Children's home in Hyndburn

None

This inspection Declined in effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection in January 2016. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last full inspection the manager and a further member of the staff team have resigned from their roles. The home is currently being run without a Registered Manager. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a significant decline in the progress and experience of young people living in the home. Currently, young people’s health and well-being, safety and education are prominent risk areas.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection most of the young people are frequently absent or missing from the home. Although staff attempt to ascertain their whereabouts, young people refuse to provide this information. Staff will follow young people and search the local areas however, this is not done immediately. Consequently, young people are not always visible when staff attempt to follow them. This is concerning because young people regularly abuse a range of drugs and alcohol while away from the home and are at risk of exploitation. Staff say they are unable to stop young people leaving the home due to a rise in extreme aggression. Consequently, staff are unable to keep young people safe. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On the whole young people’s health is compromised due to the frequent use of illicit drugs and alcohol combined with an erratic sleep pattern and poor daily routine. Although staff undertake regular discussions with young people and involve external agencies such as the looked after children’s nurse, young people fail to make changes to their behaviour. Staff say, ‘We are concerned for the young people because we are not always sure what they have taken to know what the risks are. The young people also don’t always know what they have had. They have developed a real habit.’ Consequently, young people’s health and well-being needs are not suitably managed in the home. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The education and attainment of most young people has deteriorated. Since the last inspection attendance has gradually decreased from sporadic attendance to non-attendance and refusal to engage. Young people frequently stay in bed for prolonged periods of time during the school day. Staff say, ‘We wake them up and try and get them to engage in household tasks. More recently the young people are becoming more aggressive when they are woken.’ This has resulted in a significant negative impact on young people due to take GCSE examinations or alternative tests. Young people are currently disengaged from the service and therefore their educational needs are not met. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management is ineffective. Most young people currently refuse education, are absent from the home and use illicit drugs and alcohol. However, their ability to earn money undertaking tasks around the home during school time is not compromised. Young people use this money to finance their drug and alcohol habit. Staff say, ‘The manager would give them money to stop them owing money to dealers or stealing’. Although young people have been referred to drug and alcohol counsellors, they refuse to engage. Young people have now accrued debts with local dealers. Staff have tried to pay some of these debts and have involved external agencies such as police and youth offending teams. As a result, young people are now afraid to leave the home alone for fear of retribution from drug dealers. A requirement and a recommendation are made to address these matters.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s behaviour has a significant impact on the youngest resident. His sleep is consistently disturbed because young people refuse to leave each other’s bedrooms in the middle of the night. Furthermore, when young people are under the influence of substances they become angry and aggressive towards staff. Consequently, much of the staff’s time is used to manage difficult situations. As a result, the youngest resident is not given suitable staff attention and is mimicking some of the behaviours in the home. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although door alarms are fitted to all bedroom doors. The safety of some young people continues to be compromised. Some young people frequently take their bedding into another resident’s room and refuse to come out. However, there are occasions where staff have not heard the door alarm and young people have been found to have spent the night drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes in the bedroom. Despite keywork sessions on sexual relationships, contraception, fire hazards and house rules, young people continue to frequent other resident’s rooms. As a result, staff fail to keep young people safe in the home.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A review of the homes records was undertaken as part of this inspection. Records such as placement plans are not updated to include current concerns and strategies to manage these situations. Risk assessments are up-to-date but fail to provide suitable guidance to staff on managing the current concerns. Records of young people being reported as missing or absent have not been updated for four weeks. Staff say, ‘We have been working hard to cover shifts and manage the young people. We are aware that we have not kept the records up-to-date.’ Consequently, there is no current analysis of the impact of the behaviours displayed by young people either upon themselves or others. The reports from the monthly monitoring visits by the independent visitor do not adequately reflect on whether the home is effectively safeguarding the young people.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although staff have sought out external services to help young people understand the impact of their behaviours this has proved unsuccessful. Staff say, ‘We can’t keep them safe. As a result of staff leaving and a general lack of night time and support workers, we are struggling to manage, sometimes we do a waking night shift followed by a day shift. The staff are exhausted.’ The home does not have sufficient staff in order to manage crisis situations. A requirement is made to address this matter.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection three requirements and three recommendations were made to improve practice. Of these, one requirement and one recommendation were made in respect of the previous management arrangements that are no longer relevant.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Of the remaining requirements, notifications are now forwarded to Ofsted in accordance with regulation and external monitoring takes into account the reporting procedures with regard to safeguarding. Furthermore, the home has developed a system for ensuring child protection concerns are suitably referred to the host authority. However, the home has failed to develop a designated record for all allegations made by young people. This recommendation is included within those made at this inspection.

p.4

Information about this children's home

This independent children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties; and/or learning disabilities.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

ensure staff understand the barriers to learning that each young person may face and take appropriate action to help the young person overcome such barriers; and, help each young person to attend education in accordance with the expectations in the young person’s relevant plans (Regulation 8 (2) (iii) (x)) 29/05/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure young people understand acceptable behaviour and that staff are able to meet each young person’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the young person’s relevant plan (Regulation 11 (1) (b) (2) (a) (i)) 29/04/16

p.6

Requirement Due date

the care planning standard is that children— (a)receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; (2) (e)that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if— (i)the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs; (Regulation 14 1 a and 2 ( e) (i) * 29/04/16

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure care records are kept up-to-date (Regulation 36 (1) (b)) 22/04/16

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure the children’s home promotes the welfare of young people specifically, ensure the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each young person (Regulation 13 (13) (1) (b) (2) (d)) 29/04/16

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the homes day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each young person safe and to protect each young person effectively from harm (Regulation 12 (2) (b)) * 29/04/16

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure with particular regard to the abuse of illicit drugs and alcohol, the health and well-being needs of young people are met so that young people understand how to lead healthy lifestyles (Regulation 10 (1) (a) (c)) 29/04/16

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure an appropriately qualified and experienced manager is appointed to the home (Regulation 27 (1)) 30/04/16 ensure that the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, namely the home’s fire safety risk assessment, are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2) (b) ) 22/04/16

p.6

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s view as to whether- (a) Children are effectively safeguarded.(Regulation 44 (4) (a). 30/04/16

p.7

Requirement Due date

* indicates compliance against that regulation.

p.7

Recommendations:

ensure staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping with particular regard to ensuring a suitable designated record for all allegations (The Guide to the Quality Standards 14.4 paragraph 2 page 62)

p.7

Recommendations:

ensure the behaviour management strategy is understood and applied at all times by staff, and must be kept under review and revised where appropriate (The Guide to the Quality Standards 9.34 paragraph 4 page 46)

p.7

Recommendations:

ensure the homes Statement of Purpose is complied with to ensure that placement in the home is the right one for the young person and the home is able to respond effectively to the assessed needs to avoid any negative impact on those already resident. (The Guide to the Quality Standards 3.6 paragraph 2 page 15)

p.7

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.8

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.8

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.8

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.9

Information about this inspection

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

p.9

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.9

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.9