Children's home in Manchester

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, 36 children and young people have lived at the home and thirty five of these have been discharged home or to other care placements within six weeks, in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. This indicates that, for the vast majority of children, the home meets its statement of purpose by providing a short term service at a point of crisis in their lives and, in collaboration with the local authority, helps children move on to more suitable settings in a timely fashion.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In exceptional circumstances, the home has looked after one child for four months. This was above and beyond its remit but was required because the local authority took that long to find a placement that would meet her needs. During that time, the manager repeatedly challenged those responsible for care planning to do more to find her a suitable home. This was in recognition that the home was not set up in a way that would meet her needs and keep her safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child experienced harm due to her unsafe behaviour and frequent missing incidents. Harm included child sexual exploitation and substance misuse. Some serious incidents were not well managed and as a consequence the child and staff were not well protected and were injured. Some incidents occurred when no manager was in the home to effectively guide practice. Following each incident, the manager has helped the staff team to reflect on their practice and have a better understanding of the child’s needs, thereby learning lessons and improving future practice. Over time, the child built bonds with some staff members and the level of aggression and self-harm incidents drastically reduced. However, she continued to go missing and mix with unsuitable people. Professionals continued to be concerned about her safety when away from the home and until her discharge from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Many children have a recent history of missing behaviour and their welfare and safety are at significant risk before their admission to the home. Initial risk assessments are completed in collaboration with placing social workers. These identify risks to children’s safety and guide staff in how to care for children, although some lack detail. They are not always sufficiently robust to ensure children’s safety is paramount. For example, a child with a history of significant self-injurious behaviour and at risk of child sexual exploitation and substance misuse is not allowed to have a mobile phone. This means that when missing, staff are unable to contact her and she is unable to contact staff if she finds herself in a dangerous situation. It does not protect her well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of missing from care incidents remains high at 128 over a six month period. For some children, initial risk assessments identify that the child should have one-to-one or two-to-one staffing and that staff should follow them as soon as they leave the premises since they or others are likely to be at high risk of harm, when they are missing. In some instances, a member off staff is assigned to a child at the start of their shift and a ‘grab-bag’ containing a phone, money and the child’s details are kept ready so that the staff member can quickly pursue the child. These arrangements are not particularly effective in protecting children who often give staff the slip shortly after leaving the premises.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Agreed staffing levels are not always maintained so that sometimes staff are not able to supervise children who leave the premises without permission. For example, during the inspection, there were four children present with two members of staff up until six p.m. All four children were known to go missing and have been assessed as being at risk when unsupervised in the community. One had an assessed staffing requirement of two-to-one and another had a staffing requirement on one-to-one. The staffing levels of two-to-four were therefore not sufficient to meet children’s assessed needs and one went missing during the inspection. This situation had arisen because a senior manager had, without consultation with the registered manager, made the decision to admit the child who needed two-to-one supervision; but had not ensured the home’s staffing levels were sufficient to meet the child’s needs. This does not ensure that children who

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

have high safety needs are well protected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff have identified their training needs, including the need to have a better understanding of the reasons for children’s behaviour and how to manage and support them, including those with attachment difficulties and other diagnosed conditions. This training has not yet been made available, which means that staff do not always have the level of competence and understanding they need to provide a good service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement to improve the quality of reports made by the independent visitor to the home has not been addressed. The visitor does not give their view about the quality of safeguarding and does not always speak to children during the visit. Plans to train the visitor to meet the provider’s expectations when carrying out these visits have not been implemented so the capacity for them to improve and be more helpful to the manager remains limited.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The premises are institutional in nature and are frequently damaged. The home is not homely and although the staff team do all they can to make the lounge and other areas comfortable, the level of disrepair is such that the home is in need of complete refurbishment. At the time of this inspection, recent damage to the flooring in a communal area, to a child’s bedroom furniture and to a fire door were awaiting repair. The tiled ceilings in some of the communal areas are in a poor state of repair and the matters raised at the last inspection about the fabric of the premises in the children’s play ‘zone’ have not been addressed. Instead, these areas remain locked and out of bounds to children. As there is no garden, this significantly reduces the opportunities for children to have fun on the premises. To mitigate against this, the home provides each child with a television in their bedroom as well as a large television, computer and play station for communal use.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement to improve the manager’s report on the quality of care was made at the last inspection. The next report is due at the end of December 2016 so this requirement is repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The local authority recognises this home is not providing a good service to children in need of help and protection and aims to close it in the near future when an alternative service is introduced. The manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home. He is engaged in the local authority plans to redevelop emergency services for children and to close this home. At the same time, he continues to develop the staff team and to improve the quality of care. He has taken action to address the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection and has made some headway in most areas, although there is more to be done, which he recognises.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Reorganisation of the children’s residential services department has resulted in a number of staff changes. Some staff have been redeployed to other services and experienced staff from children’s homes that have closed have been relocated to this home. Although the home still relies heavily on agency and relief staff to meet the rota, more staff competently provide nurturing care and are able to build stronger and more influential bonds with children. Consequently, children are more relaxed in the home and the number of serious incidents involving aggression and property damage is reducing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

