Children's Home run by Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited in Rochdale

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been an absence of effective leadership and management in this home. In the short time since the last inspection he has had a relatively long period of absence. The home has been covered by managers from other homes in the organisation, but this has not afforded the oversight that is necessary to address the shortfalls from the last inspection or promote improvement. This has been recognised by the organisation who have taken action to strengthen the management arrangements. At the time of the inspection the organisation was in the process of resigning the manager’s registration and appointing a new manager for this and another home which is run by the same manager.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has failed to address three requirements from the previous inspection. They have not been proactive in their efforts to promote education for one young person. They continue be offered an alternative home based curriculum which consists of a combination of academic subjects, equestrian activities and work experience. This curriculum is still facilitated mainly by care staff with minimal teaching time being offered or provided by qualified teachers from the school. Levels of engagement continue to be low despite attempts to incentivise school attendance. While this arrangement continues to unsuitable in the long-term, there is more that staff can do to provide opportunities for young people to acquire formal accreditation; for example, linking life skills to AQA certificates.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal monitoring continues to be weak. As at the last inspection there are a number of shortfalls with children’s records, which continue to be disorganised and of a poor quality in some cases. Monitoring activity has not been sufficiently robust to identify and address these shortfalls. For example, one young person’s health plan, which was identified as an issue at the previous inspection, is now completed but does not reflect their current needs. The document clearly states that there are no issues regarding self-harm, when there have been a number of incidents of this nature since the last inspection. Also, risk assessments pertaining to self-harm are insufficiently detailed and do not provide specific guidance for staff to follow in the event of such an incident. Despite this, the right action has been taken by staff in response to this type of behaviour, including the involvement of a range of health

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

professionals and the organisation’s therapist.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Suitable action has been taken to address one of the two recommendations from the previous inspection. All staff have completed, or are in the process of completing medication training, which will promote safe practice when young people are on medication. There have been 10 incidents of young people going missing from the home, and on all occasions staff have taken the right action to ensure their safe return. However, there is still no agreed process for young people to be seen by an independent person and no visits have been completed for any of these incidents. There is no evidence that the manager has pursued the placing authority in order to ensure that they discharge their statutory duties to provide this service. This is a missed opportunity to encourage young people to talk about why they go missing; information that could be used to avoid future incidents.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one admission since the last inspection. Good consideration has been given to matching needs and has resulted in a workable dynamic between the two young people living at the home. They share good relationships with each other and staff, and speak positively about their experiences at the home. The small staff team have a good insight into each young person and are keen in ensuring their individual needs are recognised and addressed. For example, they have been particularly supportive in enabling one young person to pursue their faith of paganism. Staff have taken time to understand this philosophy and identified and promoted ways for the young person to safely pursue their beliefs.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of the young people in their care. They are able to recognise their risks and vulnerabilities and are effective in the management of these. Behaviour has at times been challenging and has resulted in a significant amount of damage to the environment, in particular one young person’s bedroom which is currently void of a bed-base. Every effort has been made to repair the damage and replace furniture but this is recognised as a challenge, given the frequency and extent. However, this does not detract from the importance of providing a homely and safe environment for young people and every effort should be made to address outstanding repairs and quickly replace damaged furniture, in particular key items such as beds.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The children's home is operated by a private company and provides care and accommodation for two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

20/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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

5. Engaging with the wider system to ensure each child's needs are met

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the engaging with the wider system to ensure each child's needs are met standard, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.5

Requirement Due date

(b)(c) seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs; and if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to ensuring that each child's placing authority fulfils its responsibility to provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return interview following any incident of the child going missing from home. 05/04/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, in particular the standard in paragraph (1), the registered person must ensure that staff-

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2) (a)(iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child overcome any such barriers;

p.5

Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to working with the child, their school and placing authority to explore and pursue education options with a view to improving attendance in a formal learning environment. 05/04/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

13 The leadership and management standard 05/04/2016 In order to meet the leadership and management standard, in particular the standard in paragraph (1), the registered person must-

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2) (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvement in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3. These records must be fully complete, up to date and legible. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 05/04/2016

p.6

Recommendations

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

p.6

Recommendations

 Ensure there is a procedure in place to provide independent return home interviews when a child returns to the home after going missing from care or away from home without permission, and that this procedure is agreed with each child's placing authority and fully recorded in each child's placement plan (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.6

Recommendations

 ensure a homely and safe environment is maintained, in particular that any damaged items are removed from all areas of the home, that any outstanding damage is promptly repaired and that contingency plans are in place to quickly replace essential furniture such as beds, when they are broken. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.6

What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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.

p.7

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.7

Information about this inspection

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 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.7

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.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

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.8

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.8