Opinion
- Are children effectively safeguarded?
- Safeguarding records reviewed in full; concerns were escalated appropriately and in time.
- Yes
- 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 no children and with staff EP, BK, EH. Sampled the case files of no children. Reviewed 9 areas: physical intervention and restraint, missing from home episodes, complaints, sanctions and consequences, safeguarding concerns and referrals, children's views, medication management, education attendance and progress, statement of purpose.
Findings
2 concerns, 3 strengths. Every finding records what was looked at, what was found, and why it matters.
Complaints
Concern- Looked at
- Complaints log and responses.
- Found
- One complaint from a child has no recorded outcome after 21 days.
- Why it matters
- A child whose complaint goes unanswered learns that speaking up doesn't work.
- 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.
Physical intervention and restraint
Strength- Looked at
- All physical intervention records since the last visit; debrief forms.
- Found
- All records include a debrief with the child within 24 hours.
- Why it matters
- Supports the standard; no action required.
Missing from home episodes
Strength- Looked at
- Missing episode log; return-home interview records; police notifications.
- Found
- Return-home interviews offered and recorded for every episode.
- 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.