and they work well together. Staff have had training in specialist communication methods and training has been booked to enable the use of one child’s specialist communication device.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a lack of promotion of routines and education for children. One child having a short break stayed in bed all day during the inspection, with little interaction with staff and other children. One of the children on a long stay is out of education. They have not been offered educational activities while they wait for a new education setting. Staff are helping this child to develop independence skills such as their laundry and cooking.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has introduced a new health and safety audit system to identify health and safety issues. This has increased oversight of the day-to-day health and safety concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

The organisation is not supporting the manager to make improvements. There is no dedicated vehicle for the home and staff are reliant on borrowing vehicles from within the organisation. This limits children’s abilities to go out, particularly in the school holidays. The response to health and safety concerns is slow. The actions from the fire risk assessment completed earlier in the year have still not been tracked to identify if, and when actions have been completed. The manager and staff report a lack of oversight, availability, and input from the responsible individual. This has hindered the amount of progress that can be made by the manager. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2718906 3 The home use restrictive sleep devices called a ‘safe bed’. One child uses one provided by the organisation. The child uses one at his family home, which has been assessed and provided by an occupational therapist. The bed provided by the

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Findings from the inspection

organisation has not been assessed by an occupational therapist and there is no risk assessment in place for its use.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has responded promptly to one parent’s complaint about their child’s experience. This was investigated and appropriate action was taken.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been medication errors since the last inspection. One was responded to well by the manager and learning from this has resulted in changes to the systems in place to reduce the likelihood of it reoccurring. Another error was more serious, this was reported to relevant safeguarding agencies. The investigation has not been completed and the member of staff is still involved in medication administration.

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Findings from the inspection

When there have been serious incidents the manager has not always notified Ofsted and the local authority social worker promptly. This means that there is no prompt oversight of incidents from the regulatory body and the children’s social workers. On one occasion there was delay in making a referral to the local authority designated officer.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/02/2024 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2718906 4

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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 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

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;

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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)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the actions identified in fire risk assessments are carried out.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must complete investigations into practice concerns and ensure staff are competent to administer medications.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the responsible individual must have the capacity to provide oversight of the management of the 31 October 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2718906 5 home. This oversight should support the manager's improvement of the quality of care for children.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children's home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must consult relevant professionals and risk assess the use or restrictive equipment to ensure its use is necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that mechanical restraints in place for children are reviewed regularly and appropriate professionals are involved in the planning of their use. 31 October 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure language used in children's record is nurturing and supportive rather than 'institutional'. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15 paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities inside and outside of the home and are encouraged to participate in those activities. This promoting education opportunities when children are out of school. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 31 paragraph 6.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 63 paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2718906 6  The registered person should ensure that risk assessments clearly indicate the level of risks for children. Including details of the steps they will take to reduce risks. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 42 paragraph 9.5)

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Omega Elifar Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Kintyre House, 70 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 7BB

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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2718906 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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