Children's Home run by Affinity Childrens Services Limited in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2746965 1 Registered provider: Affinity Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in November 2023. The original registered manager left the home in July 2024. A new manager has been appointed, and her application to register with Ofsted is pending.

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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. 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: 2746965 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious and/or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The same two children are living in the home as at the time of the full inspection, and one new child has joined the home. No children have left.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not always implement boundaries or follow children’s care plans. One child was given permission to go out in the community with friends, despite their plan putting this on hold. While out in the community, the child was involved in an incident which required police involvement. If staff had followed the child’s plan, this could have been prevented.

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Findings from the inspection

Supervision of children and the setting of clear boundaries are inconsistent. For example, due to inconsistencies in staff’s understanding of supervision, one child was able to leave the home without staff being aware. The child was missing from the home for a short while before the missing-from-care protocol was initiated.

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Findings from the inspection

Boundaries around the management of bed-time routines have not been implemented. As a result, children have spent time in each other’s rooms without staff’s knowledge. An incident of misadventure involving all three children resulted in children needing medical attention. This incident was made possible by the lack of supervision during the evening routine. Leaders and managers have since fitted bedroom door sensors on children’s bedroom doors, and the manager has been available at night to reinforce staff practice.

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Findings from the inspection

An allegation made by a child was not acknowledged by several members of the team. The allegation was not brought to the manager’s attention until it was raised by an external agency three days later. A number of missed opportunities which resulted in reporting and recording delays meant the child’s voice was not heard, which could have potentially placed the child at risk. The allegation was then suitably investigated, with the child being informed of the outcome. Leaders and managers have addressed the practice shortfalls and are assured staff understand procedures relating to allegations and are taking appropriate action to address practice concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s written plans and risk assessments have not been kept under timely review. There has been a significant number of incidents in the home in the last two months. However, plans are not always reflective of the current risks to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the manager has been in post, a plan to rectify shortfalls has been considered, but the recent challenges mean this has not been prioritised of late. Managers have identified shortfalls in their current in-house recording system. They are in the process of moving to a system which they feel will improve the quality of recording and will make oversight of practice more efficient. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2746965 3 The recent change of the dynamics of children in the home has led to a significant increase of incidents of late. The managers have considered a child-focused plan to address the increased incidents and attempt to stabilise the current situation for all children. Managers have been proactive in escalating concerns with the placing authority when the authority has not given timely responses.

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Findings from the inspection

Training has been reviewed and the members of the staff team have been enrolled on a new learning platform to ensure that they have child-specific training. The manager has written a detailed induction and plans to re-induct all members of the staff team to support staff development and ensure consistency. However, this has not yet taken place, and some members of staff have joined without mandatory training in physical restraint.

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Findings from the inspection

On some days, more agency staff have been caring for children than core staff. Although this has been as a last resort and in response to challenges faced, it does not support the development of consistent care for children. Managers are taking steps to recruit more permanent staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The monitoring and reviewing of incidents in the home are not consistent. Audits of practice have resulted in managers identifying the shortfalls in the home and working to address this. In contrast, some incident reports have not had timely management oversight and have not been signed off despite several weeks passing since the incident.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite the shortfalls, some positive aspects to the care children receive are evident. The home is warm, welcoming and well maintained. Some staff have developed positive, nurturing relationships with children. Children’s achievements are celebrated by staff, which promotes their confidence and self-esteem. One child has been supported to raise money for charity, which involved hosting a coffee morning and volunteering for the shoebox appeal.

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Findings from the inspection

All children are attending education. One child is thriving, and they attend a local mainstream school on a full-time basis. The other children are attending alternative provisions and follow a timetable which is reflective of their needs. The last child to join the home is on a reduced timetable. This is under review with the plan to increase time in education at a pace conducive to the child’s learning needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children in the home have suffered considerable personal loss and bereavement. Staff are supporting children to navigate their grief. They ensure that children’s views are captured and understood, so each child’s individual feelings can be considered. The organisation’s therapist also provides coaching and guidance to inform staff practice. As a result, children feel supported and have trusted adults who know how to support them.

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Findings from the inspection

Two requirements were raised at the last inspection. One has been repeated as monitoring of incidents in the home needs more timely oversight. One more requirement has been raised in regard to the protection of children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2746965 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2024 Full good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2746965 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 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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(h)) 31 March 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

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; 31 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2746965 6 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure no more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night at the home should be from an external agency. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.17) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2746965 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Affinity Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Horse Fair, Rugeley WS15 2EL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jennifer Henderson

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Inspector

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2746965 8 regulates 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.

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Inspector

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