Children's home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report children's home: SC034012 1 SC034012 Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a local authority and is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people who have emotional and/or learning difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people progress well. From their starting point in the home, they continue to improve their social and practical skills and interact well with staff.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff give the education of each young person a high priority. As a result, each Inspection report children's home: SC034012 2 young person is achieving as much as possible in their education provision.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Therapeutic interventions help to reduce the emotional distress of young people. Young people, over time, progress well and modify their behaviour.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people‟s care plans provide them with an understanding about their placement and areas of progress. This supports young people‟s development and achievement.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are encouraged to express themselves openly. This is effective because staff encourage a collective voice and actively listen. The young people‟s views and opinions contribute to the daily running of the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff ensure that young people are safe. They take immediate action to address and reduce the risks that expose young people to harm.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Risk assessments are individual to the young people. Practical strategies are in place which are understood by staff and regularly reviewed. Staff consistently follow their safeguarding policy and procedures.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The management team demonstrates aspirational leadership. Its members lead by example, with a clear understanding of what constitutes exceptional progress for each young person in the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff work very well together and receive good support and guidance from the registered manager. This creates a homely environment which young people call their home.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people‟s accommodation is improved because of major refurbishment.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children's home's areas for development

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Key findings from this inspection

 The management review of the home would benefit from evaluating the information arising from the increased levels of consultation that are taking place with young people, staff and professionals. The review report must be supplied to HMCI as required by regulation.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff should ensure that young people have the relevant plans in place which identify their skills and the support that they will receive to prepare for independence.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC034012 3 24/10/2016 Full Good 03/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/12/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children's home: SC034012 4

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Statutory requirement

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

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (3) (4)(a)) 16/06/2017

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person who has lived in this home the longest said, „I‟m happy here. It‟s good and I think of it as my home.‟ The group of young people is unchanged since the last inspection, and the staff team is consistent. This is the basis of their good relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from a high level of consultation at formal and informal levels. Their views make a difference to the home and the quality of life experienced by young people. For example, at the last inspection the home was in need of refurbishment. Young people have contributed to the new look of the home and are now proud to bring their friends home. They have personally designed their own bedrooms. During the identified period when building work was to be most disruptive, young people made suggestions on how to avoid this. As a result, young people, over the Easter break, enjoyed holidays in Spain, Tenerife and the United Kingdom.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

From the young people‟s starting point in the home, staff understand the importance of Inspection report children's home: SC034012 5 gaining their trust and finding innovative and positive ways to work with them. They are highly nurturing and work to a model of positive parenting that gets to the heart of young people‟s need for secure and lasting relationships. One young person commented, „The support I receive in this home is helping me to understand my feelings, modify my behaviour and change my ways. It‟s really good.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from the services that they need to promote their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. They are registered with, and have access to, all local health services. Young people living in the home have experienced past emotional distress resulting in attachment difficulties. Regular consultations with specialist therapeutic services ensure that staff are able to help young people to manage and reduce their anxieties. Staff try new approaches that are suggested and adapt or review them in discussion with the therapists as needed. Regular team around the child meetings ensure a continuity of care between all professionals. Young people‟s emotional and psychological well-being is a high priority for staff, and young people benefit from the support that they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have individualised care plans that assess their needs and strengths as well as desired recommendations from their statutory reviews. Direct-work sessions cover individual issues that support and guide young people to make progress. In addition to progress made towards personal targets, agreed actions are recorded and followed up in the next session.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people‟s education has inevitably been disrupted as a result of their emotional and attachment difficulties. However, over time and with the support that they have received from staff and external professionals, this is improving. All young people now have educational provision in place and are engaging with their school, college or tutor. This is a significant achievement where staff have supported young people to overcome their social difficulties and engage in a programme of learning. This will benefit young people in the future. Young people‟s achievements are a result of the management team and staff challenging educational authorities. This has enabled young people to settle into their own education package, engage and improve their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage young people to develop independence and self-care skills throughout their time in the home. For example, young people plan, shop, prepare and make meals for themselves and staff. They learn valuable life skills. Young people are encouraged to travel independently. Most young people are not at an age at whichtransition is being considered. For the young person who is at that stage, their key workers have met with the young person‟s leaving care worker to contribute to a pathway plan. However, the pathway plan for the young person has not been sent to the home. Staff should ensure that young people have the relevant plans in place which identify their skills and the support that they will receive to prepare for independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help young people to sustain and improve their relationships with their families. Where this is not practical, other arrangements are in place, such as befrienders or independent visitors. This ensures that all young people have contact arrangements in place with people who they know and trust. All young people know how and who to Inspection report children's home: SC034012 6 complain to if they have any issues about the care provided to them. Young people did not raise any issues with the inspector, and no complaints have been made since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from a range of activities, holidays and interests that are individual to them. This gives young people opportunities to engage in enjoyable activities and enhances the development of their social skills. As a result, young people spoke of living in a good home with staff who are caring and fun to be with. Group activities include themed nights, at which young people experience other cultures and try new foods.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of safeguarding practices and the local authority procedures. They are confident in processes to follow should they be worried or concerned about a young person‟s safety. Staff are trained in recognising the signs of grooming and child sexual exploitation. They have been successful in reducing the risk to young people by developing trusting relationships, so that young people can talk to them if they feel that they are at risk.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager works closely with external professionals to discuss and agree strategies in young people‟s care to minimise risk factors. As a result of staff interventions, one young person who was previously considered at high risk of child sexual exploitation is now classed a low risk.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff show a good understanding about the responsibility of the „protect team‟. They are trained in online safety, radicalisation and bullying. Regular meetings with young people continue to educate them about keeping themselves safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff take action to ensure the safety of the young people. For example, staff search for young people when they are missing from the home. In addition, the manager is quick to request strategy meetings with professionals to address safeguarding concerns. As a result, young people‟s missing from home incidents have significantly reduced. This is because staff visit and challenge individuals at addresses that young people are likely to frequent and act as any reasonable parent would do.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are highly alert to young people‟s needs and the risks that young people face, and they plan accordingly for these. Thorough risk assessments, that are understood by young people and implemented by staff, are in place. When risks are heightened or reduced, risk assessments are updated to reflect change. This keeps young people safe and enables them to begin to take more responsibility for their own safety. Young people develop their awareness and ability to consider and plan for risks more independently.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people‟s behaviour is generally positive, and they respond well to clear boundaries and expectations. Staff are skilled at implementing rules and boundaries, as any good parent would be, helping young people to feel safe and secure in the home. Inspection report children's home: SC034012 7 Strong relationships between staff and young people help to promote a positive atmosphere in which incidents of negative behaviour are infrequent and have significantly reduced. Staff encourage young people to reflect on their behaviour and to understand the impact that this has on others and to take responsibility for it. This approach has been successful and has prevented young people from being further criminalised as a result of their behaviour. A professional visiting one young person said, „The home has turned a corner with the young person. He has come a long way and benefited from the staff support.‟

