Children's Home run by Almond Care Children’s Services Ltd in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 1 Registered provider: Almond Care Children’s Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for one child who experiences social and emotional difficulties and/or has a learning disability.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted. The care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2025 Full Good 19/12/2023 Full Good 13/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s experiences and progress are significantly hindered by the poor-quality care and support provided. The child’s safety has been compromised by ineffective leadership and management, which has had an overall impact on their experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child benefits from living in a comfortable environment. Their bedroom is decorated how they like it. However, the child recently had to move to a bedroom intended for staff use temporarily because of a fire. Staff have failed to remove all evidence of the fire from the home, which is not trauma-informed or child-focused practice. Managers have a plan to decorate the bedroom and replace damaged furniture.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child does not feel listened to. They feel their emotional health has declined because of living here. The child said they have not been supported to use coping strategies while living here, and because of this they feel lost.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Inconsistent staffing arrangements and a reliance on staff from the provider’s other children’s home has impacted the child’s opportunity to develop meaningful relationships. They do have positive relationships with the manager and two staff members. Staff have failed to take account of the child’s wishes and feelings. The child has made several complaints about their care which have been ignored. This failure means the child’s voice is not heard, which impacts their self-esteem.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have failed to implement healthy routines and boundaries for the child. The child spends long periods of time in their bedroom. Limited attempts have been made to explore the child’s hobbies and interests. Daily records and incident reports indicate staff have not actively attempted to encourage the child’s participation in decision making in a regular and consistent way.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have failed to identify and adequately support the child’s significant mental health needs. There has been a lack of challenge when specialist services have been delayed or withdrawn. Staff do not have the required level of experience or skill to address suicidal ideation or self-injurious behaviours. This leaves the child vulnerable to a continued risk of significant harm.

p.3

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

Staff have failed to ensure the safety of the child who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order. The child who requires increased staffing ratios was missing from home for a considerable time. Ineffective safeguarding practice meant that staff failed to realise the child was missing for 24 hours. Inadequate supervision increased the risk of harm to the child. Staff failed to advocate for a timely return home interview, which was a missed opportunity to discuss the event with the child and to improve safety plans. Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 4 Following a missing-from-home incident, the provider made the decision to lock all doors to prevent the child from leaving again. While depriving the child of their liberty, this also created a significant fire safety risk as it left no means of escape in the event of an emergency. Leaders made no attempt to address this safety matter, placing the lives of

p.3

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

all those in the home at risk. When this was identified during the inspection, leaders did take immediate action to resolve the matter. However, this indicates reactive rather than proactive management, which is of concern to the regulator.

p.4

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

The child has a risk assessment and behaviour support plan. Measures to evaluate if staff have read and understood these key documents are ineffective. There are different versions of risk assessments and behaviour support plans, which has the potential to create confusion for staff. One child’s name has been replaced with another in error, which indicates a lack of understanding of how important these care documents are. It is of concern that staff and managers failed to identify this issue in key documents.

p.4

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

Physical intervention is used in the child’s care. Crucial information, such as which holds are approved and where on the body, is missing from care and support plans. This is key to the child’s safety and to prevent further harm in addition to existing injuries. When the child complained about an injury to their arm, staff failed to seek medical advice or show compassion. Restraint procedures are not clear and guidance for staff is ineffective. Unsafe practice in this area of care exposes the child and the staff team to further risk of harm and allegations.

