Children's home run by Oldham Children’s Social Care in Oldham

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

 Children are cared for by staff who know them well. Relationships are warm and affectionate and children are valued for their unique qualities. Staff respond to children’s unique personalities and encourage their expression.  Children enjoy activities that cater to their individual preferences. They show their enjoyment by their ready smiles and confidence in their interactions.  Care plans are in place for all children, so that their participation, development and quality of life can be enhanced. In order to maximise their effectiveness, professional assessments are now being obtained to improve plans from a multi-agency perspective.  Effective matching of children using the service means that they benefit from better quality care during their stay in relation to their level of need. Comprehensive risk assessments mean that children can enjoy their stay safely.  Staff work effectively as a team, and are well motivated to provide high

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

quality care to children. They value the opportunities to develop professionally and being able to contribute to the running of the home.  Effective management and leadership means that monitoring systems and record oversight is good. Statutory agencies and families are notified appropriately of serious incidents when required.  Internal and external audits ensure that improvements to the home are identified and responded to in a timely manner.  Parents and professionals acknowledge the positive changes that have been made. Social workers, in particular, value the regular communication they have with the home. Plans are in place to involve parents in the home’s development.

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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

18: Placement plan for a child who is not looked after

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Requirement Due date

(1) This regulation applies to a child who is not looked after by a local authority. (5) The placement plan must set out, in particular: (b) the arrangements made for the child’s care, education and health. In particular, the plan should incorporate professional assessments and plans to provide a holistic and consistent understanding of how the child’s needs are to be met. 08/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which: (a)include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; 08/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

(1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who: (a) understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use the understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. This relates specifically to the integration of aims and targets that the home will use to support and measure children’s progress. 08/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the missing child policy’) setting out: (a) the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and (b) the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a 08/03/2017 child who is, or has been, so absent. In particular, the policy should be specific to the home, with regard to the particular vulnerabilities of children who use the service. 23: Medicines

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b) medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed. This relates specifically to ensuring that medicine is administered at the appropriate time. 08/03/2017

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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

 Staff should ensure that they record children’s views and choices consistently, understanding how they might communicate their feelings through their behaviour, or non-verbally especially where the child has a disability which does not allow them to communicate as others might. (‘The guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.10)  The registered person should support staff to gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential, by ensuring that they are helped to understand specific needs such as autism and attachment difficulties. (‘The guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide short breaks for up to seven children and young people who may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities or sensory impairment. It is owned and managed by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/10/2016 Full Inadequate 30/08/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 01/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/08/2015 Full Good

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Good

Care plans are in place to meet the individual needs of all children. Further revisions, to incorporate multi-agency assessments and plans into the home’s care plans, remain a work in progress. During the temporary closure of the home, staff received training in person-centred-planning to enhance their skills in developing care plans. A programme of regular reviews of the plans is in place, and social workers confirm that staff attend relevant meetings to identify actions to support children’s development. This means that individualised care programmes are provided consistently as staff are clear about the level of care required.

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Good

The home is working closely alongside children with disabilities teams, health professionals and schools to identify how it can make further improvements to benefit children during their short breaks. The home is also awaiting a report on how to improve the physical environment, taking into account different communication needs. Occupational therapy assessments have now been commissioned and are being undertaken so that all children are able to access the service safely. As a result of these actions the home intends to demonstrate a more holistic approach to children’s experiences of short breaks, including aims and goals against which progress can be measured. However, this is not yet achieved and a requirement is therefore made to this effect. Ongoing relationships with other professionals mean that children will be supported more effectively in opportunities to promote their development and experiences. A requirement is made at this

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Good

inspection to ensure that the work to integrate multi-agency input fully into care plans is completed, particularly for children who are not looked after. A requirement made following the monitoring meeting held in December 2016 is also repeated. This is to ensure that care plans record statutory provision, if any, under which a child is provided accommodation.

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Good

Children are supported by staff who know them well. Staff plan activities on an individual basis to reflect children’s personal preferences, which correspond with information in care plans, rather than catering for them as one group. This affords children the opportunity to enjoy activities which are stimulating and promote their development. One parent, whose child has accessed the service for a number of years, stated, ‘She loves it! If she’s happy, then I’m happy.’ Relationships between staff and young people were observed to be very warm, affectionate and caring. One child, who has a visual impairment, clearly enjoyed the tactile interaction of a hand massage, musical toys and soft blankets to wrap himself in, giving ready smiles in response to the member of staff. Newer staff members were observed to co-work with colleagues to introduce them to children with whom they had not previously worked. This demonstrates practice which sensitively respects children

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Good

and reduces any anxiety arising from meeting new people. As a consequence, children are able to build trusting relationships, supported by the reassurance of more familiar staff. Children’s well-being is central to staff practice.

