Children's home run by Care 4 Children Holdco Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 1

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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 three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to ensure the safety and welfare of children living at this home, following whistleblowing concerns that identified serious safeguarding concerns at the home. Although the overall experiences and progress of children and young people living at the home were judged to be good at the home’s last full inspection in October 2016, there has been no registered manager in the home since February 2017 and four staff members are currently suspended, following whistleblowing concerns relating to poor childcare practice at the home. These concerns are currently under investigation by relevant professionals. As a result, the organisation was planning to close the home for a short period of time in order to address these concerns. However, because two young people were still living at the home, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to satisfy itself that these young people would be adequately safeguarded, pending their move to new placements.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors were able to gain access to the property, although no one was at home, as the backdoor of the property had been left unlocked. It became apparent that the staff and young people had left the home earlier that morning and had been unable to secure the building, as a staff member had taken home the only set of backdoor keys. The doors and locks had been recently replaced, but no action had been taken to ensure that staff on duty had the necessary keys to secure the building. Consequently, the children’s home and its contents, such as children’s records and belongings, were vulnerable to burglary or vandalism.

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This monitoring visit

Since the departure of the registered manager in February 2017, two different individuals have been in charge of the home. However, by the time of this visit they had both resigned and left the organisation. The part-time operations manager had Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 2 been put in charge of the management of the home on 2 May 2017.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors assessed the proposed staffing arrangements for 5 May 2017 and the forthcoming weekend. Inspectors found that the plan was for inexperienced staff to work together at the home alongside some established staff, who would work additional shifts. Given the assessed needs and presenting behaviours of the young people on the day of the visit, inspectors found these arrangements to be inadequate to safeguard the young people, the staff and the community. The operations manager agreed that staffing arrangements were inadequate for the day of the visit and for the forthcoming weekend period. The responsible individual revised these arrangements, at Ofsted’s request, with a plan to bring in more experienced staff from other homes in the organisation. However, he had not done so prior to the request of the inspectors and, consequently, is not able to demonstrate that he had prioritised safe and appropriate care for these young

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This monitoring visit

In addition, concerns became evident in relation to the maintenance of case records at the home. These were not an accurate reflection of incidents that were known to have taken place. For example, at the direction of the manager, one young person had been refused admittance to the home by staff, resulting in an incident outside of the home. However, the records at the home do not make reference to this incident. The operations manager was aware of these inconsistent accounts and had felt unable to agree these records without further exploration with staff. Consequently, inspectors were unable to gain a true account of such incidents, the actions taken by staff and the effect on young people. It is of concern that staff have not completed accurate records of events at the home in line with their safeguarding responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

Other examples of poor decision making by managers were evident. This included the decision to collect all three young people together in the home’s vehicle to transport them to an important medical appointment. This decision was made despite there having been an incident in the vehicle on the previous day. The decision to transport the young people together resulted in a serious incident involving the police, culminating in the young people missing the appointment. However, this incident was not reported to HMCI at the time, as required, or indeed subsequently. Furthermore, on the day of this visit there were inadequate arrangements in place to transport one young person to a new placement. Again, despite known risks regarding the potential behaviours of the young person when in a vehicle, plans were made for one staff member to transport him a significant distance alone. Consequently, this poor decision making raises concerns regarding

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This monitoring visit

the competence of managers in charge of the home and compromises the safety of young people, the staff and the community.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the concerns above, Ofsted conducted an urgent case review, the outcome of which was a decision to suspend the registration of this service immediately for a period of three months. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 31/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

Ensure that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (Regulation 12(1)(2)) 05/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13(1)(2)) 05/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person maintains records for each child which- (a) include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; (b) are kept up to date. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)) 05/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person notifies HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b) 05/08/2017

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care 4 Children, 1 Stuart Road, Bredbury Park Industrial Estate, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2SR

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Inspector(s)

Mandy Williams, social care inspector Jackie Line, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 6 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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