Children's home in Stockport

Inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and their care and experiences are poor and they are not making progress.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 One young person has being routinely reported missing from the home. During these episodes of missing, the young person has been physically assaulted on a number of occasions, has engaged in sexual activity, has been found sleeping rough in a cow shed and has misused alcohol and drugs.  The manager failed to escalate these incidents and did not prevent the young person from being subject to abuse.  The manager has failed to provide adequate staffing to prevent a young person from going missing at night. As a result, the young person was at risk of injury through their repeated attempts to leave the property from a first floor window. Records indicate that staff remained asleep while the young person repeatedly left the home.  The management of the home has been ineffective. There has been ineffective action to deal with poor practice and poor performance of some staff. As a result, there has been a series of recording, medication

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

administration and reporting errors.  The manager has not used monitoring processes effectively.  Staff have not been wholly successful in engaging one young person in their education. As a result, this young person’s educational outcomes are poor.  Staff were unable to involve a young person in managing their health needs. As a result, one young person has not attended routine health checks, has not been seen by a dentist, or engaged in any meaningful therapy.  Staff have failed to effectively challenge young people’s behaviours. As a result, young people have been able to influence one another in taking risks, including playing with superglue, being aggressive towards staff, causing extensive damage to the home and going missing from home.  Two compliance notices have been issued following this inspection: to improve the leadership and management of the home; and, to ensure the safeguarding of young people.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 The staff do not provide the young people with a well-kept and homely environment to live in.

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The children's home strengths

 The senior management team has accepted the serious shortfalls and has been swift to start remedying failings and shortfalls, identified during this inspection.  One young person has good attendance at their educational placement, and records indicate progress is being made.  The home is spacious and located in an area that provides young people with a variety and choice of activities.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff: provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)(ii)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(x)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that: the health and well-being needs of the children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to take part 27 September in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child's health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (10)(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging exploitative or harmful relationship; de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potential violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(xi)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard*

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff 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 harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and 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 .(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(b)) 10 August

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard*

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that helps children aspire to their full potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the 10 August home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and use the monitoring and review

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Requirement Due date

systems to make continuous improvement in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(d)(f)(h)

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the child's placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child's relevant plans is requested, if 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)(b)(2)(e)(i)) 27 September

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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 a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(c)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children's home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home and is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(iii)) 10 August

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once a year. (Regulation 33 (1)(4)(b)(c)) 27 September 36: Children's case records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’)for each child which are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if- a child is involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation: an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious, there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated or concluded, there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 27 September

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Information about this children's home

The children's home is registered to accommodate two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a private organisation that also operate two more children's homes and a small education unit in the locality.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24 November 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

30 October 2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Inadequate

Staff do not meet the emotional and behavioural needs of some of the young people. The staff are not provided with the leadership and management necessary to enable them to effectively improve the behaviours, emotions and feelings of some of the young people. While one young person attends their educational placement regularly, and records indicate that they are making progress, one young person has not been adequately supported to understand the importance of education or to attend an educational placement. Furthermore, the manager did not put in place an alternative home education plan for the young person. Records scrutinised failed to identify that the manager had put in place a plan to re-engage this young person with their education. A placing social worker commented on her disappointment in the young person’s failure to engage in education and accepted this young person’s educational outcomes are poor as a result. A requirement is

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Inadequate

therefore made to ensure all young people have access to educational and learning programmes in line with their care plans.

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Inadequate

Young people have a range of care plans and supporting documentation. They all have a good level of detail, and reviews and updates to these plans take place regularly. Staff spoken to by the inspector demonstrate a good understanding of how the plans inform the care and support that young people require. A social worker commented that they receive good regular updates on the progress of the young people. However, despite numerous attempts by staff to discourage risk- taking behaviour, one young person has repeatedly engaged in unsafe behaviour. This includes: underage sex, misuse of alcohol and drugs going missing, and she reports that she has had seven body piercings done by friends. She has also been physically assaulted a number of times when missing from home. The young person has not attended any follow-up health appointments or engaged in any meaningful therapy. As a result, this young person’s health needs have not been

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Inadequate

met and their health outcomes have been seriously compromised. A requirement is therefore made to ensure that young people routinely access health appointments. Another requirement is made to ensure that actions are taken to help young people change patterns of behaviour that place them at risk.

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Inadequate

The staff have not demonstrated sufficient skill in the management of young people with challenging behaviours. Records demonstrate a number of occasions when the young people have caused extensive damage to the home, assaulted members of staff, required physical intervention to prevent them hurting themselves, have gone missing and accessed dangerous items, for example, superglue. The lack of management in effectively challenging young people’s behaviours has resulted in young people living in a home that has been chaotic, out of control and dangerous at times. Two staff told the inspector, ‘It’s been like firefighting’ and ‘it’s been a very difficult period of time’. A social worker commented on how she had seen significant damage to the property caused by the young people. While the manager responded and repaired the damage, it is clear that the environment that the young people live in has not been good enough and some staff have not given

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Inadequate

young people positive responses to their requests to improve it. Repairs have not always been made. For example, at the time of the inspection, doors that divide rooms and doors on two kitchen cupboards, all of which require repair, have not been replaced, and there are holes in the young people’s bedroom walls. A requirement is made to ensure that remedial work is undertaken to improve the living conditions for the young people. A requirement is also made to ensure that staff are supported to understand how to communicate to each young person about expectations of their behaviours.