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Good

The team offers guidance and encouragement to help children make positive choices and to improve their social communication. They are consulted for their preferences, which might be as simple as choosing the type and colour of drink container. However, support in participation is not always consistently recorded. A recommendation is therefore made to demonstrate how staff reinforce children’s sense of their own importance and ability to influence their world. Staff are enthusiastic about forthcoming workshops to develop knowledge and skills in different methods of communication and the benefits this will bring for children’s care and interaction. This will further support children’s engagement with day-to- day decisions, in addition to the ongoing work undertaken by the Children’s Society to represent children’s views.

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Good

The interim manager has recently updated the children’s guide to the home, and work on a pictorial version is underway. This will provide children alternative versions of information about the home, prior to any introductory visits, with regard to their level of understanding. Appropriate impact risk assessments will take into account all children’s needs when children are being introduced to the service. Transition plans are in place for those young people who will be moving to adult services. The home is proactively contacting social workers and transition workers to ensure that its staff are included in the progression of these plans and to prevent drift.

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Good

The medication policy has been reviewed, and is clarified in a guide recently written for parents about the home. Families advised the inspector of some continuing difficulties, particularly when the complex needs of their children results in frequent changes of medication. This can be the result of health professionals not responding swiftly to requests for written confirmation regarding alterations. The interim manager encourages staff to work proactively with parents to prevent short breaks from being cancelled as a result of changes in medication. One child did not have medication administered at the appropriate time outlined in her health plan. This was addressed during the inspection, in response to the requirement made, to ensure that there was no further impact on her well-being. Further training is planned for staff to learn or update specialist skills to support particular health needs. The team is clear in terms of any action to take and the appropriate

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Good

recording of any injuries or accidents. Body maps are now routinely used to good effect.

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Good

Communication between the home and schools remains effective through the use of home-school notebooks as well as phone contact and attendance at meetings. The interim manager is exploring closer working relationships with schools and speech and language therapists to support children’s communications needs more effectively. This will further improve the quality of individualised care that children receive to promote positive experiences during short breaks.

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Good

All children have a comprehensive risk assessment in place, which includes a personalised emergency evacuation plan and missing from home guidance. These are consistently written with appropriate management oversight to ensure that their contents are followed robustly. There have been no missing episodes, but staff are clear that the police must be contacted immediately in the event that a child goes missing, given their vulnerability and often complex needs. Although a ‘missing child policy’ is in place, this is generic to all residential provision managed by the local authority. This element of the requirement made at the last inspection is therefore repeated, to ensure that the policy specifically relates to the home and the vulnerability of those who stay there.

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Good

Children and young people also have an individualised positive handling plan, providing detailed understanding of potential triggers and methods to defuse and de-escalate any negative behaviours. Plans clearly outline whether any physical intervention is appropriate and techniques which can be used safely, and which correspond with specific training undertaken by staff. Staff use their strength of relationships with, and understanding of, children to support them to manage their anxiety and reduce unwanted and harmful behaviours. As a result, there has been no use of physical restraint since the last inspection. However, staff are aware of procedures to follow, including how any incidents should be recorded and notified. The home has put procedures in place to meet the requirement from the last inspection. Effective planning, greater staff understanding and appropriately high levels of supervision ensure that children and young people are kept safe.

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Good

Staff provide clear guidance and boundaries, using techniques which demonstrate their understanding of children’s and young people’s plans. For example, one young person was provided with clear verbal guidance to ensure that he did not tip his chair backwards. The member of staff consistently started sentences with his name to engage his attention, a strategy which is highlighted in his plans. He was given positive praise for following instructions to avoid any accidents. The interim manager reviews any incidents of self-injurious behaviours with the team to explore strategies to reduce further occurrences.

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Good

Individual impact risk assessments and assessments of level of needs have also been undertaken for all children and young people. This means that there is an effective matching process in place and staff are able to provide better quality and quantity of time with children and young people. The team endeavours to work with parents to accommodate their needs, particularly for family holidays. While some parents preferred previous arrangements, the home now prioritises the safety of all individuals during their short breaks. One young person visited the home during the inspection as part of a reintroduction to the service. Previously, when placed in an emergency, he had disclosed a concern which had not been addressed appropriately by the registered manager. As part of his recent visit, staff took time to reassure him he would be safe during future overnight stays. This means that they clearly listen to his concerns and are able to alleviate any anxieties

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Good

to help him feel secure and protected at the home.

