Children's home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The management team continues to seek new means of improving the home. New administrations systems are now embedded into practice. Staff welcome this change and say, ‘Our paperwork has improved a lot, reducing duplication and we now have a system for cross-referencing documents, which is working well.’ The staff are motivated by these positive changes and all agree that it makes their role much easier, giving them more time to spend with the young people. Staff are child-centred and driven to improve outcomes for young people. This continues to be supported by the regular monthly scrutiny of the independent person. Case files indicate a good level of management oversight and challenge.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

A young person’s behaviour has caused disruption and at times has unsettled the home. The management team and staff are working hard to support this young person and the remaining young people. They have used the disruption to reflect well and develop practice. During these times of disruption, the staff have been supported well, feel valued and have engaged in peer support supervision. This provides staff with opportunities to discuss their thoughts and feelings on how the young person’s behaviour has impacted on them and on the other young people living in the home.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff’s response to incidents is generally proactive and reflective. However, staff do not always demonstrate good understanding of the factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. For example, some staff are acting inconsistently to strategies agreed during team meetings. Particularly around agreed bedtime routines for young people. This has led to some young people’s anxieties being raised and an escalation of their behaviour.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Training has been identified for all staff, although has not yet been implemented. The management team and senior managers within the local authority are researching appropriate models of care in order to facilitate future staff training. This will be specific to the needs of the young people living in the home.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home’s records which are now much improved show a significant decrease in young people being absent or missing from the home. Also, notifications of significant incidents have reduced. The management team and staff have effective working relationships with external colleagues, and these have positively contributed to young people's well-being. Staff regularly attend young people’s local authority reviews and have challenged others on behalf of the young people to ensure that they receive the support that they are entitled to.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people are kept safe in the home. They can make mistakes knowing that staff will support them. The safeguarding policy is adhered to in practice. Risk assessments are updated following incidents. Staff are aware of strategies and safety measures as a result. Young people discuss topics such as internet safety, radicalisation, smoking, bullying and relationships during young people’s meetings and key work sessions. There is plenty of information available to young people which reinforces messages of acceptable social behaviours and stimulates conversations.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Since the last inspection in February 2016, three young people have moved on from the home and two young people have come to live in the home. One young person who was in placement at the time of the last inspection remains living in the home. This young person has lived in the home for some considerable time and has made very good progress. There was a well-planned positive move for the two young people who have left the home and they keep in regular telephone contact with the staff, and are reportedly doing well. Staff worked collaboratively with the young people’s placing authority and families to ensure that the young people were supported and prepared to make this transition.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The decision taken to end one young person’s placement was because the home could not meet the young person’s needs. The impact of the young person’s behaviour at this time was significant and placed the young person at risk as they were constantly absent from the home to be with their family and friends. This was not an easy decision for the management team, and there is evidence that the staff team worked with professionals and the young person in trying to sustain their placement.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff support young people with contact arrangements and young people benefit from being able to maintain appropriate contact with family, friends and other people who are important to them. Individual contact arrangements are suitably supported and facilitated by staff. Staff have been asked to supervise some contact, and records of these visits include agreed actions as required in the supervision contract and young people’s contact visits are facilitated appropriately and safely.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Some improvements have been made to the home since the last inspection. For example, a new front door has been fitted, new fixtures have been purchased and the stairs and hallway carpet has been replaced. However, the home is in need of extensive work to bring it up to a minimum standard and create a homely environment. The staff and young people recognise this. There are stains and graffiti on the ceilings and walls in some rooms. There are cracks in the plaster, damage to doors and chips to paintwork. The home’s appearance is poor and institutionalised. The home does not contribute to a homely and welcoming environment for young people, staff and visitors.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home is due to close and plans have been in place for a move to a new purchased property. This move has been delayed by several months as a result of legal purchasing matters in respect of the new property and building work. This has now been resolved and Ofsted has received an application to register the new home. Originally the opening date was August 2016 but this is now scheduled for January 2017. The young people are fully aware of this plan and are looking forward to moving to the new property, as are the staff.

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to accommodate five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The home is operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 20/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 11/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/06/2014 Full Good

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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

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered provider must:

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (2) (c) (i)) 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 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. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene and so on). However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff understand factors that affect children's motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child's relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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’.

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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 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.

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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 .

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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

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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