Children's Home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Tameside

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.2

because:

There has been no registered manager for more than 26 weeks, resulting in a lack of proper management oversight. Some records are written in older formats and do not support or reflect effective care or placement planning arrangements Policies have not been updated in line with the new regulations and quality standards. This restricts staff members knowledge in relation to relevant legislation and guidance The home‟s statement of purpose document has not been updated or sent to HMCI as required by regulation Outdated legislation and guidance is kept in the office and serves no purpose to staff members in the home Budget cuts have impacted on young people, where allowances have been reduced Arrangements for staff members sleeping overnight in the home are inappropriate

p.3

The children's home strengths

Staff help young people to make sense of their past and they support them to move forward and plan for the future. Young people benefit from good role models who they can look up to and learn from Young people make progress from their starting point in the home Relationships between staff and young people and young people themselves are sound Young people feel able to contribute to the running of the home. They are involved in key decisions and their views are central to all aspects of how the home operates Young people are active, have structured daily routines and enjoy a range of activities. Hobbies and interests are carried on and they enjoy holiday breaks away with staff Staff are experienced in de-escalation and distraction techniques to manage challenging behaviours. Young people respond positively to incentives and reward schemes, which are effective and modify negative behaviour The new practice manager is enthusiastic, has strong leadership skills and knows

p.4

The children's home strengths

the strengths and weaknesses of the home

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children‟s home if –

p.5

Requirement Due date

(a) There is no registered manager in respect of the home (Regulation 27 (1) (a)) 31/01/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide personalised care that meets each child‟s needs, as recorded in the child‟s relevant plans, taking into account the child‟s background (Regulation 6 (b) (IV)) 31/01/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

Matters relating to the quality standards

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children‟s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI. (Regulation 16 (1) (2)) 31/01/2016

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account the following recommendation:  The design of the home should provide staff that sleep in the home overnight with appropriate accommodation to do so. (The guide to the quality standards paragraph 3.26 page 17)

p.5

Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or learning difficulties  The home is operated by a local authority  The home aims to offer a secure and safe environment where young people may live and be assisted to reach their full potential until they are either ready to live independently, return home, live within an alternative family or move to an alternative placement in line with the child‟s assessed needs. As outlined in the home's statement of purpose

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.6

Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

p.6

requires improvement

Young people benefit from a good level of care, which promotes their needs effectively, with care practice that is individual to meet and support their needs. This enables young people to progress and sustain positive attachments.

p.7

requires improvement

The atmosphere in the home is supportive and friendly. Very positive relationships exist between young people and staff who know them well. Staff are nurturing, acting as good role models who are sensitive to the individual and group needs of young people. These positive trusting relationships enable young people to grow in confidence.

p.7

requires improvement

Young people‟s health needs are addressed and they are registered with local health services, ensuring their physical, dental and optical needs are met. Staff members identify young people‟s emotional needs and work closely with outside agencies. Psychological input provides young people with the help and support to address their specific need, difficulties or distress. For example, attachment and loss and healthy eating advice.

p.7

requires improvement

Young people have individual education provision in place. Some have completed exams and moved on to higher education. Their engagement, participation and attendance is improving. Other young people in addition to their learning have part-time jobs in the local community. This increases their social skills and prepares them well for adulthood. Staff members invest time with young people on their return to the home and are interested about how their day has been.

p.7

requires improvement

Young people are listened to and consulted about all aspects of how the home operates. This includes regular key worker discussions, meetings with staff members and completion of feedback questionnaires. Collectively young people confirm they feel listened to. They say, „This is a good home‟ and „I am happy here and they (staff) listen to me,‟ and „I get on with every one and we all get on well together.‟

p.7

requires improvement

Although staff are very much aware of the needs of young people, and meet these very well, young people‟s individual care and placement plans require improvement. For example, placement plans contain too much information, some of which is dated, duplicated and not written to tell the young person‟s journey of their time in the home.

p.7

requires improvement

Young people know how to complain and have information about independent organisations, such as, the national youth advocacy service (NYAS) and Ofsted who they can contact to raise concerns. Young people are being represented by NYAS following a complaint they made to the local authority in relation to their clothing allowances being reduced, through budget cuts. Young people say, „it‟s not fair,‟ „we need more money for decent trainers‟ and „nobody asked me‟. These arrangements support young people to have a voice, knowing their views are taken seriously, valued and acted on.

p.7

requires improvement

Young people‟s daily routines are known by them, and following education, they discuss their plans for the evening with staff. Young people enjoy activities, they have also enjoyed holidays and breaks away with each other and staff members. Young people have access to laptops, Internet and gaming consoles which they enjoy, and provide them with education and fun.

p.8

requires improvement

Young people‟s understand their own contact arrangements. This ensures young people remain in touch with family and friends who are important to them. Where contact restrictions are in place staff members support young people to maintain these. Young people are facilitated to access an independent advocate to support them if there are no contact arrangements in place. This provides them with independent support from the home.

p.8

requires improvement

Young people learn independence skills taking into account their age and understanding. These opportunities are preparing young people well for future life. They are clear about the expectations for them to be ready for their transition from the home.

p.8

good

Staff members consistently place the welfare and safety of young people at the centre of their practice. They demonstrate a positive understanding of safe working practice. The use of risk assessments with strategies understood by staff and pro- active safeguarding practice ensure young people, including the most vulnerable, are not at risk of harm.

