Children's home in Rossendale

Inspector Pauline Yates

This monitoring visit . The registered provider has taken appropriate action to meet the majority of steps laid out in the compliance notices, served after the last inspection on 14 September 2016. The updating of young people’s risk assessments and analysis of risk, and the input of other agencies into these assessments, has not been met. Young people placed at the home at the time of the last inspection, have all moved to alternative provisions. However, risk assessments were not duly updated prior to their moves. The current impact of failure to meet this step is currently low, due to there being no young people in residence. The quality and effectiveness of risk management strategies will be considered at the next inspection. Steps to ensure that all staff are trained in approved methods of physical restraint has not been met. This is in part due to records for all staff not being accessible at the time of the monitoring visit. In addition, one member of staff’s training in this

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Inspector Pauline Yates

area of work has not been updated within the required timeframe. This will be further evaluated at the future inspection. Managers have ensured that a full audit of agency workers’ files has taken place. Company policy on the use of recruitment agencies has been updated and refreshed. This limits the use of agencies by managers to ‘reputable’ firms, which employ sufficient safeguarding checks on their residential agency workers. In addition, managers must now assure themselves that appropriate checks have been undertaken. As a result, this step within the compliance notice is now met. The managers, in a multi-agency forum involving the police and the designated officer, have addressed areas of concern regarding the practice of some recruitment agencies. These improvements help to keep young people safe from adults who may pose a risk to their safety and welfare. Managers have taken steps to ensure that the investigation of complaints has

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Inspector Pauline Yates

been appropriately recorded and evaluated. This provides for transparency, increases managers’ awareness of any potential shortfalls in staff conduct, and contributes to keeping young people safe. Security around the home has improved. Areas of vulnerability contributing to young people’s missing from home episodes have been addressed and recommendations following serious incidents have been actioned. Staff training records available during the visit indicate a range of skills set. However, not all training records were accessible and as young people’s risk assessments have not been updated, management oversight of planning young people’s care is significantly reduced. The skills and the training of staff and young people’s presenting risks will be evaluated further at the next inspection. Managers have taken steps to ensure that the majority of staff on shift are permanent members of staff. This provides greater stability for young people. In

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Inspector Pauline Yates

addition, managers have ensured that staff meetings are organised in a predictable and regular manner, and that young people and their needs are a focus of these meetings. However, it is not clear how staff have contributed to the agenda, or whether staff who are absent have later read the notes of the meeting. This reduces management oversight of staff insight into young people’s progress and plans. Managers have taken steps to ensure that care planning for young people continues to meet their needs. Suitable and appropriate notice has been given to local authorities when the home can no longer meet the young people’s needs, or keep them sufficiently safe. Health matters for young people relating to immunisations and specialist assessments were not pursued or followed up by staff. A requirement made at the last inspection therefore has not been met. This will be further evaluated at the future inspection.

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Inspector Pauline Yates

Managers have ensured that restrictions limiting young people’s movement around the house have been removed. In addition, the home has undergone maintenance and improvement work. Because no young people were resident at the time of the visit, it has not been possible to evaluate management and staff actions with regard to meeting young people’s educational needs. This will be further evaluated at a future inspection. The managers and staff have made appropriate and timely notifications to Ofsted. This ensures that the regulatory body has sufficient oversight of the home.

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned and run. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural problems.

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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 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

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to appropriate updating of young people's risk assessments, the registered provider must ensure: (2)(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. 03/01/2017

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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; (x) help each child to attend education or training in accordance 03/01/2017 with the expectations in the child's relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

10. In order to meet the health and well-being standard, with particular reference to children being offered timely immunisations and specialist assessments: (1) The health and well-being standard is that— (a) the health and well-being needs of children are met. 04/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

5. In order to meet the engaging with the wider system standard, with particular reference to young people receiving timely educational provision and specialist assessments, the registered person must, and ensure that staff: (b) seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs; (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. 03/01/2017

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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 since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. out 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

to 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

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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