Children's home in Hyndburn

This monitoring visit

The home was judged to have declined in effectiveness at the interim inspection on 22 March 2016, because there had been a significant decline in the progress and experience of young people living in the home. Also, there were serious concerns about young people’s welfare and safety. Two compliance notices were issued under regulations 12 and 14. The purpose of this monitoring visit is to assess the progress made by the home regarding the two notices issued under 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These relate to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 14, the care planning standard of ‘The children's homes (England) regulations 2015’.

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This monitoring visit

Following the interim inspection, inappropriate placements were brought to an end. A new manager was appointed. Despite being in post for only four weeks, she has made targeted improvements such as establishing positive links with placing authorities and carefully reviewing young people’s care plans. Therefore, the notice regarding care planning has been met. That said, improvements in relation to the protection of young people are yet to be fully embedded and weaknesses in staff practice persist. Consequently, this visit confirms that the home has failed to take sufficient steps to respond effectively to the safety needs of all young people and that there are elements of the regulation 12 notice that have not been met. Therefore two further notices will be issued under regulation 12.

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This monitoring visit

Since the interim inspection on 22 March 2016, a young person with a history of drug use and poor associates has continued to engage in drug use. His weekly progress reports show that he regularly returns home under the influence of cannabis. On 4 May 2016, the young person returned home, stating to staff that he was ‘boiling’ and was ‘acting quite strangely, fidgeting and anxious’. Both staff on duty agreed that he was under the influence of drugs. The following day, the young person admitted to having taken ‘a lot of drugs’ over the long weekend. While staff asked the young person if he would like a referral to MOSAIC (a substance misuse support agency) and he agreed to this, no immediate action was taken following obvious incidents of substance misuse. This is of concern. Furthermore, no immediate action was evident, even after the young person had disclosed that they had used illegal substances.

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This monitoring visit

On the 6 May 2016, staff contacted MOSAIC and made a referral. However, the inspector could find no evidence of a referral prior to this date. This means that the substance misuse continued without staff and young people receiving appropriate advice or specialist support to reduce the habit. The staff’s inaction has placed the young person at risk of further harm from the continual misuse of substances.

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This monitoring visit

Upon reviewing the risk assessments, the inspector found that there is no clear strategy or plan in place to manage the drug-taking behaviour. Records fail to show that staff monitor the young person when he returns home under the influence of cannabis to ensure that he is safe and well. Furthermore, there is no indication that they seek medical assistance. This is especially the case during the night time. For example, on 12 May 2016 the young person returned home at 00.55, declined food and drink and appeared to be ‘spaced out on a substance’. At 4am the young person knocked on the office door and was described as being ‘very disorientated’, went to the bathroom and then returned to his bedroom. The following day he got up at 12pm and still appeared ‘spaced out’. The inspector could find no evidence that medical advice or support had been sought in relation to this.

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This monitoring visit

On 13 May 2016, staff noted there was £15 on the young person’s bedside table, despite no monies being given to him. He then asked staff if he could have his money in full, because he owed money to an associate. The weekly report states, ‘after much debate he was given the money’. This is despite the acting manager implementing an agreement whereby the young person is not to be given his monies in full. Records for the following day state that he was ‘under the influence of cannabis all day’. This would indicate that he used the money to access substances, and demonstrates that care practice within the home is not keeping young people safe from risks.

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This monitoring visit

Following the interim inspection, Ofsted received an action plan that stated, ‘all staff to have undertaken/be nominated for drug and alcohol awareness training by 25 April 2016’. The inspector found evidence in the log book that, on 23 March 2016, a senior member of staff contacted an external agency in relation to drug and alcohol training. Despite this, the acting manager confirmed that, to date, the staff have not had any drug or alcohol awareness training. Therefore, staff are not equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to determine if the young person is at risk when under the influence of drugs, including the need for any necessary medical support.

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This monitoring visit

At present, to enable the acting manager to secure significant improvements, the home is not taking any new placements. A full inspection will take place to review progress on the two new compliance notices issued. The requirements made at the last inspection will also be monitored during the full inspection.

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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.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and ‘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

* 12.—(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (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; 24/06/2016

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Requirement Due date

* 12.—(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff-

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Requirement Due date

(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare 24/06/2016

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Requirement Due date

* means compliance applies to that regulation

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home in relation to two compliance notices.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

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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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