Children's home run by Trax Care Limited in Stockport

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager in charge of the home. He is the third person to have management responsibility for the home since the last inspection. He has been at the home since November 2015 but has not yet submitted an application for registration. He is the Registered Manager for another home in the organisation. A deputy manager, who knows the home and young people well, works in this home, to support him.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a number of staff changes since the last inspection. Some staff have moved here from other homes in the organisation and some staff new to children’s residential work have been appointed. The staff team is expanding as changes have been made to the home to enable an additional young person to be placed. The building works are complete and the home has received redecoration throughout. This includes the fitting of new modern bathrooms and a new kitchen. At the time of the inspection, staff were awaiting the arrival of new furniture to finalise the upgrade. The décor of the home has significantly improved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people that currently live in the home have made progress since their admission. They both attend the organisation’s education provision and benefit from the practical aspect of this. Staff also encourage young people to gain work experience in an area of interest to them. This helps build their self-esteem and they can refer to this when applying for jobs in the future. Staff encourage young people to think about their career pathway. They work with young people to research possibilities and identify college courses that may be of interest to them. Staff are resilient when young people later refuse to engage or change their mind.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to work well with other agencies with a safeguarding responsibility, such as the police. Communication is regular and this information exchange ensures that professionals are working together to safeguard young people. While there has been a reduction in young people putting themselves at risk by going missing from the home, they continue to do so. Young people have been permitted an extension to their free time due to positive behaviours but they are struggling to cope responsibly with this and continue to place themselves at risk of sexual exploitation while away from the home. Staff at the home continue to work pro- actively with the young people to reduce these episodes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Five requirements were made at the last full inspection of the home in August 2015. Action has been taken to ensure the satisfactory completion of three of these. The Statement of Purpose has received revision and sent to Ofsted, as required; staff recruitment files demonstrate that new staff working in the home have been recruited following the principles of safer recruitment; and significant events have been notified to Ofsted appropriately. However, while attempts have been made to address the remaining two requirements these have not been fully completed. Consequently, they are the subject of additional requirements at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s risk assessments contain details of some incidents that have recently occurred and have been updated in order to alert staff. But the inspector identified a further serious incident that had not been included. This had occurred in close proximity to a similar behaviour, but staff were not alerted to this additional risk or what action they needed to take in the future. This risk assessment also contained details of a third party. The manager’s monitoring had not identified these issues. He was also unable to locate the staff signature page, so could not demonstrate that staff were aware of the updated assessment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The majority of staff have now received training in managing self-harm and in drug awareness, but staff have yet to receive specific training on child sexual exploitation, despite it being of relevant to the current needs of young people living at the home. This would increase the skills and knowledge of staff to manage these concerns and work effectively with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good quality external monitoring reports are completed on a monthly basis. Copies of these are kept in the home, but Ofsted have not received a copy for a number of months. Similarly, Ofsted have not received a copy of the manager’s internal monitoring of the home, despite this report being completed five months ago.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is one of a number operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/ or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/08/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

15/12/2014 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that staff assess whether the child is at risk of harm, taking account information in the child's relevant plan, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; specifically that risk assessments are updated following any incident and that they can be assured that all staff working in the home are familiar with the specific issues for each child (Regulation 12(2)(a)(1)) 15/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person should ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 13(2)(c)(h)) 15/04/2016 Ensure that HMCI is provided with a copy of the report prepared by the independent person (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that HMCI is provided with a copy of the report of the registered person’s review of the quality of care provided for children at least once in every 6 months. (Regulation 14(1)(4)(a)) 31/03/2016

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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.

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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.

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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 .

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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

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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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