Children's home run by Alpine4care Services Ltd

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721798 1 Registered provider: Alpine4care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to two children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

Since registration in April 2023, there have been multiple changes in the leadership and management team. An experienced and qualified manager has recently been appointed and has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

There is one child living in this home. They were present at the end of the inspection and spoke briefly to the inspector.

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This monitoring visit

On 8 October 2024, an assurance inspection was completed. Serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children were identified. A notice restricting the accommodation of any further children at the home was served.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the provider’s adherence to the restriction of accommodation notice and the action that the provider has taken to reduce risk for children in their care.

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This monitoring visit

The provider had complied with the restriction of accommodation notice. No children have moved into the home since the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has appointed a new manager. She is qualified and experienced. She has plans for how she will oversee the care provided in the home. The provider and manager have made a child-centred decision for no further children to come to live at the home until after Christmas. This will give the child time to settle before another child moves in. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721798 2 There is a full staff team. New staff receive a good induction, and all staff have received extra training to enable them to provide better care for children. All staff have clear development plans to enable them to develop their practice.

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This monitoring visit

The child is happy and is starting to form positive relationships with staff. Consequently, incidents have reduced. When incidents do happen, they are less intense and do not last as long. This is clear progress for this child.

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This monitoring visit

Risk management plans are much improved and provide better guidance for staff. Staff have a better understanding of the risks for the child in their care.

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This monitoring visit

Most of the requirements set at the assurance inspection have not been fully reviewed and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Therefore, the requirements have been restated below.

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This monitoring visit

After this monitoring visit, a decision to lift the restriction of accommodation was made. The home can now admit children again. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721798 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/09/2023 Full Good 23/05/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721798 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, 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 with 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— that staff—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(i)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that risk management plans are up to date with all children's known risks and new and emerging risks. The manager must ensure that staff are guided by clear strategies that effectively safeguard children.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to ensuring that staff have the skills and experience to understand when a child's risks are increasing and to intervene and take effective action in a timely manner. 30 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— 30 November 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721798 5 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;

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that there are sufficient skilled and experienced staff to promote the well- being and safety of children living in the home; that children are cared for by a consistent managers and staff; and that managers monitor all incidents, exercising professional curiosity. Additionally, ensure that managers take effective action when shortfalls in children's care and safety are identified in the independent visitor's report.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers informing the regulator of serious incidents when police are called to manage a child's behaviour. 30 November 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721798 6

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721798 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Alpine4care Services Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Office Suite 4, Bermar House, Rumer Hill Road, Rumer Hill Business Estate, Cannock WS11 0ET

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Inspector

Joanne Vyas, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2721798 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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