Children's Home run by Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Limited in Rotherham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2735148 1 Registered provider: Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions 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 managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties, and who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were made aware after this inspection that other agencies had information to indicate that there was poor recruitment practice, which could lead to unsafe people working at the home. Further exploration was needed to look at the recruitment information of staff, alongside other evidence to inform the inspectors’ judgement. A further visit took place to gather additional evidence.

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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.

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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: 2735148 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2735148 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are shortfalls in the management of allegations, together with a lack of safer recruitment practice due to the poor leadership of this home. This has led to a judgement of inadequate in how well children are helped and protected. As a result, the overall experiences and progress of children and young people is also inadequate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since moving into the home, the child’s attendance in school has improved and they are making progress in their education. Staff advocate for the child to ensure that they receive the right support in school. Staff provide the child with additional informal learning, and they support the child with their homework.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s health needs are being met. The child is active, enjoys a healthy lifestyle and they are reported to be in good physical health. Staff support the child to access therapeutic support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The activities the child takes part in provides them with structure to their week. The child loves animals, they take care of pets at home, and they enjoy horse riding and spending time at the local stables. The child is a member of a gymnastics club and a choir. Taking part in these activities has helped the child to widen their friendship group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff talk to the child about a range of topics that are specific to the child’s individual needs. Records and photos of the child’s experiences of living at the home are captured in a memory book.

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

Leaders and managers have failed to respond effectively to safeguarding concerns, compromising the safety and well-being of children. A whistleblowing complaint was not investigated thoroughly, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. When a child made an allegation, the information was not shared with the child’s social worker, preventing an appropriate response from the placing local authority. Furthermore, leaders and managers demonstrated a lack of professional curiosity in their investigation, failing to explore important safeguarding risks. The home’s policy in how they respond to safeguarding issues leaves staff without the essential information needed to effectively support and protect children, ultimately leaving children at risk.

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

The leaders and managers have not followed safer recruitment practice. This includes significant gaps in obtaining information about some of the staff’s previous employment practice. This does not provide reassurances to the management team that the staff employed are safe to care for the child living at the home.

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

Staff use consequences when the child has struggled to manage their behaviour. However, these are not recorded in line with regulatory requirements. This means that Inspection report for children’s home: 2735148 4 the manager cannot be reassured that the use of consequences by staff are proportionate, necessary and are helping the child understand the impact of their behaviour.

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

Staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities and risks and they are clear about the steps to take to mitigate some of those risks. Risk assessments are detailed. They provide clear guidance for staff, and they are kept under review by the manager.

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

There has been a reduction in the times that the child has become upset and frustrated, particularly at nighttime. This was mainly related to rules about the use of their mobile phone. Staff now support the child with their bedtime routine. Since the last inspection, there have not been any incidents leading to the child needing to be physically held by staff.

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

The child does not go missing. Should this happen there is a detailed plan which provides staff with clear guidance. Staff understand their responsibilities to children who go missing.

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

Staff understand the risks to children using devices and accessing the internet. Staff educate the child about being safe online and there are safeguards in place to ensure that the child’s online safety is better protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The audit systems in place have not always been effective because they have not identified shortfalls in the quality of children’s records. The language used in some records is not always child centred, which is not helpful to the child should they wish to read their records now or in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision that is reflective. They feel supported by the manager. Team meetings happen regularly and provide staff with the opportunity to discuss the child and to take part in activities to develop their knowledge about safeguarding children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive a range of training. This includes training in areas specific to the child’s needs. Records show that training is kept up to date and under review for all staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has built positive relationships with other professionals involved with the child. One professional said, ‘Communication with the manager and staff is good, they keep me updated about [name of child].’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is welcoming and nicely decorated, and there is an abundance of photos of the child on display. The child is involved in choosing the decoration of the home and they have decorated their bedroom to their choice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2735148 5

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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, 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

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,

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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; 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. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(b)(d)) 12 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

) The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular— ) provides for the suspension from work of an employee if necessary in the interests of the safety or welfare of children; and

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Requirement Due date

provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. (Regulation 33(1)(2)(a)(b)) 12 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. 12 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2735148 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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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)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 12 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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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(h)) 12 January 2025

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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

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(vii) 12 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2735148 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact and opinion. 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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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: 2735148 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 38 Sherwood Road, Worksop S80 1QW

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Inspectors

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Angela Ross, Social Care Inspector Steven Guirey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2735148 9 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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