Social care · Social care interim inspection
Children's home run by Broadwood Residential Limited in Rossendale
Summary
What we read, and from where
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- Inspection datesingle source
16 Sept 2016
- Inspectors verified
Pauline Yates
- Postcode verified
BB4 6HR
- URN verified
1185539
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
Reads more critically than most reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
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Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
No standout praise found.
Concerns
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- As a result, the young person was not effectively supervised and was at risk of causing further damage to the home. p.2
- He has experienced serious incidents outside the home due to associations he has developed since being at the home. p.2
- There have been serious incidents, involving theft and attempted theft p.2
- This has resulted in the young person continuing to be at risk from his own behaviours, both inside and outside the home. p.2
- The young person has poor daily routines established and as a result does not rise until late into the day. p.2
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. p.6
- The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there, or there is any other incident 11/11/2016 relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. p.6
- The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding 12 months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint.* (Regulation 39 (3)(5)) 25/11/2016 p.6
- For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9). p.8
- With particular reference to the repair or replacement of damaged furniture and radiators. p.8
- 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. p.9
- This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’. p.9
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Leadership & governance8
“Management oversight of the recruitment of agency staff is ineffective.” p.2Progress & outcomes6
“His experiences and progress are poor.” p.2
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 10
- Words of findings
- 1,971
- longer than usual (typical 904)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 44, typical 48
- Average sentence
- 24 words
- Next steps
- 7
- typical 4
- Hedged sentences
- 3%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of
children and young people since the most recent full inspection.
p.2
At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in
effectiveness . The home accommodates only one young person. His experiences and progress are poor. He has no educational placement identified, despite having lived at the home for several months. This limits the young person’s life chances and creates gaps in learning opportunities. There is active and increased use of drugs by the young person, and, as a result, his health is affected and the risks to physical and emotional health are high. He has experienced serious incidents outside the home due to associations he has developed since being at the home. This has included attempts to take the young person away forcibly in a car by people unknown to the staff. The young person’s behaviour within the home has escalated over the duration of the placement and this has necessitated a total of 55 police call-outs for assistance. Absences from the home are frequent and incidents of missing from home have increased. There have been serious incidents, involving theft and attempted theft
p.2
At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in
of items from the home, in order to fund drug use. The management team does not respond or escalate matters quickly enough when concerns emerge about the home’s ability to meet the young person’s needs. This has resulted in the young person continuing to be at risk from his own behaviours, both inside and outside the home. As a result, the requirement made at the previous inspection has not been met Risk assessments have not been updated in a timely manner. This means that staff do not have a clear view of actions to be taken or an up-to-date evaluation of risks that face the young person. Out-of-date risk assessments include the risks of missing from home, use of alcohol and drugs and risk of exploitation. The staff are unable to engage the young person and he refuses to adhere to the boundaries and expectations that are put in place. Serious physical threats and verbal abuse of staff from the young person are at a high level, and positive
p.2
At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in
relationships between him and staff are low. In addition, the permanent staff employed in the home do not offer the young person a balance of both male and female adult role models. Because of these factors, staff are unable to impose meaningful boundaries. For example, an incident had occurred which resulted in staff locking themselves into the upstairs office for their own safety. This left the downstairs area in the ‘control’ of the young person. As a result, the young person was not effectively supervised and was at risk of causing further damage to the home. The young person has poor daily routines established and as a result does not rise until late into the day. This affects the young person’s motivation to establish any positive and meaningful structure to his life. It means that he does not engage in education or participate in leisure activities. Management oversight of the recruitment of agency staff is ineffective. This does
p.2
At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in
not adequately safeguard young people from adults who may pose a risk to their welfare. In addition, management investigations into complaints made against staff are poorly recorded and concluded. Complaints made by staff have not been recorded in complaints documentation and the complaints policy has not been followed. In addition, serious complaints involving members of the public and neighbours have not been documented as complaints. The manager does not have suitable oversight of issues that affect the safety and delivery of care to young people, such as recruitment and staffing levels. Management presence in the home is weak. The manager is in the home, on average, five times per month. This does not offer sufficient support to staff, give opportunities to discuss escalating concerns or give sufficient time to reflect on the progress of the young person. Staffing is a particular concern. It is not clear from staff rotas which agency staff
p.3
At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in
have worked or will be working. Selection for duty on the basis of suitability, qualifications or skills mix does not take place. This prevents clear management oversight and does not meet young people’s needs. Ofsted have not been informed about serious concerns relating to the possible conduct of staff. This weakens the regulatory body’s oversight and affects timely liaison or intervention. Requirements made at the previous inspection have not been met. As a result, there is a delay in the independent visitor sending their reports directly to Ofsted due to the system of sending them first to senior managers. In addition, documents informing the home of the educational needs of the young person have not been received from the local authority. This has not been effectively escalated by the manager. Physical restraint remains inappropriately recorded and does not meet regulations. As a result it not clear from the recordings whether the young person has been
p.3
At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in
spoken to about the measure by the manager. At the last inspection a recommendation was made regarding meetings to be held off-site, so as not to disrupt the young person’s movement around the home, namely use of the sitting room. Meetings have continued to be held at the home, the last resulting in disruption of the meeting by the young person. Due to the frequency and seriousness of the incidents, furniture in the home has been broken several times. Continuous repairs of chairs and settees have reduced their strength and stability. In addition, there has been damage to the radiators as parts of these have been used by the young person as weapons.
p.3
Information about this children’s home
This is a privately run children’s home and is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties
p.5
Recent inspection history
Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/04/2016 Full Good
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 within the given timescales.
p.6
Requirement Due date
The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)) 11/11/2016
p.6
Requirement Due date
The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’), has spoken to the user about the measure, and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate, and within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (b)(i)(ii)(c)) 11/11/2016
p.6
Requirement Due date
5: In order to meet the engaging with the wider system standard, with particular reference to securing outstanding documentation, the registered person must ensure that: (c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. 11/11/2016
p.6
Requirement Due date
14: In order to meet the care planning standard, with particular reference to early reviews being requested in a timely manner, the registered person must ensure: (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 (ii) the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission. 11/11/2016
p.6
Requirement Due date
The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there, or there is any other incident 11/11/2016 relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding 12 months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint.* (Regulation 39 (3)(5)) 25/11/2016
p.6
Requirement Due date
The registered person must ensure that children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises, and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home, is necessary and proportionate, is kept under review and, if necessary, revised, and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 11/11/2016
p.7
Requirement Due date
8: In order to meet the education standard, with particular reference to robust challenge of the placing authority and the timely securing of educational provision: (1) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (a) that staff: (iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers (vi) maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement (viii) help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. 11/11/2016
p.7
Requirement Due date
13: (1) In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to ensuring that staff rotas and qualifications and training completed by staff reflect the needs of young people, that permanent staff are in the majority on shift and that staff meetings take place and are effective, is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation 25/11/2016 to the children’s home that: (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential, and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to: (a) 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 (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the
p.7
Requirement Due date
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.* 12: In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered provider must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare, and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (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. * 25/11/2016
p.8
Requirement Due date
* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.
p.8
Recommendations
To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation: For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9). With particular reference to the repair or replacement of damaged furniture and radiators.
p.8
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.9
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.9
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.9
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,
p.10
Information about this inspection
The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .
p.10
Information about this inspection
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p.10
Information about this inspection
T: 0300 123 1231 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted
p.10
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