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people respond well to the incentive and reward scheme. Sanctions imposed for inappropriate behaviour are fair and agreed with the young people. Staff are up to date in their behaviour management and restraint training, although restraint is no longer used in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safe recruitment practices are in place in the home. Staff are thoroughly vetted as part of this process prior to working here. Staff complete a probation period during whichtheir practice is monitored through shadowing experienced staff members and close supervision. The home has a system for signing in, checking the identity of visitors and ensuring they sign out. Young people are not left unsupervised with any visitor. These arrangements further protect the young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Precautions are in place in the event of fires, for example emergency lighting, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers throughout the home. Staff and young people are familiar with the evacuation procedures and have regular fire drills. The home provides a protective environment for young people, staff and visitors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since joining the home in April 2016, the registered manager has had a significant impact on the operation of the home. Her changes to systems, models of care and support to staff are firmly embedded in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership and management arrangements are strong, child focused and highly ambitious for the young people. Partnership working with other professionals and agencies is effective, and this collaborative working has led to young people progressing exceptionally well. The registered manager and deputy demonstrated clearly throughout the inspection the positive impact that the home has and is having on young people‟s lives. The registered manager and deputy have a strong vision for future improvements, all of which are supported in the home‟s development plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are very complimentary about the support that they receive and how changes to practice have enabled them to improve their understanding, approaches and the support that they provide to young people. They feel valued, receive good-quality supervision and appraisal and contribute to regular team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most of the staff working at the home are qualified to Level 3 or above, and the registered manager has a social work degree. Staff are sufficient in number to meet the Inspection report children's home: SC034012 8 needs of the young people. Staff training is given high priority, and the management team keeps track by keeping a training matrix of which staff have completed which courses. This ensures that their professional development is ongoing and that the training and support they receive helps them feel confident to do their jobs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people are making good and steady progress across all areas of their development and from their starting points. Young people are making progress in forming safe relationships, in their independence and in developing their confidence and self-esteem. The registered manager and staff team track young people‟s progress through placement plans and positive, reflective reports. This means that the management team continually reviews young people‟s needs, and ensures that their achievements are celebrated and well documented, with comments and photographs for future reference.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring by an independent person continues to take place each month, with a report of her findings being sent to the home for consideration. Internally, the management team audits and reports on the administration systems, staff performance and young people‟s progress. However, the findings of this monitoring process have not been sent to Ofsted as part of a quality of care review.has not been sent to Ofsted. The last quality of care report was received by Ofsted on 8 July 2016. As a result, a requirement is made. The management review of the home would benefit from evaluating the information arising from the increased levels of consultation that are taking place with young people, staff and professionals. The quality of care review report must be supplied to HMCI as required by regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a close connection with frontline practice. It undertakes direct work with young people and has a good understanding of each young person‟s needs, wishes and feelings. This means that young people can share any concerns they have at a senior level within the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home‟s statement of purpose reflects changes to guidance and standards and is updated each time staff changes take place. As a result, staff, professionals and families are provided with factual information about the aims and objectives of the home. Young people have their own guide, which details the services that they can expect while living in the home.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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. Inspection report children's home: SC034012 9 Using the 'Social care common inspection framework', this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well

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Information about this inspection

it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards'. Inspection report children's home: SC034012 10

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: The District Centre, Town Hall, Market Street, Hyde, Tameside SK14 1AL

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Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC034012 11 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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