Children's home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Requires improvement

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.2

The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 Young people continue to live in an unhomely environment due to delays in the provider submitting a complete application to Ofsted to register a new property.  Insufficient progress has been made to address all the issues raised at the last interim inspection of the home.  Staff have not received any training in the safe handling of medication and some staff have not attended recent safeguarding training.  Staff training is also required in order to meet the specific therapeutic needs of young people resident in the home.  Although a manager is in place, there has been no registered manager in the home for over two years.  Weaknesses in staff recruitment practice do not ensure the suitability of those employed to work in the home.  Behaviour-management records are not always completed within required timescales and do not always include appropriate evaluation by the manager.  Young people’s risk assessments do not include detail of recent incidents of

p.3

The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

concern, and the process for staff familiarisation is ineffective.  There has been a decline in young people’s engagement with education.  The organisation has updated the home’s statement of purpose and reduced the number of available places for young people. However, the updated document was not submitted to Ofsted, as required.  There has been no internal review of the quality of care provided in the home for over 12 months. This would have identified some of the above shortfalls.

p.3

The children’s home strengths

 The staff team has remained largely stable. Staff have shown great resilience in dealing with some extremely challenging situations.  Relationships between young people and staff are generally positive.  Staff have a very good understanding of the backgrounds of young people. This helps staff to understand some of their presenting behaviours.  Good-quality placement plans help ensure that young people’s needs are addressed.  Young people’s health needs are met and staff support them to attend necessary appointments.

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

p.5

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)) 30/06/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

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)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments include specific details of recent incidents and that the process for staff familiarisation is effective. 26/05/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(2)(c)) 26/05/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that HMCI is notified of any revisions to the statement of purpose and is sent a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(b)) 26/05/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that an individual is only employed to work at the children’s home if full and satisfactory information is available in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(2)(a)(b)(3)(d) 26/05/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

35. Behaviour management policies and records

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a 26/05/2017 record is made which includes the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3(a)(vii)) 45. Review of quality of care

p.5

Requirement Due date

Ensure the completion of a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. (Regulation 45(1)) 26/05/2017

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that children are able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11) Specifically, ensure that the records indicate when young people have received feedback relating to any complaints made by them.  Ensure that staff appraisal takes into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

p.6

Information about this children’s home

The local authority operates this home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.7

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 20/07/2015 Full Requires improvement

p.7

Requires improvement

There has been a reduction in the number of young people living in the home since the last inspection. Staffing levels are good, allowing staff to spend individual time with young people. Staff have a good understanding of the backgrounds of those they care for. This enables them to understand some of the behaviours exhibited by young people. Staff commitment and resilience are to be commended, given some of the challenging behaviour that they have dealt with over recent months.

p.8

Requires improvement

Positive relationships are evident between young people and staff. Young people enjoy spending time with staff and compete for their attention. Young people spoke positively about staff during the inspection, and the inspector observed good interaction. Young people engage in activities together and this helps to promote positive relationships. Activities include playing pool and football, going to the gym and trips to the cinema.

p.8

Requires improvement

Young people benefit from a personalised placement plan that outlines their care needs. Staff engage young people in regular key-worker sessions that encourage them to think about their actions and make the right choices. Staff also help equip young people with the skills they will need when they move on from the home. Both of the current residents are involved in managing their own food budgets, menu planning, shopping and cooking. Staff acknowledge the anxieties of transition, and work hard to ensure that this is managed at an appropriate pace. The social worker for one young person who has recently moved on from the home commented, ‘Thanks for supporting [name of the young person] with his transition to the new placement. He speaks highly of the staff at the home and he built some really positive relationships whilst there.’

p.8

Requires improvement

There has been some progress for young people living in the home, but they are struggling with the uncertainty of their long-term futures. Neither young person is currently engaging with education or training. This places additional pressure on staff as they try to motivate young people to engage, and the time available to them to complete administrative tasks during the day is limited.

p.8

Requires improvement

Young people understand how to complain, and have done so on occasion. Young people have access to their own telephone in the home, and contact details of appropriate independent agencies are on display on the wall. However, the manager does not maintain records relating to the investigation of any complaint, making it difficult to ascertain whether she undertook the investigation in a timely manner or to the satisfaction of the complainant. Staff register young people with appropriate healthcare professionals, and young people are learning to manage their own healthcare. One young person has successfully undergone a medical procedure with the support of staff. However, staff have not received any training in the handling and administration of medication, which would ensure the safe and legal management of these processes. Young people have access to the authority’s psychologist, although their engagement is limited. The psychologist is also available for staff consultation.

p.8

Requires improvement

However, staff have not received any training on the specific needs of one resident, who has particularly complex needs and frequently displays challenging behaviour. This training would ensure a consistent approach by staff and a shared understanding of the reasons for their approach and the desired outcomes.

p.9

Requires improvement

Staff support young people to keep in touch with their families, appreciating the significance of these relationships. Their understanding of young people’s backgrounds enables staff to offer effective support when young people choose to discuss their history with them.

