Children's Home run by Alpha-Imperial Private Limited in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection for report for children’s home: 2744977 1 Registered provider: Alpha-Imperial Private Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. The home is registered to provide care for up to three children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. However, they were not present during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 10 September 2024

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 2744977 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home is well maintained and welcoming. However, the child’s bedroom is unclean and untidy. There is a strong smell of smoke in the child’s bedroom. Staff complete daily room checks; however, the level of cleanliness is not consistent. Staff do not support the child through discussions about the importance of maintaining a clean bedroom.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff undertake training specific to the child’s individual needs. This provides staff with appropriate skills and knowledge to care for the child. Alongside this, staff benefit from regular supervision that provides them with space to consolidate their learning and reflect on practice.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The child is now accessing some education following a period of absence from any form of education. However, the child’s engagement is sporadic, and staff discussions are limited with the child to obtain information on barriers to education. The manager is proactive in speaking with the local authority to create a multi- agency approach to address this issue.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments are reviewed and updated when required; however, they lack in- depth detail about the child’s current risk and vulnerabilities. Risks associated with the child, such as exploitation, are not sufficiently detailed in the child’s safety plan when having free time. This does not provide staff with specific steps to take if concerns are to arise, meaning adequate actions may not be taken to ensure the safety of the child.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There are well-coordinated responses when there are incidents of the child going missing from home. The registered manager will advocate for the child to have a return home interview. This provides the child with the space to talk about their reasons for going missing.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff support the child to spend time with those who are important to them. The manager advocates for the child to increase and maintain relationships, in conjunction with the local authority. This supports the child to have meaningful relationships with those who are close to them.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The child’s records are written without judgement and in a non-stigmatising way. This has been an improvement since the full inspection. Records are easy to read by the child and provide a clear sense of their journey.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager is not consistently within the home. The responsible individual attends the home on days when the manager is not present, to ensure consistency in oversight. However, the manager has sufficient oversight of the home and regularly Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744977 3 evaluates incidents. The manager and responsible individual have highlighted the need for a deputy to ensure continued support.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Safer recruitment checks are not robust. Certain information held on file does not provide sufficient information relating to when it was checked and if there are any concerns. The registered manager is not proactive in obtaining evidence to support information being shared by staff when there have been changes in circumstances. This creates shortfalls and gaps on staff files.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Progress has been made against the previously set requirements and recommendations. One requirement has been restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744977 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744977 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure–

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

p.5

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. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(iii)(vi)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that staff understand, update and follow risk assessments and safety plans for children. The registered person should ensure that risk assessments reflect current risks and vulnerabilities for children. 8 April 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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).

p.5

Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 8 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744977 6 the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all relevant information regarding safer recruitment is within staff files. The registered person should satisfy themselves and have a record of relevant documentation to be confident that there have been no changes in circumstances.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the home is maintained to a high standard, especially children’s bedrooms. 8 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744977 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that those with a leadership and/or management role are visible and accessible to staff and able to deliver their leadership and/or management responsibilities. Any registered manager employed in the home should have sufficient capacity to ensure that the quality standards are met for each child in the home. When the registered manager, they should ensure there is still consistent oversight of the running of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.7)  The registered person should ensure that when children are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported and encouraged

p.7

Recommendations

to participate in alternative forms of learning. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744977 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Alpha-Imperial Private Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 16, Matrix House, 7 Constitution Hill, Leicester LE1 1PL

p.8

Inspector

Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2744977 9 and inspects 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9