Children's home in Stockport

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.

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 A young person’s risk assessment and placement plan have not been adhered to on one occasion by staff, to ensure his welfare.  Staff have not had their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once yearly.  Recruitment and vetting records do not provide satisfactory information regarding verification of the reason a person’s employment position ended, when they have previously worked with children or young people. This does not ensure that only safe and suitable people are employed to work with young people.  Management arrangements have been inconsistent over time. This does not provide for stable leadership.

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The children’s home’s strengths:

 Young people report good relationships with staff and identify staff they particularly like.  Young people who have previously not attended school are in full-time education and making progress.  Young people’s previous risk-taking behaviours, such as going missing from home and offending behaviour, have recently reduced.  A new manager is in position, who is enthusiastic and committed to developing and improving the home. He has the relevant experience and skills.  Social workers speak positively of the home and the progress that young people make.  Young people are involved in a range of activities that they enjoy and look forward to, including go-karting, trampoline club, cinema and theme park trips.

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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

12: In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure— (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. 10 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

6: In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure— (2)(b) that staff— (ii) staff protect and promote each child’s welfare. Specifically, staff must ensure that young people’s care plans are followed. 10 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers (3)(d) ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of matters in Schedule 2(4). Specifically, ensure that, if a person has previously worked with children, verification of the reason why that employment position ended has been obtained. 10 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

33: Employment of staff (4)(c) Ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. 10 June 2016

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is one of a number of homes operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four 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

4 February 2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

23 February 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Requires improvement

Young people are beginning to make progress, in particular in their educational and behavioural development. They are attending full-time school for the first time in over a year and they are achieving their targets. Moreover, offending behaviour has diminished of late and incidents of them going missing from home have reduced since the last inspection, making them safer.

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Requires improvement

Young people living in the home have complex emotional and behavioural needs. Staff have built up positive relationships with them and young people say that they ‘like’ staff and feel that they ‘care’. They identify staff that they would confidently talk to about their feelings and worries. This shows the developing bonds between staff and young people.

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Requires improvement

Placement plans and risk assessments are in place to guide staff in meeting young people’s individual needs. However, on one occasion a young person’s plans were not adhered to by staff. The young person was given a meal that contained an ingredient that he was allergic to. Although staff usually check the label before preparing food they failed to do so on this occasion. This resulted in him suffering an allergic reaction. Staff responded to this robustly and gave medication according to his plans. They also secured medical attention and the young person suffered no further harm was suffered by the young person. That said, it remains the case that his needs and risks were overlooked by staff on this occasion. The new manager has responded appropriately to this failing by implementing measures to reduce the risk of this reoccurring. Team meetings, team briefings and training by the local authority nurse are part of this strategy.

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Requires improvement

Young people enjoy a range of activities and hobbies of their choice, such as trampoline club, go-kart riding, golf, and trips to theme parks and to the cinema. These are new experiences, which they look forward to and enjoy. They are registered with health professionals. They have access to an in-house therapy service and attend sessions, including bereavement and loss. Staff also support young people with time away from the group to discuss any personal issues and feelings. This helps to promote their well-being.

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Requires improvement

Young people are involved in the running of the home. They participate in house meetings and talk with staff to get their views across. Their ideas are promptly followed up to ensure that action is taken and that their views count. For example, they are involved in purchasing new board games, tracksuits and outdoor activity uniforms and in changing the decor of the home. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

Young people confirm that they feel safe. There has been a reduction in incidents of them going missing from home, and offending behaviour for one young person has diminished since being placed here. The staff have regular training in safeguarding and fully understand how to protect young people. Organisational policies and procedures are also in place to guide staff practice and promote a safeguarding ethos.

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Requires improvement

Risk assessments are in place and regularly reviewed. These are also agreed with the placing authority and young people’s parents. On one occasion the direction to check a food label for allergy advice was not followed by staff before serving a meal to a young person. This resulted in the young person suffering an allergic reaction. Although a robust response prevented further harm, staff failed to follow the risk assessment and care plans to promote and protect the young person’s welfare. Strategies have been implemented by the acting manager to prevent further occurrences.

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Requires improvement

There are procedures in place for the recruitment and selection of the staff. These include checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and written reference checks that are all undertaken before any appointment is made. However, records do not provide satisfactory information regarding verification of the reason a person’s employment position ended when they have previously worked with children and young people. This does not ensure that only safe and suitable people are employed to work with young people. Sanctions and physical intervention are not used excessively and the staff are fully trained in a recognised technique to hold young people safely if needed. The new manager is currently reviewing the use of sanctions to create more incentive-led responses. These measures help young people to take responsibility for their actions.

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Requires improvement

Fire safety and health and safety checks are carried out around the home to ensure a safe living environment. Also, the staff are vigilant and take appropriate steps to verify visitors’ identity to protect young people. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

The management arrangements at the home have been inconsistent. The registered manager moved from this home to another home in the company in October 2015. An acting manager was in post but has also left. This prompted the return of the previous manager in late January 2016. A new manager is now in position and his application is being processed by Ofsted. He has the qualifications and experience needed to run the home and is motivated and enthusiastic about achieving better outcomes for young people.

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Requires improvement

Young people’s care is reviewed by newly introduced systems of monitoring, which include monthly visits by a designated person in accordance with the regulations. The acting manager is clear about the strengths and weaknesses of the home and plans for development of the service are realistic. For example, refurbishment of the home is due to take place in the next week, and he intends to develop the key worker role further. The requirements from the last inspection are met. For example, a new manager is in post, young people’s behaviour is well managed and positive relationships are evident between staff and young people.

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Requires improvement

Staff confirm that they are well supported and that they receive regular training, supervision and team meetings. However, they have not had their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once yearly. This is in part due to the inconsistency in the management role. The staff team remains stable and staff are positive and have confidence in the recently appointed manager, who they feel provides leadership and guidance. He is fully supported by the responsible individual through regular supervision, advice and monthly management meetings. She is visible, regularly visiting the home and young people.

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Requires improvement

The home’s written records provide a picture of young people’s daily living at the home. There are photographs of young people enjoying activities and enjoying time with staff. Young people’s information is securely stored and shared confidentially to protect their safety and privacy. New recording systems are being introduced to capture young people’s development and to improve evidence gathering.

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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’.

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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 children looked after 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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

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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 that 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

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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 .

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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

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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