Children's home run by Salford City Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 1 SC040505 Registered provider: Salford City Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 9 February 2017

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home requires improvement to be good because:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 There have been a high number of unplanned and emergency admissions to the home. This has contributed to placement instability, high levels of disruption and placement breakdowns for some young people.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are not currently engaged in any form of formal education and are reluctant to participate in the home’s activities or contribute to the running of the home. Young people have limited constructive and positive experiences that contribute to any positive change and improvement in their lives.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have engaged in high levels of risk-taking behaviour such as offending, drug use and going missing from care for long periods. Staff work long hours, often under difficult circumstances, to try to keep young people safe from harm.  On occasions the home has been short-staffed and this has left staff feeling tired and vulnerable. Not enough staff of both gender groups are employed to meet the diverse needs of the young people.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Staff feel that the home has lost its identity because they feel the purpose and function of the home has changed. The home is not currently meeting all of the aims and objectives as set out in the statement of purpose.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Staff consistently place the safety of young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the challenges this presents. They maintain highly effective partnerships with the police and all other safeguarding agencies to try to protect young people and reduce the risk of them suffering actual harm.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Realistic development plans are in place to secure the home’s improvement. The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They make effective use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to improve the performance of the home. The manager escalates concerns and challenges professional decisions that they believe are not in the best interests of young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/09/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/07/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 4

p.3

Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The statement of purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure children are in full-time education whilst they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff (including someone in a management role) are on duty to meet the assessed needs of all children in the home and that those staff are able to respond to emergency placements, where accepted. The registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of children and can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that relevant plans are in place for all of the young people. This relates specifically to residential care plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.1)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Children should be 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)

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)

p.4

Recommendations

 Establish a diverse staff team with a range of interests, skills and experiences to enrich the lives of young people. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.6) Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 5  Whenever possible, staff in day to day contact with children should include staff from the different gender groups. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22)

p.4

improvement to be good

Currently, there are only two young people living at the home. Both are relatively new admissions. Neither young person was present during this inspection as both young people were missing from the home. Young people have mixed outcomes in relation to their individual starting points.

p.5

improvement to be good

The home has experienced a high number of emergency and unplanned admissions since the last inspection. This has contributed to high levels of disruption and placement instability. On occasions, young people have not been appropriately placed and matched, which has caused the home considerable problems. The registered manager and senior leaders are currently reviewing the home’s statement of purpose and function. A realistic development plan and comprehensive staff training programme are being implemented to secure improvement.

p.5

improvement to be good

It was not possible to form a judgement about the quality of young people’s relationships with staff, on this occasion, as neither young person was present during this inspection. That said, staff have previously been observed to have positive and constructive relationships with young people.

p.5

improvement to be good

Outcomes in education are varied, taking into account young people’s starting points. One young person had enjoyed regular school attendance and was making good progress. However, following the school holidays they are now struggling to resume their education, despite support and encouragement from staff. The other young person came to the home with a history of non-school attendance. He has yet to attend school or other educational provision. The young person has totally disengaged themselves from all professionals and refuses to invest in his placement. As a result, their outcomes are currently poor. Not all young people have a residential placement plan to promote their specific needs and to inform staff about how to improve their outcomes. Where plans have been completed for young people, they are individualised and well recorded.

p.5

improvement to be good

There are effective arrangements made to promote young people’s good health. Medical consents are in place and staff are familiar with the health decisions and responsibilities that are delegated to them. Young people are registered with local health services and staff ensure that they have access to these services, as and when they need them. However, one young person has yet to be registered with a dentist to promote their physical well-being.

p.5

improvement to be good

Staff promote and facilitate contact taking place and ensure that contact is a positive Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 6 and safe experience for young people. As a result, young people sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them. Staff monitor young people’s friendships closely and are skilled in recognising unhealthy and unsafe relationships. They take appropriate action to prevent these relationships, wherever possible. Only positive relationships are supported and encouraged. However, some young people continue to have unhealthy relationships outside of the home. This puts them at risk of offending and being criminalised. Young people benefit from the support they need to move on from the home in a sensitive and positive way, whether they return home to family, live independently or move on to another home. Pathway plans are in place to promote young people’s needs and readiness for independence.

p.5

improvement to be good

Young people benefit from regular key-work sessions to help and support them with any difficulties or issues they may have. These provide a safe forum in which their views, wishes and feelings can be explored. However, young people’s engagement in children’s meetings is poor and it is unclear how they can influence or contribute to the running of the home. Additionally, young people are increasingly reluctant to engage in the positive activities that the home provides for them, choosing instead to spend time with their own friends in the community. Activities would provide a means for staff to build positive relationships with young people, which would provide the foundations for managing negative behaviour. Staff continue to make appropriate arrangements for young people to experience new and enjoyable activities. For example, young people recently attended a large music concert.

