Children's home run by Semi-independent House Limited in Peterborough

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 1 SC452107

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Registered provider: Semi-independent House Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection and one child was spoken to.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: SC452107 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. One child has moved in and one child has moved out of the home since the last inspection. One child spoke with the inspector.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has been registered since December 2022; they hold a relevant level 5 diploma. They were not present during this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff enable the children to take part in activities, hobbies and leisure interests, and children speak positively about these activities. The staff support the children to maintain links with those who are important to them.

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Findings from the inspection

Children speak positively about the home. One child said that they would not change anything about the home and they were happy and felt safe. The child was able to identify staff who they would speak to if they were worried or concerned. Positive and warm interactions were observed throughout the inspection, with staff being sensitive in their approach to the children, particularly with one child who was being informed of huge changes for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Overall, the home, including the garden area, is tidy, well maintained and nicely decorated. The children’s bedrooms are personalised and decorated to their tastes and liking.

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Findings from the inspection

Generally, leaders and managers have ensured that notifications are made to Ofsted when required. However, on some occasions, there have been significant delays in notifying Ofsted of safeguarding concerns. Furthermore, there have been delays in sharing updates to the home’s statement of purpose and quality of care review with Ofsted. This meant that Ofsted’s capacity to monitor the home was reduced.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical interventions are rare and, generally, are managed well. However, following interventions, staff do not always receive debriefs. This limits the learning opportunities to prevent reoccurrences and leaves staff feeling unsupported.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been incidents of children going missing from the home. When children go missing, staff are quick to respond. Partnership work with the police is effective and staff actively ensure that the children return home as soon as possible. However, on some occasions, children have not received independent return home interviews. This means that opportunities may be missed to understand why children go missing and to reduce these incidents. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 3 Risk assessments and care plans do not provide clear and consistent information or guidance for staff to follow. One child’s management plan says that the child does not have any health conditions or needs, despite them having specific health needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Most staff benefit from annual performance appraisals and regular supervision. However, new staff have not always received reflective supervision.

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Findings from the inspection

Professionals provided mixed feedback about the home. One social worker said, ‘staff work closely with the local authority and education provider to support and promote [child’s name’s] education.’ Another social worker said that communication was not always good due to changes in the home; however, they had no safeguarding concerns. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/06/2023 Full Good 23/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/07/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 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, 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s 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 each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s plans are kept up to date and provide staff with accurate guidance.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 April 2025

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 1 April 2025

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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. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)) 1 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— 1 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 6 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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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

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. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)) 1 April 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Information provided by such interviews should be considered when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they keep under review a statement of purpose (regulation 16 and schedule 1). In particular, the registered person should ensure that they notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Semi-independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Hakeem Cummings-Quarry

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC452107 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 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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