Opinion
- Are children effectively safeguarded?
- Safeguarding records reviewed in full; concerns were escalated appropriately and in time.
- Partially
- Does the conduct of the home promote children's wellbeing?
- Children report feeling settled, but the concerns above are recurring and affect daily life.
- Partially
The visit
Spoke with KM and with staff PE, RR. Sampled the case files of KM. Reviewed 12 areas: physical intervention and restraint, missing from home episodes, complaints, sanctions and consequences, safeguarding concerns and referrals, regulation 40 notifications, children's views, medication management, education attendance and progress, staff supervision, family time and contact, premises and environment.
Findings
4 concerns, 3 strengths. Every finding records what was looked at, what was found, and why it matters.
Physical intervention and restraint
Concern- Looked at
- All physical intervention records since the last visit; debrief forms.
- Found
- Two records lack a manager review signature.
- Why it matters
- Without manager review, patterns in use of force go unchallenged.
- Action
- Raised as a recommendation, tracked on the home’s timeline.
Missing from home episodes
Concern- Looked at
- Missing episode log; return-home interview records; police notifications.
- Found
- Pattern of episodes on Friday evenings not yet analysed by the manager.
- Why it matters
- Unanalysed patterns mean risk assessments are not reflecting real behaviour.
- Action
- Raised as a recommendation, tracked on the home’s timeline.
Education attendance and progress
Concern- Looked at
- Attendance registers; PEPs; correspondence with school.
- Found
- One child attending three days a week; no recorded plan to increase.
- Why it matters
- Reduced attendance narrows the child's options and increases time unsupervised.
- Action
- Raised as a recommendation, tracked on the home’s timeline.
Premises and environment
Concern- Looked at
- Walk-round of all communal areas and two bedrooms with consent.
- Found
- Bathroom lock reported broken last month is still not repaired.
- Why it matters
- A bathroom without a working lock compromises privacy and dignity.
- Action
- Raised as a recommendation, tracked on the home’s timeline.
Complaints
Strength- Looked at
- Complaints log and responses.
- Found
- Complaints responded to within policy timescale; outcomes explained to children.
- Why it matters
- Supports the standard; no action required.
Medication management
Strength- Looked at
- MAR sheets for all children; controlled drug register; stock count.
- Found
- MAR sheets complete; stock reconciles.
- Why it matters
- Supports the standard; no action required.
Staff supervision
Strength- Looked at
- Supervision records for four staff selected at random.
- Found
- Supervision at monthly frequency for all staff sampled.
- Why it matters
- Supports the standard; no action required.