Children's Home run by Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 1 Registered provider: Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a children’s trust on behalf of a local authority. It provides care for up to six children with autism and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager is vacant. A manager is currently filling the role and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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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 and their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 23 September 2024

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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: 2616670 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/09/2024 Full Good 25/10/2023 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good 24/02/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. Inspectors spent time with all three children. This included inspectors’ participation in group activities and daily routines with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are serious shortfalls in respect of the help and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home that leave children at risk of harm. Poor individual staff practices and several weaknesses identified in the leadership and management of the home have significantly undermined the quality of care provided. As a result, the overall judgement has been deemed inadequate. Despite this, children have some positive experiences and occasionally receive consistent, individualised support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are numerous areas of the home that require maintenance. One child’s bedroom needs to be repainted. A shower room floor has sustained water damage. The kitchen cabinets need to be replaced due to damage, and several windows around the home show signs of wear and markings. The unclean trampoline in the garden poses a hygiene risk to the children. This does not result in a well-maintained and decorated home that is tailored to meet children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children participate in activities that help them develop their independence and self-care skills. To support children’s success, staff work with them to set personalised goals that align with their plans. However, some children experience slow progress, which highlights the need for staff to monitor and support this work more effectively. This is important for children as they prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children engage well in their education and have high attendance at school. Staff usually ensure that children are prepared for their school day. Feedback from education professionals is mixed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two children have access to an independent advocate. All children are encouraged to participate in regular house meetings. As a result, children have opportunities for their views and preferences to be explored by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff provide a positive range of well-planned activities that reflect children’s interests. This has included a recent trip abroad to a theme park for one child.

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

There are significant shortfalls in relation to leaders’, managers’ and staff’s responses to several identified marks and bruises on a child. When marks or bruises are recorded, there is a lack of exploration, analysis and information-sharing with external professionals. This has resulted in no determination of the likely causes of these marks Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 4 and bruises, as well as no identification or implementation of any additional safeguarding measures. This failure has increased the risk of harm to children and does not demonstrate that their welfare is prioritised.

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

Staff have not always followed safeguarding procedures. On one occasion, staff did not report concerning staff practice for 11 days. This meant that the necessary protective measures were not considered for the child when they should have been. Consequently, the potential risk of further harm for the child increased during this time. When leaders and managers were alerted to this concern, they took prompt action to safeguard the child.

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

Staff have not always ensured that children are appropriately supervised in accordance with their agreed plans. As a result, on one occasion, a vulnerable child was left unattended and exposed to risks that should have been avoided.

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

Leaders and managers have not ensured that all safer recruitment procedures for staff are followed. For two staff members, leaders and managers did not obtain their full employment history or explore the reasons for leaving previous roles involving the care of children or vulnerable adults. This prevents leaders from ensuring that only suitable people work at the home.

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

Staff use proactive behaviour management strategies to prevent situations that increase children’s anxiety. Staff have a good awareness of potential triggers and combine this with consistent de-escalation approaches. Consequently, they minimise incidents where children struggle to control their emotions. Since the last inspection, physical restraint has been used on one occasion. This was necessary and proportionate. Leaders and managers appropriately reviewed this incident to identify learning.

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

Leaders and managers have addressed previous shortfalls relating to children and staff participating in fire drills. Risk assessments for fire safety measures have been updated, and all children now have personal evacuation plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been no registered manager since December 2023. A manager was previously appointed, but they left without registering with Ofsted. Since then, a new and qualified manager joined in March 2025. They are in the process of applying to register. The new manager is supported by an established responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are widespread failures in respect of leadership and management. Leaders and managers recognise that recent staff practices have fallen short of their expectations and have shown a commitment to addressing the shortfalls identified. However, the seriousness of these failures has undermined the safe care and support provided to children. Leaders and managers have not been effective at identifying and prioritising all the necessary improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 5 Leaders’ and managers’ monitoring and oversight have been weak. There has been a substantial delay in leaders and managers identifying a concern about staff failing to follow agreed supervision levels for a child. As a result, generated learning and actions to respond to this serious concern relating to a child’s safety were not promptly addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders’ and managers’ monitoring of the environment has not identified and addressed potential hazards. Broken furnishings that pose a risk to children were found to be in rooms accessible to children. Furthermore, leaders and managers failed to identify that some of the children’s personal belongings were stored without the necessary care, respect and value. Leaders and managers took immediate action to respond to these concerns during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that all staff have the necessary skills to meet children’s individual needs and provide safe and effective care. They have failed to identify and address several training gaps for staff. Some members of staff have not completed essential training in safeguarding practices and safeguarding children with disabilities. There are substantial shortfalls in staff receiving training in accordance with the home’s model of care. Staff do not consistently demonstrate the knowledge required to support children’s structured learning and the development of their communication skills. Furthermore, not all staff have received basic fire awareness training. The previous inspection identified some of these shortfalls, but they have not progressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

An appropriate number of staff have the required level 3 qualification. However, four members of staff who should have achieved this have yet to do so within the required time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

External monitoring by the independent person needs improvement. A high number of these visits are announced. Parents are not routinely consulted for their views. This is important as children have difficulties in expressing their views and rely on others for advocacy. This form of external independent monitoring fails to deliver the additional safeguards intended.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to produce the last two quality of care reports. The lack of a thorough and systematic review of the care delivered has significantly reduced the ability to evaluate and understand the strengths and weaknesses in the care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Recently, staff have not received formal supervisory support at the frequency outlined in the relevant policy. The annual appraisal for staff has not taken place as required. This does not ensure that staff receive the necessary support to reflect on their professional development and children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers seek permission from parents and social workers for the use of bedroom door alarms. However, currently, there is no mechanism for the review of their use or need. The lack of clear and documented reviews of this monitoring means that leaders and managers cannot ensure that their use is continuously proportionate and justified. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 6 Professional and parental feedback is mixed. One parent was highly positive about the experiences and care provided to their child. However, another parent has raised several concerns about staff practice. Most social workers and safeguarding professionals have consistently provided positive feedback in relation to the level of communication with staff, the accessibility of the home, and the support provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 7

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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 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

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff are aware of their duties to record and report any identified marks and bruises on children;

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Requirement Due date

thoroughly and promptly review body maps to explore probable causes of identified marks and bruises. This includes reviewing any related incidents and liaising with parents and other key professionals, including social workers and education staff;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. Leaders and managers must ensure that all staff are confident in recognising and promptly reporting any concerns; 17 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 8 ensure that staff are aware of and adhere to agreed supervision levels for children. Leaders and managers must ensure that effective monitoring systems are in place to achieve this.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must:

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Requirement Due date

thoroughly scrutinise and review incident records, daily notes, and handover logs to ensure that any issues relating to staff practices are quickly identified and addressed;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff receive training in Picture Exchange Communication System and Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children in accordance with the home’s model of support;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all staff have completed mandatory safeguarding and safeguarding children with disabilities training. All staff must complete basic fire awareness training; 17 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 9 ensure that monitoring and observations of the environment identify any potential hazards or concerns in the storage of children’s personal belongings and that these shortfalls are addressed;

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Requirement Due date

carry out a review of the quality of care. This must include scope for ascertaining and evaluating feedback from children, parents and staff.

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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

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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. 27 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 10 (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 27 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)) 27 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (3)) 27 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 11

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure any restrictions on a child’s privacy are based on a rigorous assessment of the child’s needs and kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that children are fully prepared to move on to adult care. Children’s targets and progress towards greater independence should be systematically monitored and supported. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)

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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: 2616670 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: One Angel Square, Angel Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 1ED

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Inspectors

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Ashley Hinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2616670 13 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

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

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