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Inadequate

The managers and staff consult the young people regularly. House meetings include evidence of how the young people’s views are captured; for example, on activities, days out, visits with friends, meal planning and holidays. However, a key worker session records that a young person was told that they cannot have their room re-decorated until they ‘learn to respect it’. This highlights a difference between the way that young people are involved in decisions as a group and as individuals.

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Inadequate

There are some very positive interactions between members of staff and young people. Some staff initiate warm and friendly exchanges, with clear instructions being given. In particular, a member of staff was observed talking compassionately and sympathetically with a young person who had been subject to a serious assault the previous night. The level of support given by the member of staff made the young person feel listened to and supported.

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Inadequate

Young people are not always protected from harm because they are consistently allowed to put themselves in unsafe situations. One young person is influenced by the dangerous and unsafe behaviours of another young person living in the home. When they are missing from the home, the second young person places themselves at risk and has been subject to both physical assault and abuse. One young person has been regularly reported as missing from home since forming a relationship with an adult outside the home. Records of strategy meetings, professionals’ meetings, and concerns exchanged between professionals provide evidence of concerns being shared in line with the safeguarding policies of both the home and the local authority. When young people go missing, procedures are followed accordingly, and records indicate that staff make every attempt to locate and return the young people.

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Inadequate

However, insufficient action has been taken to safeguard both the young people living in the home. Over a period of six months, one young person was assaulted, routinely returned home under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, was found sleeping rough on a mattress in a cow shed, told staff that she had seven new body piercings and, on three recorded occasions, left the home via a first floor bedroom window in the middle of the night. For this young person, the catalogue of incidents culminated in a serious assault with her being taken to hospital to receive medical attention for a perforated ear drum and bruising. This young person has subsequently moved to another children’s home. The placing social worker confirmed that they had a number of meetings and the concerns were appropriately escalated and shared. However, the social worker agreed that towards the end of the placement, the young person was not safe. As a result of

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Inadequate

the seriousness of this young person’s experience, a compliance notice has been issued and a requirement made to ensure that this does not happen again for other young people.

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Inadequate

Young people who require medication have it stored securely in the main office. While a check of medications stored proved to accurately reflect the stock, a number of errors were identified in the recording of the administered medication. For example, one young person received paracetamol two and a half hours following the previous dose, increasing the possibility of an overdose. In addition, records are not always signed and witnessed. A requirement is therefore made to ensure the safe use and recording of medication are practised.

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Inadequate

Young people have behaviour management plans that are routinely updated. Staff report, and records indicate, that all staff are sufficiently skilled and trained to work with young people with challenging behaviours. Staff spoken with demonstrated an understanding of how to manage physical intervention with de-escalation techniques, and records scrutinised by the inspector mainly support this. However, despite the training and skill base of staff, some incidents of physical intervention have been recorded on the wrong template and, as a result, have not been shared with the head of operations. In addition to this, young people are not always offered medical attention following a restraint. They are also not engaged in effective conversations to explore whether they understand the reason for the use of the measure. This has a negative impact on the overall monitoring and reviewing of physical interventions and the ability to improve practice. A

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Inadequate

requirement is made to ensure that records are accurate and signed and dated by the author. Young people have use of a telephone should they wish to make a private telephone call. They also have access to a range of media equipment, for example, a tablet/iPad. Access to the internet for maintaining social friendships and relationships with family members is available for the young people. Staff make sure that young people are safe when using the internet through the use of filters that prevent access to inappropriate material.

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Inadequate

Since the last inspection, 11 staff no longer work in the home, and four new staff are now working in the home. New staff are recruited through safe recruitment procedures and undertake an induction programme that includes mandatory training on safeguarding, child sexual exploitation, first aid and child protection. They receive regular supervision, but there is little evidence that this has improved practice.

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Inadequate

Since the previous inspection, the registered manager has been on maternity leave. The registered manager is registered for another children’s home in close proximity. A temporary manager was responsible for the management of the two homes during this period. While Ofsted was informed of the interim measure, an application for this role was not submitted. The interim manager has subsequently left the company and the registered manager has returned from maternity leave earlier than she had originally planned.

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Inadequate

Staff report that they have ‘lacked leadership and direction’ since the registered manager’s absence. The head of operations has been responsible for day to day management of the home during this period. Regular team meetings and supervision sessions have been held during this period, and the professional therapists working for the company have routinely attended team meetings to support staff. However, the head of operations accepts that this has not been effective in preventing or addressing the serious failure to safeguard young people.

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Inadequate

Staff have the qualifications and experience to enable them to support and care for young people, and they regularly attend all refresher training. However, the arrangement for professional practice-related supervision of the staff has been ineffective. Irrespective of team meetings and training that inform staff, staff have failed to correctly record and report information and thereby translate learning into practice. This poor recording has led to the manager, and senior managers not being aware of some key safeguarding information. The effectiveness of the reviewing and monitoring of the home has been affected. The direct impact of inaccurate information is the failure of the manager and senior management team to effectively monitor and review the home’s performance, in particular the safeguarding of young people. For example, the manager failed to ensure sufficient staffing was in place to prevent one young person from jumping out of their

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Inadequate

bedroom window in the middle of the night and subsequently placing themselves at risk of abuse and child sexual exploitation. As a result, a compliance notice and a requirement are made to ensure that there is sufficient management skill and expertise to oversee the two homes daily, thus ensuring that staff are supported to safeguard young people and improve their outcomes.

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Inadequate

The inspection found there are a significant number of missing-person episodes and incidents of concern. The manager did not effectively monitor these episodes and subsequently Ofsted did not receive a number of notifications.

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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 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

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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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