Children's home run by Stockport Supported Accommodation Service in Stockport

Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 1 SC039070 Registered provider: Stockport 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 registered to provide care and accommodation for five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a local authority.

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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 outstanding

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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: 20 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children enjoy positive relationships with skilled and committed staff who know them well. They feel able to discuss their concerns and are supported in reflecting on their behaviour to promote their understanding of how to keep themselves safer.  Staff have a clear understanding of the risks for children and work well with other agencies to minimise them. Robust action is taken to ensure that children are kept safe from known risks. As a result, there is a significant reduction in risks such as going missing and self-harm for some children.  Where there are barriers to learning, the home proactively seeks solutions to address them so that children can access education to maximise their potential.  Children are involved in their care planning, in line with their understanding. Staff have a clear understanding of the impact of changes in care plans for children and support them emotionally. This enables children to transition to

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Key findings from this inspection

alternative placements, including foster care, if they are unable to return to live with their families.  Staff work well to maintain positive relationships with children’s families to provide continuity, particularly when they can become strained with other professionals. Contact between children and their families is promoted and managed well.  Additional consultation with children means that they have a stronger voice within the home and take an active role in its improvements. They feel their suggestions are listened to and acted upon.  The home is led by a strong, aspirational manager who has high expectations of herself and her team to deliver high-quality care to children. She acts as a positive role model and enables staff to continually develop their professional skills and knowledge.  Staff take a very proactive role in children’s care planning, advocating for them and challenging other professionals to ensure that their needs are met and best

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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

 External monitoring of the home by an independent person must take place at least once a month. The report produced by the visitor needs to robustly evaluate the practice of the home and identify any areas of improvement so that it clearly identifies whether children are safeguarded and that their well- being is promoted effectively. The independent person’s report should be sent Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 3 to Ofsted in a timely manner.  Staff need to ensure that they carefully and clearly record actions taken, particularly when room searches are performed and physical intervention is required to manage behaviour. Records need to include specific details, such as any items that have been removed during room searches, and consistently record the duration when a child is physically guided away from an area for their own safety.  The home requests return home interviews from the placing authority when a

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Key findings from this inspection

child leaves the home without permission. However, it needs to consistently demonstrate that the placing authority is advised if such interviews are not completed for every incident and of its responsibility to offer them.  The registered manager needs to ensure that any risks which emerge in the home’s locality are incorporated into any review of the suitability of the home’s location. The review of the premises should include strategies of how such risks will be managed to ensure children’s safety.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/11/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 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

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, visits must take place in accordance with the regulation, be robust and evaluative, and be provided to HMCI in a timely manner. 04/08/2017

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, particularly in recording precise details of the use of physical intervention and items removed during a room search. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented

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Recommendations

by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. In particular, the review of premises should include any risks presented from an address where a Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 5 child abduction warning notice has been served. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make positive progress from their starting points as a result of the care that they receive from well-trained, committed staff who hold them in positive regard. Staff recognise and respond to each child’s unique qualities and needs, to support them to develop and access new experiences to enhance their lives. They provide consistency of care so that children are able to grow in an environment that offers stability and enables them to develop in line with their age and ability. One child said, ‘It is the perfect home, but not better than my real home.’ Another child said that getting on with staff was the most important thing and that ‘they will do silly things to make me laugh’. The child said that it was good to be able to choose activities, saying ‘I like it here, to be honest’. This demonstrates the children’s sense of belonging and a positive response to the nurture that staff provide.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who had not regularly attended education now access a full timetable and are making progress. Where there are barriers to learning, the home works with individual schools as well as the virtual school to find ways to overcome them. One child does not access a full-time curriculum currently. However, the home is working proactively to ensure that this is resolved as soon as possible. Some children’s improved attendance has not been sustained due to the impact of external factors, such as changes to their care plans. However, the home has continued to encourage attendance and to complete education work at the home. A social worker commented that staff went ‘over and beyond to get [the child] to school’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend health appointments on a regular basis, and to attend appointments with child and adult mental health services (CAMHS) to support their emotional health. They also help children, through key-work sessions, to understand issues which may impact on their health and well-being, including smoking, self-harm and sexual health, and access specialist agencies for support. Records for the administration of medication are clear and comprehensive and, where necessary, children’s medication is reviewed with medical professionals to ensure that the dosage remains appropriate. Children are involved in planning menus, and some help to grow fruit and vegetables in the home’s garden. Staff encourage healthy eating and cook healthier versions of popular fast-food dishes. Physical exercise is encouraged by supporting children to use their gym passes, attend a local football club specifically

