Children's Home run by The Twilight Care Group Limited in Leicester

Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 1 Registered provider: Twilight Care Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation and is registered to provide care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. All three children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced manager who has applied for registration with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home have been through a significant amount of change and instability. This has led to inconsistent and, at times, poor leadership. Children’s experiences and progress have been hampered by ongoing changes to the staff team. This has led to the children receiving inconsistent care from a constantly changing group of staff. Additionally, leaders and managers have not provided good oversight of significant incidents or provided staff with the direction they need to provide children with the best care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two children have left the home since the last inspection and three children were living at the home during this inspection. Staff acknowledged that a child who had previously lived at the home received poor care experience of living in the home. This was an unsettled period for the child, and there were lots of incidents of concerning behaviour that required staff to physically hold the child. The child’s progress and experiences were poor during this time, and they eventually left the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s education is important, and staff understand this. For children who are not in full-time education, the staff ensure that their time is structured and filled with educational activities. One older child attends college on a full-time basis. They enjoy college and are making progress. Managers and staff support the child to attend college and encourage him to do well. They understand that this is important for his future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are supported to see their families and those who are important to them. Staff support children to rebuild relationships with family members where there are difficulties or tensions in these relationships. The staff help and facilitate children in spending time with their families. They understand the impact this can have on children. Staff recognise that time for children to spend with their family is important to all the children, to maintain these crucial relationships and help the children understand and maintain their identity. The manager strives to ensure that this is not affected because of shortfalls in resources.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. There are pictures of children displayed. Children’s artwork can be seen in living areas. Children are supported to express themselves through their interests. One child is being supported with their interest in acting and has an audition lined up for a television programme. Staff are proud of children’s skills and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Leaders, managers and staff have a good understanding of children’s physical and mantal health needs. All the children are registered with primary healthcare services. If children require more-specialist intervention for their emotional and mental health, this resource is identified and provided. For example, one child is now able to access the specialist support independently. Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 4

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

Children have individual behaviour support plans. These contain helpful information regarding antecedents to behaviour and risks to children. However, some plans do not contain crucial information about the children. For example, one child is subject to a court order restricting their liberty. There is no information in the plan that guides staff on how they should manage this restriction or give them confidence that they are working the requirements of the court order.

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

There have been numerous occasions where children have been held by staff to keep them and staff safe. However, there is no information in the children’s plans that accurately reflect these incidents, or any lessons learned following these incidents. Ofsted and other external agencies cannot be assured that these incidents have been dealt with in line with physical intervention guidance. Additionally, children’s plans lack guidance on how staff should safely hold children if they need to do so.

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

The approaches used by staff in undertaking physical intervention to manage children’s behaviour are inconsistent. Staff have been trained in different models of physical intervention. The manager has not received training in the model used by most staff. It is therefore unclear how the manager would review an incident of restraint. The previous manager undertook internal investigations following incidents of children being held by staff. However, the current manager has not reviewed these incidents to inform approaches to managing children’s behaviour going forwards, or develop staff practice to ensure that there is consistency in staff’s approaches.

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

Children have individualised risk assessments. These identify children’s risks and vulnerabilities. However, one child has a specific safety plan relating to self-harm. Information in this plan conflicts with other known information about the support needs for the child. This does not provide staff with the right guidance and could impact the well-being of the child when they are in crisis.

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

New staff coming to work at the home have not always been subject to the required rigorous vetting procedures. For example, one member of staff started without a completed Disclosure and Barring Service check. There are incomplete references from previous employers for some staff, and employment histories not fully explored. This means that children are at increased risk of harm by those who are caring for them because crucial checks have not been undertaken in a timely manner. The responsible individual had identified this shortfall and begun to undertake an audit of all the recruitment checks completed.