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Good

The home now demonstrates that it has effective working relationships with professionals, communicating any concerns, particularly regarding safeguarding of children and young people. Staff have undertaken training in safeguarding, with specific reference to children and young people with disabilities, to ensure that they have a clear understanding of statutory guidance. There is appropriate referral to the designated officer regarding any allegations made. Complaints have been dealt with promptly, or referred to the local authority’s complaints officer when this is appropriate. Three complaints were received from families on one occasion, because of staff shortages and children having to return home. The home has resolved these by offering additional short-break dates as well as looking to recruit additional casual staff. Thus, the home is seeking to ensure that families are not disappointed, while maintaining safe staffing levels so that children are protected

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Good

Staff follow clear guidelines to ensure that clinical waste is disposed of appropriately and collected promptly. Open non-prescribed creams and toiletries are no longer stored in bathrooms. The home has therefore met the requirement from the previous inspection regarding clinical waste and potential cross-infection. Health and safety issues have been addressed, and improvements made to facilities. The home provides a safe physical environment that protects children from the risk of harm.

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Good

The home is currently being led by an interim manager, who is suitably qualified and experienced. He is well supported by senior managers who have provided the resources necessary to effect change, so that children’s needs are met. This has included changes to the staffing structure of the home to create shift leader posts and an interim deputy role. Additional casual workers are being recruited to avoid shortfalls in staffing levels, for example due to sickness, to maintain continuity of the short-break service. The team was closely involved in devising a new rota, which the interim manager has monitored to ensure that there is an appropriate balance of experience across shifts. This results in staff being deployed more effectively across care planning activities.

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Good

Staff now report high levels of satisfaction at the management support they receive. Leaders took the decision to close the home temporarily to address the serious and widespread shortfalls identified at the last inspection. During this time, staff accessed training so that they feel equipped and competent to implement the changes required. There is a clear development plan in place to ensure that staff have an ongoing training plan to enhance their professional skills. A recommendation is made to ensure that all staff receive training that is specific to the needs of particular children. The closure also fostered the development of a new cohesion within the team and shared ownership of the service. The manager has encouraged this through delegating tasks and by recognising the skills and experience of individual members of the team. Staff now feel listened to and able to contribute to the development of the home. As a result, they have a renewed

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Good

enthusiasm and motivation for their work. They have worked exceptionally hard to address the immediate shortfalls, and acknowledge that further changes are required to ensure effective and sustainable improvements. The change in the culture of the home is evident. Staff reflect clearly that they are happier coming to work and are confident in their interim manager. They now feel that there is greater consistency and shared responsibility in delivering a service that is child- centred and meets the individual needs of children safely. Assurances have been given that there will be appropriate handover of management to sustain this programme of change.

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Good

One social worker reported that she has seen positive changes in the home and confirmed that she is asked to identify expectations and targets to support a child’s development. Social workers interviewed were satisfied with the level of communication with, and valued input from, staff, particularly with regard to any concerns.

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Good

New systems have been implemented to track ongoing improvement and provide stringent monitoring within the home. The interim manager regularly audits records, which are more orderly, with easily accessible information. Recording, in general, has improved to capture relevant details and reflect children’s daily experiences, and handovers between shifts are better organised. As well as improved internal monitoring, the interim manager has been swift in implementing actions recommended by the external audits conducted by the independent visitor. Further oversight has also been scheduled via visits by the responsible individual. Active monitoring and identification of further areas of improvement are therefore in place to provide improving quality of care.

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Good

Team meetings continue to take place fortnightly. Minutes demonstrate that these meeting are increasingly constructive and are a forum to discuss and embed the improvements in practice. Group supervision has been undertaken in addition to individual supervision that is scheduled regularly for all staff. Performance is monitored in meetings by reviewing individual children’s plans that are overseen by key workers. This provides continuous review of the progress that children make in respect of their plans.

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Good

Leaders met with families from one local authority to give them an opportunity to share their concerns and to listen to suggestions to improve relationships. During the closure period, outreach support was offered as an alternative for the children with the highest levels of need. Some parents chose not to take up this support as they felt it would not meet their particular family’s needs. One parent said she did not receive the letter advising of the closure until shortly before it happened. However, she stated that she feels there are signs of improvement, and welcomed the opportunity to meet with her child’s key worker to review the care plan. Suggestions that she made to improve communication are already being planned, such as a letter outlining what children and young people achieve during their stay. Open days for parents are also being organised. Families have indicated that they would like to have a greater involvement in the running of the service and

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Good

opportunities to facilitate a parents’ group are being explored. The interim manager has also met with the Children’s Society, who visit children within the home, to explore how families could contribute their views and represent their children’s wishes and feelings via questionnaires. This is particularly valuable for children who are less able to communicate their views as well as developing more effective and inclusive relationships with families.

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Good

The requirements from the last inspection have now been met, with the exception of the development of a missing child policy. The requirement following the monitoring meeting is repeated.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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, 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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