Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Blackburn with Darwen

Unique reference number SC467268 Inspector Elaine Clare Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Care Today (Children's Services) Ltd Registered person address Lansdowne House 85 Buxton Road STOCKPORT Cheshire SK2 6LR Responsible individual Vivien Anne Snape Registered manager Scott Phillip St Clare Date of last inspection 09/09/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 28/01/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

There is a suitably experienced Registered Manager in place at the home. However, there have been a large number of staff changes since the last inspection. This is as a result of staff members leaving the organisation. Of the new staff that have been employed none have the Diploma in working with children and young people and as a result young people are being looked after by a number of care staff with no relevant qualifications and little experience in social care.

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This inspection

The previous inspection resulted in three recommendations. None of these have been addressed. Young people continue not to be involved in the development of their care plan. While a signature is obtained at the front of the document there is no record of what the young people’s thoughts are of the care plan, if they agree with the plan or if they have their own ideas of what they want from their time in care at the home.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager stated that the Diploma Level five in management has been completed but it is waiting for final assessment and if successful a certificate will be issued. Therefore at the time of the visit the manager had not obtained the management qualification required.

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This inspection

While there has been good improvements in the promotion of positive behaviour there remains some discrepancies in practice. This is most evident within young people’s records. For example during particular aggressive outbursts young people are held to the floor, face down while two members of staff hold them. There is no recorded evidence that young people's breathing is monitored during this period and the views of the young people are not captured following the restraint. The Registered Manager does not record the consultation he has with young people following a restraint and therefore there is no evidence to support that this is happening. The record of the restraint is not recorded in the log book within a 3 of 6 24hour period nor by the member of staff involved in the restraint but by an assistant manager. Furthermore the organisations’ policy that allows staff who are not trained in the safe use of restraint to be involved in holds on the lower body. As

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This inspection

a result of these shortfalls there is a failure to safeguard young people.

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This inspection

Records of sanctions are unclear. These discrepancies and complaints made by young people about sanctions are not fully investigated by the manager. This does not provide safeguards through rigorous recordings.

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This inspection

The organisation is slow to embrace technology and many of the home's daily recording processes are handwritten onto re photocopied paper templates. One social worker explained that records of incidents are handwritten and faxed and this makes it difficult to disseminate information quickly to the child's file, and relevant stakeholders. The records at times are not legible and as a result young people will find it difficult to understand their time in the home should they choose to view their records sometime in the future.

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This inspection

The home has received some re-decoration since the last inspection and the lounge in particular is warm and homely. Staff have also spent time decorating a bedroom in readiness for a new admission to the home. But some areas, in particular communal walkways and stairs need attention and at present there are only three dining chairs for staff and young people to use at meal times.

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This inspection

A number of shortfalls have contributed to a decline in the care afforded to young people since the last inspection. However, young people living at this home engage positively in education and the social workers have seen a significant reduction in their child going missing from care. One social worker said 'they’re doing their upmost best, staff are helpful and supportive and I'm fairly confident in the new manager.' Another social worker said, 'I'm really impressed'. One young person stated, 'I've done more education here than any-where else and I've got to see my family more.' 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for six young people, of either gender, with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/09/2014 Full good 26/03/2014 Full adequate 30/01/2014 Full inadequate

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

8 (2001) a person is not fit to manage a children's home unless he has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for managing the children’s home ( Regulation 8(2)(b)(i)) 28/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there; specifically around the use of restraints and the recordings there of (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 14/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

12A (2001) ensure that in the case of a child who is looked after by a local authority the registered person must co-operate with the child’s placing authority in agreeing and signing the plan for the child’s placement (Regulation 12A) 28/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a 14/02/2015 5 of 6 children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose (Regulation 17B(3))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is at all times, having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of young people, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced staff working at the children's home. (Regulation 25 (1) (b)) 31/03/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 allow children to understand how their views have been taken into account, and where significant wishes or concerns are not acted upon, they are helped to understand why (NMS 1.2)  provide an environment and culture, to promote models and support positive behaviour that all staff understand and implement (NMS 3.2)  where any sanctions, disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure where children’s homes use restraint, staff are trained in the use of physical restraint techniques and only use the home’s agreed techniques. Training is regularly refreshed (NMS 3.15)  provide a comfortable and homely environment that is well maintained and decorated, in reference to the hallway, stairs and the number of dining chairs available (NMS 10.3)  ensure entries in records are legible, clearly expressed, non-stigmatising

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Recommendations

and distinguish as far as possible between fact, opinion and third party information (NMS 22.4) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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