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

Incidents of children going missing from the home have reduced. Staff know the steps to take when children do go missing from the home. However, missing-from-care plans are not up to date and do not reflect changes to plans for the time children spend in the community. Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 5 There have been a high number of safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. The manager does not have knowledge of many these notifications because records are not being kept up to date. Additionally, the records relating to the times that children were held by staff were also not available. The manager could not be assured that these incidents were managed appropriately without a comprehensive review of how incidents were being managed by staff. This is a shortfall.

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

Children are supported to understand boundaries that help them to be safe. They do not challenge these boundaries, and staff are consistent in their approach. Staff ensure that children have planned activities to keep children occupied. This helps to reduce the number of incidents because children are occupied and stimulated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership of the home has been inconsistent. There have been several changes in the leadership and management arrangements for the home. This has created uncertainty in relation to decision-making and responsibilities. A new manager is now leading the home and is being supported by a newly appointed responsible individual. The previous registered manager was suspended and then left the home, taking up a new role in the organisation. During this period, the home was unsettled and there was a lack of experienced support to help and guide staff in their care practice with children. This has impacted the continuity of care that children have received. Several staff also chose to leave the home, adding to the overall uncertainly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The new manager and responsible individual are experienced. They recognise the areas for improvement in the home going forward. The new manager has now applied for registration with Ofsted. However, the deputy manager has stepped down from their role. The manager has started the recruitment process for a new deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders in the organisation acted outside of the home’s statement of purpose. They admitted a child in an emergency. This was done without consulting the manager. The risks and vulnerabilities for the child were not properly assessed, and information-sharing was poor. The impact on other children and the child moving to the home was not considered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The new manager does not have access to important records that pre-date them starting in the role. This has not been rectified and means that the manager cannot review previous incidents, children’s experiences, or their progress. The manager has not got effective oversight of the period since the last inspection. This means that children’s experiences of living in the home have not been properly reviewed by the new manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The children’s care plans have not been reviewed or updated by the manager. These important documents lack detailed information about children’s experiences of living in the home or how their needs have changed over time. This means that staff are not equipped with the correct and most up-to-date information about children to guide their care practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 6 The manager does not yet have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Good and rigorous management systems to identify areas requiring improvement are not yet in place or embedded into management practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The new manager is committed to the role and having a positive impact on children’s lives. The new manager and responsible individual have bought stability to the staff team and improved morale. Staff feel supported, and are being helped to develop their skills. External professionals report that the new manager is a good leader. They feel that the manager communicates well and advocates strongly on behalf of children. Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 7

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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 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

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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that all safety plans for children are up to date and contain vital information regarding the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. Ensure that plans align and do not give conflicting information about how staff should support children to stay safe. 9 January 2025

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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

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promotes their welfare. 20 January 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 8 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that the home provides care that aligns with that offered in the statement of purpose.

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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

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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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)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the manager having access to records for children who live in the home and who have left. These records should be reviewed for the purpose of ensuring that the development of the home and children’s care plans is accurate and reflective, and that incidents or safeguarding concerns have been reviewed. 20 January 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 9 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

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that there is an identified model of physical intervention being used in the home and that staff training is up to date. Also, that behaviour support plans for children give clear guidance on when staff should intervene and how. 3 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the ensuring that the organisation considers admissions that align with the home’s statement of purpose; that the manager and responsible individual lead the referral assessment process; and that the needs of other children living in the home are adequately assessed in terms of impact. 3 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 20 January 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 10 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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the individual is of integrity and good character;

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the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that all safe recruitment checks have been completed and they have full oversight of this in line with Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the child; 20 January 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 11 details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate;

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the manager ensuring that they have received and reviewed all records of restraint in the inspection period, and they are satisfied that all steps have been followed under regulation 35.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date; 20 January 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 12 are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that records that were created before they started are accessible and maintained for children and staff.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed;

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 24 February 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 13

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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: 2726075 14

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Twilight Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 32a Eggington Street, Leicester LE5 5BA

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Inspector

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2726075 15 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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