p.8

good

The home has established and maintains effective links with local safeguarding agencies, the missing from home co-ordinator and local police community support officer. This ensures any areas of concern or support needed for young people can be directed to the appropriate agencies and further protect young people.

p.8

good

Young people are safe and feel safe in the home. They confirm there are no issues with bullying or intimidation and have confidence and trust in the staff. One young person says, „They really do care and support me, I am happy here and feel safe.‟ Staff complete safeguarding training and demonstrate well their knowledge of how to recognise, respond and report any suspicions of abuse.

p.8

good

Staff members have completed e-safety training. Young people have access to the Internet and software is in place to filter out unwanted sites. Young people and staff have watched a DVD „let‟s do it together,‟ an action fight against cyberbullying. They engage in meaningful conversations and this provides young people with an opportunity to explore and discuss e-safety issues. As a result, young people build a resilience to manage their own online safety.

p.9

good

Positive intervention by staff members following multi-agency strategy meetings has led to a considerable reduction in the number of difficult incidents. As a result, young people living in the home have become increasingly safer and their risk taking behaviours have significantly decreased. There are no current safeguarding concerns or incidents of young people being absent or missing from the home.

p.9

good

Young people have risk assessments which are understood by staff and reduce any risks associated with young people offending, misusing drugs or alcohol and going missing. Responses to any concerns are prompt with staff consistently following agreed strategies to protect young people. They work well with partner agencies and ensure the relevant services are available and young people receive support and protection.

p.9

good

There have been no restraints since the last inspection and sanctions imposed are minimal, fair and understood by young people. Staff members are trained and skilled in de-escalating tensions and use restorative practice to change young people‟s behaviour. This is carried out by using humour and by reflecting on events in the home, and provides young people with consistent messages. Incentives for education, keeping the home tidy and not swearing are rewarded and young people engage well in the scheme.

p.9

good

There are no health and safety concerns with regular checks on equipment, fire system and evacuations being carried out. All visitors to the home sign in and are given an explanation of the fire evacuation procedure and assembly point. Visitors are not left unsupervised with young people. Staff files show recruitment checks are taken including verifying references before new staff start work in the home. These arrangements protect young people, staff and visitors in the home. Judgement grade

p.9

inadequate

The home has not been managed effectively by a registered manager since February 2015. From this time the home had a residential team manager and an acting practice manager in place. The residential team manager also had responsibility for another two homes, restricting the amount of time spent in this home. On 19 October 2015 the residential team manager left this home to resume his full time position at another home within the authority. The acting practice manager has taken up a position in another home and a new practice manager has commenced work in this home.

p.10

inadequate

These changes have had little impact on the care young people receive but a lack of proper management oversight, outdated policies, guidance and delegated responsibilities has impacted on the quality of paperwork and administration systems in the home.

p.10

inadequate

The local authority is recruiting to fill the vacant manager‟s post and a requirement is made, this is to ensure the home has a registered manager in place.

p.10

inadequate

New paperwork, administration systems and keeping records electronically are work in progress. These have yet to be embedded into the home and tested out, to see how this impacts on the care and improvements in the home.

p.10

inadequate

It is clear through discussions with young people, observations and staff members‟ knowledge the progress young people are making in this home. But, this is not yet evidenced sufficiently within their care, placement plans or other records in the home. As a result, a requirement is made. This is to ensure there is clear evidence of the progress young people make from their starting points, and targets. Also how staff are to help children to achieve these and the positive impact this is having on them.

p.10

inadequate

The home is staffed sufficiently to meet the needs of young people. Staff members are enthusiastic and have opportunities to develop their professional knowledge through training provided and delegated tasks given to them. For example, „key workers‟ are changing young people‟s case files to make them individualised with new documents to show evidence of progress made by young people.

p.10

inadequate

Improvements to quality assurance monitoring processes have been implemented and now takes place regularly. An independent person produces monthly reports which are detailed, evaluative and show the progress young people are making. Internal audits are carried out by the management team with any issues identified discussed with the staff so improvements are made.

p.10

inadequate

The statement of purpose document describes the services the home provides and has been updated on 25 July 2015. Changes to management structure are not included in this document and a copy has not been sent to HMCI as required by regulation. As a result, a requirement is made. This is to ensure the statement of purpose document accurately reflects the current management structure in the home, and that the regulator is made aware of changes as they happen.

p.10

inadequate

The home has been decorated including young people‟s bedrooms. They have chosen their colour schemes and wallpaper for their rooms. Bedrooms are personalised to individual taste and some are immaculate, as young people take pride in their personal space. All young people have respect for the home and its surroundings and contribute to daily household tasks.

p.11

inadequate

Two pull-out sofa beds are used for staff sleeping in the home overnight. One is situated in the lounge and one outside of the office. This is inappropriate and as a result, a recommendation is made. This is to ensure appropriate facilities are provided to staff members that sleep in the home overnight.

p.11

inadequate

The practice manger is enthusiastic and is addressing the shortfalls in the home. She knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home and is addressing these. Staff members feel supported through supervision and team meetings and all are qualified to Level 3 or above.

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.12

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

p.13

Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. 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 .

p.13

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,

p.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.14

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

p.14