Children's home 1220818

Inspector Pete Hylton

This monitoring visit took place due to Ofsted being notified of significant events at the home. Ofsted has also received complaints from the local community about some recent incidents.

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Inspector Pete Hylton

The home is currently experiencing a turbulent period. There has been an increase in young people’s challenging behaviour and, on occasions, the local police have had to attend the home. There is some damage to the home. Windows are broken and there is some internal damage. The organisation has taken action to make these areas safe and repairs to the home are underway.

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Inspector Pete Hylton

The home is currently understaffed. The organisation has interim plans in place to positively address this shortfall. Experienced and qualified staff from the organisation’s other homes are being used to fill the current gaps in staffing. The registered manager has ensured that the disruption caused by unfamiliar adults is minimised. However, there is a lack of contingency planning for when staffing levels fall short of what is required. For example, on 16 July 2016, there were insufficient staff on duty in the home. This has the potential significantly to affect the care given to young people. Similarly, there is a lack of forward-planning with the staff rotas. Currently rotas are not planned more than a week in advance. This causes uncertainty in the staff team and, consequently, means that young people may also face uncertainty. Recent increases in young people’s challenging behaviour can be attributed to this uncertainty. Rotas are not accurately completed

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Inspector Pete Hylton

for previous shifts. This means that it is not always clear who has worked in the home.

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Inspector Pete Hylton

Restraint is used appropriately and where required. However, the recording of restraint is not always completed in line with regulation. For example, an incident of restraint on 16 July 2016 has not been recorded in the home’s records. This shortfall means that the registered manager, organisation and placing services are not able to review this incident. This has the potential to affect the outcomes for young people, as any changes to young people’s behaviour are not noted. This means that young people’s needs are not appropriately reviewed or acted upon.

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Inspector Pete Hylton

The organisation is taking steps to make improvements. The registered manager has recently benefited from an audit of systems and files. This has identified areas to improve, and actions are underway. Similarly, changes to the hours that staff work are now in place to provide activities for young people over the school holidays.

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Inspector Pete Hylton

As a result of this monitoring visit, two requirements and one recommendation have been made. These relate to restraint recording, staff rotas and ensuring that there are contingency plans in place at the home.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private company.

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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 ‘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

The registered person must ensure that, within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all required information. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(i-viii)) 05/08/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4, and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(2)(a)(b)) 05/08/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure that contingency plans are prepared in the event of a shortfall in staffing levels. If it is likely that there might only be one member of staff on duty at any time the manager should make a formal assessment of the implications for children’s care, including any likely risks. This assessment should be recorded and available for inspection by Ofsted and placing authorities.

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Recommendations

This specifically relates to ensuring that there are clear plans in place for managing times when there are insufficient staff working in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.18)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the progress made by the children's home. 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

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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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