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 TC and with staff WD. Sampled the case files of TC. Reviewed 12 areas: physical intervention and restraint, missing from home episodes, complaints, safeguarding concerns and referrals, regulation 40 notifications, children's views, children's case files and care plans, staff supervision, activities, interests and time outside the home, premises and environment, safer recruitment files, health and safety checks.
Findings
2 concerns, 4 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Safer recruitment files
Strength- Looked at
- Personnel files for two recent starters.
- Found
- Files sampled were complete against Schedule 2.
- Why it matters
- Supports the standard; no action required.