Children's Home run by Treetops Children’s Homes in Derby

Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 1 Registered provider: Treetops Children's Homes 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

This home is owned and operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties. The home does not have a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home and spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/10/2023 Full Good 11/10/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, four children have left the home. At the time of the inspection there were two children living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Children and staff have formed good relationships. They participate in activities together both inside the home and in the community. Children say that they really appreciate the help and support from staff, and they show a genuine interest in their lives. Children are assisted to keep in touch with their friends and family. One child said that the staff take her to visit her friend and her friends are welcomed into the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff are positive when talking to the children about the benefits of education. Staff advocate for children to ensure that they have the appropriate education support. When required, meetings are arranged to explore the educational options for the children and staff listen to the views of the children to ensure the right provision is identified.

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improvement to be good

Children have regular individual sessions with the staff. A range of topics are discussed, and staff do not shy away from difficult conversations. However, at times, some key topics are not spoken about, and this leaves children vulnerable to potential risk. The staff make records of the conversation with the children, but the language used is not always child friendly.

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improvement to be good

When children leave the home these transitions have not always been successful. One child’s placement had to end but this was not done in a manner that was child focused. Staff felt unable to challenge the local authority’s approach and the ending of the placement was traumatic for the child.

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improvement to be good

Children are in good health. They are supported to attend routine appointments. Staff explore initiatives that encourage children to do some exercise. One member of staff has recently organised a steps challenge in the home, for both children and staff. Staff do not always consider the full implications for both children when a decision in the home is made. For example, staff locked the kitchen door and denied both children access.

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improvement to be good

The children have detailed risk assessments that clearly identify their specific needs and vulnerabilities. However, these are not always updated when required. This can lead to staff being unaware of the most appropriate way to respond to the children.

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improvement to be good

Staff are aware of the risks associated with children who use mobile phones that access social media and the internet. They engage in work with the children about online dangers and provide guidance on how to stay safe. However, this crucial work is not Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 4 revisited on a continual basis leaving the children without key knowledge around keeping themselves safe.

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improvement to be good

Children do go missing from the home and staff have not been sufficiently proactive to prevent this. They have not been creative to explore ways to disrupt the missing behaviour of the children. However, when the children return home, they are welcomed back.

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improvement to be good

When children’s behaviour is concerning or following incidents in the home staff are not always undertaking additional work with the child as directed by the manager. Staff are not providing these extra sessions to children; this has the potential to leave children vulnerable to further risks.

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improvement to be good

When children have made allegations, staff have stated that these were taken seriously and addressed. Despite extensive efforts, no evidence has been found to support that they have been appropriately investigated.

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improvement to be good

There is a medication process in place and staff have received training in administering medication. However, the staff do not have a specific policy that they are able to follow, meaning errors could be made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Shortly after the last inspection the registered manager left their role. A new manager has been appointed but they are not yet registered with Ofsted. At the time of the inspection the deputy manager was responsible for the day-to-day running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager and staff are committed to the children in their care. They offer support and care that assists the children in their daily activities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has developed and implemented systems to support their oversight of the home. However, the system is not sufficiently rigorous. Tasks are not being completed by staff and the manager is often unaware of this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When staff have been recruited the manager has not completed the safer recruitment checks. Essential documents have not been obtained and added to the staff files. When a concern has been raised about a member of staff, the manager has not assessed that concern to determine if that member of staff remains safe to work with children. These actions mean that the manager has not assured themselves that staff working with children are safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision, with positive feedback consistently provided to them. However, staff who have been in their role for over a year have not yet had an appraisal. This is an essential process and by not completing these, the managers are not able to fully assess if staff are fulfilling their role as expected. Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 5 Team meetings are held every fortnight. Staff who attend participate in the discussions that take place and information is shared. Staff are not proactive in reading and signing the team meeting minutes once they are completed. This could mean that staff are not up to date about key information relating to the children or home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has not yet updated the workforce development plan that shows how they intend to develop their staff going forwards. Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the manager taking steps to assure themselves that individuals recruited are staff to work with children. 17 January 2025

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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. 17 January 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 7 (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(b)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that records of incidents are clear, detailed and demonstrate management oversight, reflection, and learning. In addition, children should receive individualised sessions that focus on equipping them with essential knowledge to keep themselves safe as possible.

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Requirement Due date

Also, when a child makes an allegation, the manager need to respond and ensure that the correct process is followed and actions recorded.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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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

understand the child's health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child's health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child's well-being; (Regulation 10 (1)(2)(a)(ii)(iv)

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to staff being equipped with the skills and knowledge to address any health issue on an individualised basis. 17 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 17 January 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 8 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

This particularly refers to the children moving out of the home in a planned way. In addition, the registered person needs to undertake a thorough matching process when considering children moving into the home.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping, and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce development plan which can fulfil the workforce requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards,' page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a medication policy that sets out the way in which staff should administer medication to children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards,' page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for leading a team which provides high quality care for all children living in the home. They should ensure that all staff read and sign the minutes from the team meetings. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards,' page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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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: 2660783 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Treetops Children's Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ

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Inspectors

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Caroline Hose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2660783 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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