p.4

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

Staff have had discussions with the child on various topics, however the child’s views, wishes and feelings have not been explored effectively. The child has made complaints and allegations about their care. There is no record of how the allegations have been managed, contrary to the provider’s policies. There is no follow-up with safeguarding partners such as the local authority designated officer or placing social worker. Failure to effectively manage children’s complaints and allegations is a significant shortfall in safeguarding practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has been able to develop a trusting relationship with the child. The child enjoys spending time with the manager. However, this detracts from the manager’s ability and capacity to maintain effective leadership in all other required areas.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual has failed to adequately supervise or support the manager. They have delegated their responsibility to hired consultants, which has not been effective. Statutory requirements made at the last inspection have not been satisfactorily addressed and are therefore restated. The responsible individual does not have adequate insight into the operation of the children’s home and has not taken any action to address shortfalls.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have failed to provide specific training to staff to meet the child’s needs. Staff are not suitably skilled or experienced to support the child’s complex needs. Staff do not adequately understand risks associated with missing behaviours or children who are Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 5 deprived of their liberty. Staff have not been trained in the behaviour management approach referred to in the child’s risk assessment and care plans. This prevents staff having the essential knowledge and skills to ensure the child’s safety.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have not provided staff with regular professional supervision. There is no system in place for annual appraisals. One staff member has been employed for five years and has never had an appraisal. This was a shortfall at the previous inspection and has not been addressed. This prevents managers assuring themselves that staff practice is good and that staff can meet children’s needs. It is also a missed opportunity to develop the workforce and provide development opportunities.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider uses a therapeutic parenting model of care. However, only two members of staff have been trained in this. This does not help the child to develop a sense of belonging or secure and trusting relationships. Furthermore, this fails to deliver attuned caregiving which promotes a child’s sense of worth and helps them manage their emotions.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Oversight of agency staff is inadequate. The manager was unable to access the agency workers’ information. They are not able to assure themselves that the required induction and training programme has been fulfilled. The required safe recruitment checks have not been carried out.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have failed to notify Ofsted of serious incidents in a timely way, preventing the regulator from undertaking a thorough evaluation of safeguarding practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider’s statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the service. There are errors in the number of children cared for, the staff team information and the use of door alarms. The provider has failed to supply the regulator with a current and accurate statement of purpose.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have failed to seek the views of professionals and parents adequately. There has been no response to the annual questionnaire sent by the regulator, which is a missed opportunity to improve care for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers do not respond effectively to serious safeguarding concerns. Their record of evaluation of a missing-from-home episode does not reflect the severity of this incident and does not recognise the significant harm posed to the child. Managers do not challenge poor practice by staff. There is no professional scrutiny of how a child deprived of their liberty and subject to strict levels of supervision was able to leave the home unnoticed for 24 hours.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers recognise the serious shortfalls and have started to implement safety strategies to improve standards of care. A new operations manager has been employed to strengthen leadership in the organisation with immediate effect. Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.6

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) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that risk management plans are reviewed, revised and updated and they identify all known and emerging risks. Leaders and managers must also ensure that risk assessments and behaviour support plans identify the strategies staff are to follow to manage and reduce risks to the child. 20 June 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 7 Leaders and managers must ensure staff understand relevant safeguarding procedures and the actions they are to take when a child makes an allegation they have been harmed, and that leaders and managers ensure that procedures are followed.

p.6

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.7

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)(ii)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specially relates to the registered manager ensuring staff provide children with the quality of care outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. Leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive training that meets the individual needs of children living in the home and that staff’s understanding and application of the learning in practice should also be evaluated.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure all staff have supervision and appraisals in line with the provider’s policy and procedures and take action to ensure any identified practice and development opportunities are identified and supported. 20 June 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 8 Leaders and managers must ensure monitoring of all aspects of care and practice. In addition, they must review all previous incidents in relation to the child living in the home to ensure there are no issues regarding safeguarding practice that need investigation.

p.7

Requirement Due date

*An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5)

p.8

Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1) (7)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered individual demonstrating suitability and competence in the role and ensuring there is effective supervision and management of the staff and care provided to children. 20 June 2025

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not met and is restated. The registered manager must ensure serious incidents are shared in a timely manner. 20 June 2025

p.8

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.8

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(1)(a)(c)) 20 June 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 9 This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring children receive emotional and mental health support in a timely manner.

p.8

Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1) (3))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure all complaints are recorded and investigated and the actions and outcomes are shared with the necessary people. 20 June 2025

p.9

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children-

p.9

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure-that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(b) (2)(a))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement was not met and has been restated. In particular, ensure leaders thoroughly assess whether staff have the training and skills to meet the children’s needs, before placing children in the home. 20 June 2025

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.9

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b)(c)) 20 June 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 10 This particularly refers to staff receiving inductions and regular supervisions to help them to work with children. This must also include staff receiving annual appraisals to review their learning and professional development needs.

p.9

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the registered manager ensuring the statement of purpose is accurate, updated and submitted to HMCI within 28 days. 20 June 2025

p.10

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.10

Recommendation

 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)

p.10

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: 2661513 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Almond Care Children’s Services Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Almond Care Ltd, 4 Barling Way, Nuneaton CV10 7RH

p.11

Inspectors

Tazim Akhtar, Social Care Inspector Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 12 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.11

Inspectors

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 . 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.12

Inspectors

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

p.12

Inspectors

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

p.12