Setting in Wigan

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the Registered Manager has not taken effective action to meet the six requirements. Young people’s positive progress has not been sustained and this has directly impacted on their welfare, development and safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Poor relationships between staff and some young people were observed throughout the inspection. Staff struggled to encourage and support young people to take on board their guidance. At times, staff did not intervene and challenge unacceptable behaviour or attempt redirection. For example, a young person was observed rolling a substance during inspection. When asked by the inspector what it was the young person inferred he was rolling an illegal substance. Staff did not effectively challenge this or intervene. As a result of ineffective challenge, young people are potentially at risk of significant harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On occasions, staff had felt it necessary to call the police to the home to assist them to manage young people’s behaviours. As a result, young people have been arrested, charged and criminalised. There was no record of these incidents to demonstrate that this measure was necessary and appropriate or what action staff had taken to manage the situation themselves. Staff calling the police to the home is compromising young people’s trust and confidence in staff to keep them safe and secure in their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not always benefit from clear and consistent boundaries or effective behaviour management strategies. Staff had not recorded the disciplinary measures used to manage young people’s behaviours. For example, young people were found to have had alcohol in their bedrooms on at least three occasions. Records did not detail what action staff had taken to address this or how they intended working with young people to prevent this from happening again. The manager does not consistently review and evaluate the effectiveness of measures used by staff. Consequently, staff continue to use ineffective behaviour management strategies and young people are not learning to reflect upon and improve their behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments, behaviour management and individual care plans are not fully promoting young people’s needs or safety. This is because staff do not keep them updated with all relevant and new information, especially when there had been a significant incident. As a result, not all staff were aware of all potential risks or the appropriate strategies to deal with them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Educational progress within the home was limited. Two young people had been excluded from their education and training provisions. While another young person did not have an education provision in place at all. Staff did not have a clear understanding of young people’s education needs and their academic levels. The home did not have updated education plans in place and young people did not benefit from a clear structure or routine to support their attendance and learning. This was specifically evident for young people who refused to attend their education setting. Young people remained in bed and staff showed no clear expectations around their attendance. Staff did not demonstrate high aspirations for young people’s learning and did not actively prepare and support them to re- engage with their education. There was no evidence that the Registered Manager had taken effective action to challenge the local authority, about the continued

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

delays in a young person accessing any form of education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Medication policies and procedures are not being followed. Young people were not provided with medication as prescribed. For example, in a young person’s daily placement plan it stated ‘(name) is to be given his medication as follows before 11am daily’. However, records demonstrated that this was not followed and he was given his medication at various times throughout the day. Records also showed inconsistencies in the amount of medication available in the home. This does not demonstrate safe medication practice within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing from care episodes had increased and although staff report that they contact young people and attempt to locate them, missing from care records do not always demonstrate that this appropriate action was taken. On occasions, staff reported that if there were ‘non drivers’ on shift staff would not actively look for young people. Records also indicated that young people have been missing from care for significant periods of time. On occasions, this was for up to ‘thirty two hours.’ Records showed that the young person was reported absent without permission, instead of missing from care. This is against the homes own policies and procedures. Strategy meetings had not been requested although there were continued concerns about who the young person was associating with and the impact this was having on them. This does not demonstrate that young people are being safeguarded. Additionally, policies and procedures in place to protect young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people are also not being consistently followed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There had been several changes in the staff team and a number of staff off sick. This impacts on the consistency and continuity of care for young people. Staff have also not been given regular opportunities to reflect on their practice, performance and development. Supervision has not taken place on a regular basis and new starters have not received adequate support and development as stated in the homes supervision policy. Effective supervision is of vital importance to improving the quality of care provided to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers do not robustly promote the safety of the environment. Young people were smoking in the garden of the home. Staff also smoke in the garden. This is not only against the home’s own policies and health and safety procedures but it also makes it difficult to challenge young people and does not provide helpful role models to young people so they can make healthier lifestyles choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The physical environment continues to be of a very poor standard. The home presents as worn in places with the bathrooms and some young people’s bedrooms, not being kept in a good state of repair and cleanliness. Furniture throughout the home and including in young people’s bedrooms was significantly damaged. Bathrooms and living room areas had mould and mildew on the celling and windows. This detracts from the welcoming, homely feeling. Although there had been plans to re-furbish the home, a decision had been reached that this should be placed on hold, due to other plans around restructure of the organisation that were being considered. However, this impacts on the safety and wellbeing of young people currently living at the home.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority home for five young people with emotional and behavioural issues.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

30/03/2015 Interim improved 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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the engaging with the wider system standard, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(5)(c) 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. 22/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(vii) that staff provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. This is specifically in relation to the broken furniture throughout the home, mould and mildew in young people’s bathroom and living room areas. 22/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(1) that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep 22/04/2016 themselves safe. (2) (a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (b) that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(1) that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home 22/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home. In particular, the registered person must ensure that a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(c)) 22/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees, undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every 22/04/2016 year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which, may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2)) 22/04/2016

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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. procedures set out in 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

regulates and inspects to 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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