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

aimed at some children’s needs, and a member of staff has become a Bikeability trainer, so that children and staff can take their cycling proficiency tests. For some children, engaging in group activities shows significant progression. Two children are getting new bikes so that they are able to go cycling with staff to keep them fit and active. There is also equipment available so that they can play basketball and badminton in the garden. Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 6 Key workers support children to take greater responsibility for their self-care, behaviour and growing independence, offering praise for their efforts and celebrating their achievements. One child was nominated for, and won, an award for outstanding school attendance at the local authority’s ‘celebrating success’ awards. Through the approach used in the home, staff support children to develop improved self-esteem and confidence in their abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are placed by the local authority where the home is situated. The manager has good knowledge of their needs prior to admission, due to her attendance at meetings within the authority, so that she is able to safely assess any impacts of children’s admission to the home. Since the last inspection, one child has been admitted at short notice, and was therefore unable to visit prior to the move. However, staff supported the transition and the child has since formed positive relationships with them, identifying a keyworker as an ‘absolute faves member of staff’. Children are also supported in their transition to new placements. One child, who was initially reluctant to move to foster care, was involved in his planning to live with a foster carer with whom he was already familiar. Children’s well-being is central to the practice of the home, and staff consult with them to ensure that they understand the care plans for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Contact is well supported by staff, and this has enabled some children to rebuild positive relationships with family members. Staff have received training in formal contact supervision so that they are able to provide insight into the quality of relationships to contribute to court proceedings. Parents generally speak positively of the home, although one felt communication could be better at times, as she had not been updated by the child’s social worker about a change in school. Another parent said that the staff were all ‘brilliant’ and that they were ‘all different but have the best qualities’. She felt confident that staff keep her updated so that she understands the progress being made by her child.

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

Staff have an excellent understanding of the risks to individual young people, through the home’s effective risk assessments and by using multi-agency assessments of specific risks, such as child sexual exploitation. Risk assessments are reviewed dynamically in response to any emerging needs, and inform behaviour management strategies. Staff are aware of circumstances that may impact on behaviour, including changes to children’s care plans. Key workers, in particular, form strong and trusting relationships with children so that children are able to discuss issues openly and can be helped to understand how their behaviour may impact on their safety. Children report feeling able to speak to staff about their concerns, and that they are listened to and helped.

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

Some children do go missing from the home. There is a robust approach from staff to ensure that they return safely, and staff request independent return home interviews to help develop strategies to increase children’s safety. However, these are not completed by the local authority for every incident, which means that staff may not have essential Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 7 information to inform practice. The home needs to challenge the local authority when this happens. The home requests strategy meetings at the earliest opportunity and, based on intelligence, child abduction warning notices are served to protect children from harm from individuals who may supply alcohol or drugs, or exploit them. During the inspection, the home’s locality review report was immediately updated to reflect the risks within the local community. This was in response to a discussion about child abduction

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

warning notices, and, going forward, the registered manager will review the document more thoroughly. Some children no longer go missing, or do so far less frequently, which means that associated risks, such as child sexual exploitation, are also significantly reduced. The ASPIRE team, which provides specialist intervention, has closed one case because the child concerned is now much safer as a result of the support provided by the home.

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

Children are helped to talk about their emotions to reduce self-harm behaviours, and are fully aware of, and understand why, room searches take place to remove items which may present a risk. Searches are generally recorded appropriately and clearly, although one record does not state what was removed. A recommendation is made to ensure that staff understand the importance of clear, comprehensive recording.

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

Younger children, in particular, respond well to the boundaries and routines implemented in the home, which promote feelings of security and stability. The need for staff to use physical intervention to guide children away from areas for their own safety, or to prevent harm to others, is only used where necessary. Records are clear, key-work sessions are completed afterwards to gain children’s understanding of why such measures are used, and there is appropriate management oversight to ensure that measures are appropriate and proportionate. One record does not clearly state the duration of the measure used. However, this is an isolated recording issue, as all other records are complete.