During the inspection a member of staff managed an incident, in which three children were smoking cannabis, extremely competently. Through her positive relationships and nurturing, friendly rapport with the children, she was able to give clear messages and take effective action to intervene successfully in a challenging situation. Consequently, she prevented children from further harm through the misuse of substances and helped them to return inside the home where they enjoyed the friendly banter and relaxed atmosphere she facilitated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children say this is a good home where staff do their best to keep them safe. One explained: ‘They chase us down the road when we run off’, and all children said the staff are nice and are the best thing about the home. They spoke positively about the activities and outings on offer and how staff do things with them to dissuade them from going missing and engaging in dangerous behaviour. All said they have a member of staff they can trust and turn to with a problem and that they engage in young people’s meetings. They feel they can have a say in the daily life of the home and their care plans. Children know their own plans and are clear that staff are helping them to achieve their aspirations. Despite the institutional nature of the premises, children said: ‘You really feel at home here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff, including agency and relief staff have completed training in the home’s preferred method of restraint. Where a member of staff used a blocking techniques not in line with the home’s methods, the staff member was required to revisit this training, thus ensuring that all staff know how to restrain children appropriately, when required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff have received refresher training in safeguarding which includes protecting children at risk of sexual exploitation. The local authority is rolling out Signs of Safety training and several staff have already completed this as well as training in Strength Based Conversations. This is having a positive impact on the operation of the home as strategies for engaging children in discussions aimed at keeping them safe have been used in the young people’s meetings and staff skills in helping children to develop confidence and resilience are more honed. This has enabled children to engage more actively and openly in discussions about how to stay safe and well. Children’s concerns and complaints are listened to and action is taken to address them swiftly, to children’s satisfaction.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been three allegations against staff. These are appropriately shared with the designated officer in the local authority and police, where necessary. Allegations are fully investigated and the home takes protective action to ensure the safety of all during the investigation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are made welcome at the home and all are provided with a welcome back and children’s guide that staff help them to read. Children know this is a short term placement and that they will move to a more suitable placement as soon as one becomes available. On their discharge, in most cases, children have the opportunity to meet their new carers and visit their next placement in advance of the move. Where it is helpful for the child, staff maintain phone contact with the child after they have moved, to help them with the transition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers actively monitor children’s progress. They attend team meeting and handover meetings and ensure that staff are providing adequate opportunities for children to engage positively in the home. They are proactively involved in care planning for children to move on from the point of a child’s placement in the home. As the home takes children who need emergency care, the negative impact of a child’s placement on other children already living at the home cannot always be prevented but the home actively advocates to move children on quickly, so reducing the impact of one child’s behaviour on another.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is good. The manager and assistant manager effectively contribute to multi-agency safeguarding and strategy meetings. They have good working relationships with education providers, the police and children’s mental health services as well as the looked after children nurse. This helps to ensure that children’s health, safety and educational needs are promoted while they live at the home. The home supports children’s mental health needs very well. For example, it has enabled a psychiatric assessment to take place within the home and has worked collaboratively with the police and health services to ensure a smooth transition for a child who was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Safeguarding strategies are agreed at a multiagency level but are sometimes undermined by the staffing arrangements.

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Information about this children's home

The children's home provides emergency care for children at a point of crisis in their lives. It is managed by the local authority. It provides short-term care and accommodation for up to five children for up to six weeks.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 24/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/01/2016 Full Requires improvement 20/02/2015 Interim Sustained 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

The independent person, when carrying out a visit, must report their opinion as to whether— (i) children accommodated at the children's home are effectively safeguarded; and (ii) the conduct of the children's home promotes the well-being of the children accommodated there. (Regulation 44, (4)) 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all actions identified to improve the quality of care in the home reflect when appropriate the views of young people, and are evaluated for effectiveness. (Regulation 45, (2, 3)) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the maintenance of the property, including the condition of flooring, ceiling tiles and damp in ‘The Zone’, the registered person must ensure (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 ( 1 ) ) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to helping children to reduce self-harm and dangerous behaviour including going missing, substance misuse and dangerous activities such as climbing on the roof, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (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; (e) that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) ) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered 31/01/2017 person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a)helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b)promotes their welfare. (2) In order to meet the standard in paragraph (1), in particular in relation to ensuring the workforce has the skills to provide high quality support and intervention to children in crisis, the registered person must — (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; (c)ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d)ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (e)ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13)

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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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