p.6

improvement to be good

The home provides young people with a physically safe, appropriately secure, warm, comfortable and homely living environment. The home has now been repaired following a considerable amount of damage previously caused to the home. The manager has requested additional security arrangements for the home following the occurrence of a significant incident there. This would provide additional security for the home and serve as an effective deterrent for any unwanted visitors to the home.

p.6

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

The safety and well-being of young people is consistently at the centre of staff practice, irrespective of the challenges this presents. Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of young people and take appropriate action to address them. Risks associated with young people are well known and understood by staff.

p.6

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

Staff are trained in child protection and are familiar with their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They know how to deal with any allegations and report suspected abuse. They maintain highly effective partnerships with the police and other safeguarding agencies to promote the safety and well-being of young people.

p.6

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

There have been no allegations of abuse or referrals to children and young people’s services since the last inspection. Significant incidents are promptly notified to the appropriate professionals who are charged with a duty to protect young people. This ensures that young people are protected and receive the help and support they need to keep themselves safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 7 Staff actively look for young people if they are absent or go missing. Young people have a missing from home risk assessment and action plan to alert staff and the appropriate authorities of their specific risks, needs and vulnerabilities. There has been a high number of prolonged incidents of young people going missing from the home. One young person has been missing since his admission and he is currently refusing to return to the home. Concerns for the young person’s welfare have been escalated with the

p.6

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

police and all other appropriate agencies. A number of professionals’ meetings have been held to develop a strategy to locate him and promote his safe return. The young person is well known to the youth offending service and the police. The young person’s social worker reports, ‘Unfortunately I can’t provide much feedback as my young person in question is constantly missing from the home and has not stayed there since being placed. However, they have been very proactive in looking for him and attending and contributing to tier two meetings and staying in touch with myself and family members.’

p.7

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

A professional from the youth offending service (YOS) reports: ‘I am afraid that I don’t have much to add as the young person that I am working with has not actually stayed there, as he is missing and wanted. However, what I can say is that the staff have always been available when needed and they have gone out physically looking for the young person. They also keep me informed of any changes by updating me by phone or email. They have attended meetings at the YOS that have been arranged and made a contribution to the agenda.’

p.7

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

There have been no complaints or restraints since the last inspection. There is evidence to show that young people know how to make a complaint and their rights are promoted effectively. The use of restraint is a last resort and restraint is only ever used, if staff feel it is necessary, to protect young people from harm. Staff actively promote and encourage the development of young people’s behaviour and ensure that the use of sanctions is kept to a minimum.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from a well-qualified, trained and experienced registered manager who exercises strong and effective leadership of the operation of the home. The registered manager is a strong and resilient leader who is responsive to the challenges the home has faced and is keen to learn lessons from the home’s recent experiences. A new development plan and staff training programme have been identified to secure the home’s improvement.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A well-qualified, resourceful and resilient staff team is employed to meet the needs of young people. However, the composition of the existing staff group is predominantly female and not reflective of the group of young people that the home predominantly cares for. There are very few male staff employed to work with young people. Consequently, there are insufficient numbers of staff from both gender groups to act as positive role models for young people. On occasions, the home has been short-staffed and has not been able to respond flexibly to unexpected events. That said, a reduction Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 8 in the numbers of young people looked after has meant that this is not a current issue.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel that the home has lost its sense of identity and is not meeting all of the aims and objectives as set out in its statement of purpose. This relates to the high numbers of emergency and unplanned admissions over recent months. Many of the young people who have been admitted to the home have come with a history of challenging and offending behaviour. The home is now in the process of reviewing its statement of purpose to ensure that everyone is clear about the home’s intended purpose and function. Ofsted will be notified of any such revision, which is likely to include a possible reduction in the home’s registered numbers.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is visited on a regular basis by an independent person who scrutinises the conduct and performance of the home. This includes consultations with young people and staff and accessing young people’s records to form an accurate opinion about the quality of young people’s care and the home’s arrangements to safeguard them and promote their well-being. The reports prepared for the home help the manager to understand the home’s strengths and weaknesses so that they can take appropriate action to secure improvement. However, in order for the independent person to access young people’s confidential records they need consent. So far, one of two young people has given their consent and the home has requested consent from both young people’s social workers. Systems for monitoring and evaluating the quality of young people’s care are well utilised and contribute to the home’s continuing improvement.

p.8

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.

p.8

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: SC040505 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Salford City Council , Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 5DA

p.9

Inspector

Anthony Kyem, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC040505 10 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10