Children's home run by Trax Care Limited in Stockport

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last full inspection of the home in November 2015, Ofsted judged the overall experiences and progress of children and young people to be good. This was assessed to have been sustained at their interim inspection in February 2016. No requirements or recommendations were made at the last inspection. However, since then two different managers have been in charge of the home, which means that the home has been without a registered manager since May 2016. Currently, there is a manager in place but there has been some delay in Ofsted receiving a complete application for the registration from them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has left the home. He was moved without preparation following involvement in a serious incident, resulting in an injury to another young person. Another young person is now resident in the home. However, despite this being a planned placement and the young person moving from another home that is within the organisation, staff did not have access to all of his historic information. Consequently, the impact risk assessment does not include all relevant behaviours and staff have not taken all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of other young people since his arrival. On the insistence of the inspector, staff took action to access this information during the inspection, although the young person had already been living in the home for two months.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a number of serious incidents involving the young people at the home since the last inspection requiring police involvement on a number of occasions. Staff involved the appropriate agencies, but reports relating to the incidents that were sent to HMCI lacked sufficient detail to reflect the seriousness of the incident. For example, a notification regarding young people stealing a staff member’s car did not include the detail of where young people went, and any potential risks posed to the public. Hence, it is difficult to evaluate the incident and the actions taken as a result. Incidents have resulted in police prosecution and youth offending team involvement for young people from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some staff changes since the last inspection. Poor recruitment practice does not ensure the integrity and suitability of those employed. For example; there has been no exploration into the discrepancies in employment dates; references have not been requested from previous employers when individuals have worked with children and young people and documentary proof of qualifications is not evident. Furthermore, third party information was evident on one individual’s records.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current manager has recently completed a review into the quality of care, but the report produced was of poor quality. It contained inaccurate information, omissions, limited evaluation and therefore it was incomplete and the findings from the review are diminished. Although, the responsible individual had suggested amendments to this report the original copy was forwarded to HMCI. Hence, raising concerns regarding effective communication and making it difficult for Ofsted to evaluate the effectiveness of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people engage in activities with staff and attend the organisation’s educational provision. However, there has been a decline in attendance for one young person over recent weeks. Staff are struggling to re-engage him.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is one of a number operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained Effectiveness 17/11/2015 Full Good 18/02/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard The registered person must ensure that staff assess whether the child is at risk of harm, taking account information in the child's relevant plan, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and ensure 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. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)(b)) 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers ensure that staff recruitment procedures are designed to ensure children's safety. Specifically that the principles of safer recruitment are followed and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2 (Regulation 32(1)(3)(d)) 27/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event Ensure that notifications made to the HMCI under this regulation include details of the matter. (Regulation 40(5)(a)(i)) Specifically, that sufficient detail is provided to demonstrate the seriousness of the incident. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

45: Review of quality of care Ensure that the quality of care review report completed in accordance with this regulation includes correct information and robust review and evaluation. (Regulation 45 (1)(3)) 27/01/2017

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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

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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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