p.9

Requires improvement

Young people understand the rules of the home and the expectations of staff regarding reasonable behaviour. However, they are unable to manage their behaviours to comply with these. Consequently, they cause damage to the home and there have been a number of assaults on staff. Staff receive training in behaviour management, including the safe use of restraint. Staff do not resort to using physical interventions often, as this is an ineffective way of managing the current group of young people. Records demonstrate the need for the physical interventions that have occurred. However, staff do not always complete these in a timely manner – for example, on one occasion the record was made at least 11 days after the incident. Timeliness of record-keeping is difficult to monitor as staff do not date the entries that they make. While restraint records do receive evaluation by the manager, the effectiveness of sanctions imposed on young

p.9

Requires improvement

people has received no evaluation for a number of months. These sanctions are largely monetary in nature and records do not demonstrate discussion and reflection on the appropriateness of this.

p.9

Requires improvement

Staff reward positive behaviour. Young people have individualised incentive programmes, and receive a reward for meeting their daily targets. These are subject to regular review to ensure their effectiveness. Young people respond well to this motivating approach.

p.9

Requires improvement

Personalised risk assessments help to inform staff about the specific areas of risk for each young person, and enable staff to be alert to specific behaviours and to respond in the most appropriate manner. However, they do not contain specific details of recent events, which would help ensure increased staff vigilance when behaviours are heightened. In addition, staff signature pages do not demonstrate that all staff are familiar with the risk assessments.

p.9

Requires improvement

Some young people put themselves at risk by going missing from home on occasions. Staff engage young people in discussion about how to keep themselves safe when out in the community and they remain in contact with them by mobile phone when they are out. Staff take appropriate actions when incidents do occur.

p.10

Requires improvement

Some weaknesses are evident in staff-recruitment processes. The organisation completes a range of pre-employment checks prior to staff starting work in the home. However, these do not adhere to the principles of safer recruitment because those responsible do not routinely request references from an employer when the individual has previously worked with young people, in order to confirm the reason for that employment ending. In addition, full information is not available in relation to agency staff working in the home. This process is not sufficiently robust to safeguard young people.

p.10

Requires improvement

A range of health and safety checks are regularly completed and updated to ensure the safety of young people. Door alarms alert staff to young people leaving their bedrooms during the night, so that they can take appropriate action to ensure young people’s welfare. Regular fire drills ensure that staff and young people are aware of the action to take in the event of an emergency. However, some fire drill records could not be located during the inspection.

p.10

Requires improvement

The home has been without a registered manager for a significant period. While a number of individuals have managed the home, they have not remained long enough to complete the formal registration process. The current manager is formally registered to manage another home in the local authority and does have the appropriate experience and qualifications. She had not submitted an application for registration at this home due to the intentions of the local authority to close this home and move to alternative premises. However, she did submit an application during the inspection. An experienced deputy manager works in this home to support her.

p.10

Requires improvement

The majority of staff members have the necessary minimum level 3 qualification and the remaining two are working towards this. There has been an increased emphasis on the updating of staff training since the last inspection. However, some safeguarding training remains outstanding, and all staff require training on the handling and administration of medication, and specific training on the therapeutic needs of a current resident. The last interim inspection of the home resulted in one requirement relating to the condition and institutionalised feel of the property. Action has not been taken to meet this requirement as no changes have been made to the property due to the plan to close this home. Young people continue to cause damage to the home and do not respect their surroundings. Consequently, this has led to a repeat of this requirement. In addition, a recommendation relating to staff training has been

p.10

Requires improvement

escalated to a requirement at this inspection. A recommendation relating to the implementation of positive behaviour-management strategies has been addressed.

p.11

Requires improvement

The home’s statement of purpose was last updated in December 2016. However, a copy of the revised statement was not sent to HMCI, as required by regulation. The local authority has sensibly decided to limit the number of young people resident in this home to three, in preparation for their move to a smaller property.

p.11

Requires improvement

Staff speak positively about the support they receive from their direct line managers, as well as from their colleagues. Regular formal supervision underpins this. Annual performance appraisals also ensure that objectives are set for staff development. However, these do not take into consideration the views of young people or other professionals working with the home.

p.11

Requires improvement

Internal monitoring of the home is not robust. The failure to complete a formal ‘quality of care review’ report for over 12 months does not assist in the identification of shortfalls or the review of patterns and trends. Completion of such a report would also have identified a number of shortfalls at this inspection, including missing records and copies of staff qualifications.

p.11

Requires improvement

Managers communicate effectively with other agencies involved with young people. They will challenge actions that they do not feel are in the young person’s best interest. One social worker commented, ‘The communication from the home is excellent and they keep me fully informed of all developments. They encourage [name of the young person] to achieve his potential and they work well with other professionals.’

p.11

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’.

p.12

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

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.12

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 that 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

p.13

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 .

p.13

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,

p.14

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.14

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.14

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

p.14