Children's home in Preston

This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out on 3 June 2015 and the home was judged to be inadequate. Widespread failings were found including: insufficient evidence of young people being effectively safeguarded; poor staffing levels resulting in young people’s individual needs not being met; a lack of engagement with the wider system to respond effectively to serious concerns about young people’s welfare; poor reporting systems leading to serious incidents not being shared with relevant people; education shortfalls for some young people; and weaknesses in leadership and management. As a result, seven compliance notices were issued on 16 June 2015 to address these concerns. An unannounced monitoring visit was undertaken on 8 July 2015 to monitor four of the seven compliance notices served.

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This monitoring visit

Following the last inspection, managers took immediate steps to safeguard young people. One young person was discharged from the home and is now accessing specialist support services to meet their individual needs.

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This monitoring visit

The bullying policy has been reviewed and updated, and staff have undertaken direct work with young people. Young people report they are no longer being bullied, and now feel safe living in the home. Effective action has therefore been taken to protect young people against bullying.

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This monitoring visit

Positive steps have been taken to address staffing shortfalls. Additional staff have been recruited on a short-term basis. This means staffing levels are now consistent with those outlined in the home’s Statement of Purpose, in order to meet the individual needs of young people. Plans are in place to recruit permanent members of staff to the team. This will ensure sufficiency of staffing over the longer term. Furthermore, the appointment of additional casual staff means the home has the resources to respond effectively to future staffing shortages.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the Registered Manager notifies Ofsted when serious events occur. This demonstrates that clear systems are now in place, and all persons with an interest in the safety and welfare of young people are suitably informed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken steps to engage the wider system more effectively. Multi-agency meetings have now taken place to consider the risks associated with young people who go missing, are engaged in criminality and at risk of exploitation. Further action is needed to ensure that records from meetings are always kept in the home and made available to staff in a timely way. This is so that recommendations from the meeting and actions for staff are shared with them, to ensure they are suitably informed to keep young people safe. Risk management plans to safeguard young people who go missing from home continue to be poor. They do not contain clear guidance to staff about how to respond to young people who are absent or missing. This has led to inconsistencies in reporting young people as absent or missing to the police. Consequently, further action is needed so that staff are clear about their roles and

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This monitoring visit

responsibilities in relation to protecting young people.

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This monitoring visit

Missing episodes for one young person are increasing, together with the risk of criminal exploitation. Return home interviews are not always taking place within timescales, and information from these interviews is not shared in a timely way. As a result, potentially vital information is not shared effectively with staff to inform risk assessments, leaving young people at risk of continued harm. Improvement work is needed to ensure that managers and staff challenge this robustly, and thereby take effective action to safeguard young people.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit a further compliance notice has been issued in relation to the safety and welfare of children. A requirement is also made with respect to record keeping following engagement with partner agencies.

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This monitoring visit

All remaining compliance notices are due to be monitored at the end of July.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority run children’s home. It is registered to provide care for up to six young people aged between 11 and 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met In order to meet the quality standards the registered person must, and must ensure that staff: (b) seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs; with specific reference to keeping records and making them available to staff following engagement with partner agencies. 31/07/2015

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard* In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that children are protected from harm and to keep themselves safe, and in doing so pay particular attention to all the areas outlined in (2) (Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(i) (ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d)(e))* 31/07/2015

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the home since their last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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