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

The police are very rarely required to provide support to manage behaviour, because the staff are highly skilled in responding to the few incidents that occur in the home, and do not want children to be unnecessarily criminalised. The restorative approach used in the home is used effectively to rebuild relationships. Children are clear about the home’s approach to consequences, which is incorporated into support plans. Consequences are rarely used, although children are expected to make some reparation from pocket money when they cause significant damage to property. Children are also encouraged to observe or participate in making repairs so that they understand the effort required to rectify damage caused. They say that they find this helpful in key-work sessions, as it helps them to learn new skills as well as learning that damage to property is not acceptable.

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

There has been one allegation made against a member of staff by a child. This was immediately reported, and independent scrutiny was swiftly concluded. A restorative meeting was held between the child and staff member afterwards to develop understanding of the emotional impact of what happened and to enable them to move forward positively. Staff can clearly identify actions that they need to take in response to safeguarding concerns and have effective relationships with designated officers and Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 8 safeguarding agencies to ensure that children are protected and that all notifications are made, as required. They receive regular training to ensure that children are protected from bullying, discrimination and radicalisation, including from online sources.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is very effectively led by a suitably qualified and highly experienced and confident registered manager. She inspires best practice in her team through effective role modelling and by creating a culture in the home that encourages creative responses to support children to develop and grow. Since the last inspection, she has introduced ways to empower and enable senior staff members to develop their skills and take greater leadership responsibility in the oversight of the home’s practice and day-to-day management. This also contributes to the registered manager’s overall monitoring of the care that children receive and the progress that children make in line with their local authority care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home maintains strong relationships with other professionals in the local authority, education, health and other external specialist services. Social workers universally praised the strength of the relationship-based work that the home does to support children, and that communication and multi-agency working is highly effective. More recently, stronger links have been developed with the community police officer as a single point of contact for the home. Links with the virtual school mean that children’s educational needs are progressed promptly and regular consultation with CAMHS supports their emotional needs in addition to securing new assessments, where required. The staff maintain regular communication with parents to support contact and to update them about their children’s progress, and are able to maintain relationships when these can become strained with other professionals. The registered manager will challenge

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

social workers, based on her thorough understanding of children and in response to their best interests. She and her team have a clear commitment to ensure that children’s care plans are not subject to unnecessary drift and have high expectations and aspirations to help children to return home or to identify suitable foster placements, where appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team remains stable, working together well to ensure that children’s individual plans are implemented to support their development and progress. Staff team members understand children’s needs well and promote their achievement of positive outcomes through the relationships that they form with them. Staff reported that they are well supported by leaders and managers and that they receive regular and reflective supervision to enhance their practice. Records demonstrate that supervision and appraisals of the manager and staff evaluate practice and identify any training needs. Staff receive specialist training in addition to regular updates of mandatory training so that they are able to effectively respond to children’s unique needs. Specialist training has been secured in specific parenting approaches to complement the restorative approach already used in the home. This means that staff are highly competent in

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

supporting children to develop and enjoy new experiences. Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 9 There are robust internal systems in place to ensure that the quality of care remains of a high standard and to identify any improvements to the service. This contributes to the regularly reviewed development plan for the home to drive continuous improvement in the care and experiences for children. However, opportunities to learn and develop from external monitoring have been limited by the frequency and quality of the reports completed by the independent person, which do not meet regulatory standards. While there had been improvements to meet a requirement raised at the last full inspection, the registered manager recognised a deterioration in recent months and has escalated her concerns to senior managers. This shortfall must be addressed promptly in order to provide external evaluation in support of the home’s development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There has been some reorganisation of the home’s physical environment to improve the leisure spaces for young people, so that they can access different activities in line with their ages and personal interests. Children have been consulted and have been involved in these improvements and are particularly happy that they will be having access to new online TV services. Children’s views are more regularly sought via individual monthly consultations with leaders in the home, in addition to young people’s meetings, discussions about activities and menus, and regular time with key workers. Children are able to meet regularly with the local authority’s participation team and are encouraged to join the Children in Care Council so that they can contribute to their own and others’ improved experiences of being looked after. As a result, children’s participation in the home’s development is now stronger.

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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 differences 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 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: SC039070 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, Town Hall, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 3XE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christine McLoughlin

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Inspector(s)

Karen Willson, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC039070 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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