Children's Home run by Throughomes Ltd in Derby

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 1 Registered provider: Throughomes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may require support with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

Two children are currently being cared for in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager’s position has been vacant since October 2023. A new manager has been recruited but not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 2

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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: 2716966 3

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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

Two children were living at the home at the time of the assurance inspection. The inspector spoke to both children.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has been through a period of instability prior to a new manager being appointed in October 2024. Since the last full inspection in July 2024, there has been two children in placement. Staffing has changed, however there remains a core team of established staff. This has provided some consistency of care for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Because of this instability, children’s plans have changed, sometimes at short notice. For one child this has created additional anxiety and mistrust with staff. However, there is now a permanent manager in post to provide guidance and structure.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have opportunities to make their views, wishes and feelings known. Staff encourage children to meet on a regular basis, to make plans for activities and to choose meals. Staff build relationships with children through key working where they talk about important things in children’s lives.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live in a warm and homely environment. They personalise their bedrooms. They are active around their home and engage with staff positively. They undertake activities at home, and in the community. Children are supported to see important people in their lives.

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Findings from the inspection

Children understand how to make a complaint. Managers respond and investigations take place. However, these are not always robust. The process for dealing with complaints from children is unclear. This means that children may not trust adults to take their concerns seriously.

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Findings from the inspection

When there are incidents involving children, the records made by staff are not always clear to what action has been taken to safeguard children. Oversight of incidents is not always effective. It is not always clear if external safeguarding agencies have been referred to. This means that opportunities maybe missed to reduce further incidents. Several other areas of recording, including the recording of medication, were found to be requiring improvement.

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Findings from the inspection

The recruitment of new staff is now managed well and designed to safeguard children. Safe recruitment practices and protocols are followed. This means that new staff are only employed subject to clear vetting processes. This reduces the risk of unsuitable adults working with children. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 4 The home now has a permanent manager. This is crucial and provides much needed leadership stability. This should now enable the team to receive direction and guidance on the care provided to children. While improvements are beginning, given the short timescale in which the manager has been in post, a period of embedding good practice is required.

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Findings from the inspection

Several requirements and recommendations were set at the last inspection. The provider has started to take action to address the shortfalls. The manager has quickly identified the strengths in the home and the areas that need further improvement and development. There are the beginnings of plans in place to drive these improvements forward.

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Findings from the inspection

There remain several areas of care that need improvement. Supervision is yet to take place on a regular basis. Staff do not have all the mandatory training set out in the statement of purpose. However, monthly team meetings are now planned to allow staff the opportunity to share concerns and develop practice. The manager is beginning to create a supportive environment for staff and embed the new ethos in the home to make sure that care is positive and consistent. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/08/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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.

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home's care.

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Requirement Due date

make each child aware of and, if necessary, remind them of each of the matters in sub-paragraph (d)(i) to (iii).

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each child— 28 November 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 7 is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular to ensure that the children’s complaints procedure is effective.

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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

In particular ensure that incident records are shared with external safeguarding agencies, and an effective overview is undertaken by a manager. 28 November 2024

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate.

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. 28 November 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 8 ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that staff have all mandatory and child specific training.

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that senior staff are unqualified and have the relevant experience.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that the statement of purpose is updated with changes to management arrangements. 28 November 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that the supervision of staff takes place in line with the home's policy. 28 November 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 9

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour using positive behaviour strategies in line with the children’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the homes policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a no-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion, and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff take care to ensure prescribed medicines are only administered to the individual for whom they are prescribed. Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. (‘Guide to Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from internal monitoring (including under regulation 45) to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 10

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 11 Westgreen Avenue, Allenton, Derby DE24 9AP

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2716966 11 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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