Children's home run by Proactive Care in Tameside

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC479776 1 SC479776 Registered provider: Family Child Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home offering care and accommodation for five young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home required improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection on 19 July 2017, a number of requirements and recommendations were made to improve practice within the home. This interim inspection will review the progress made in addressing these matters and the steps taken to further improve practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two young people have moved on from the home. One young person who had been resident for two years has made the successful transition back to his family home in accordance with his plan. A second young person has made a successful transition to a semi-independent placement in accordance with his age and long-term plan. There are currently two young people resident in the home. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC479776 2 Safeguarding practice is improved. Risk assessment and risk management is considerably developed. Managers and staff have undertaken specific training in areas including risk management and recording, risk reduction and responding to risk-taking behaviours. This means that young people with a history of risk-taking behaviours now have a wrap-around plan specifically targeted to reduce such behaviours. Individual incentive plans coupled with regular planned key-work sessions enable young people to

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

focus and achieve positive change. Consequently, one young person with a history of persistent missing from home episodes has achieved a whole month without being reported as missing. He is now engaging within the home and forming trusting relationships with staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager was asked to review the process for managing allegations made by young people, with particular regard to young people with a history of making false allegations. The registered manager confirmed that a full record of all allegations is now maintained within the home. This information is then automatically passed to the placing social worker and the local authority designated officer for review. Individual work and group sessions addressing how to make a complaint continues with all young people. Likewise, contact numbers for advice and advocacy services are clearly displayed in the home. Consequently, appropriate steps are now in place in the event of any complaint or allegation being made about the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one formal complaint made about the home. This complaint highlighted shortfalls in staff practice, the quality of work and safeguarding concerns. The responsible individual provided a full investigation report of her findings to Ofsted, the local authority designated officer and the local authority commissioning team. Upon reviewing the information, both Ofsted and the local authority designated officer were satisfied with the response. The formal response from the local authority has not yet been received. The responsible individual and registered manager accept that there had been a decline in the scrutiny and review of the quality of practice within the home and have taken significant steps to address this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection on 19 July 2017, the registered manager was asked to review how the home scrutinises and reviews, both the progress towards agreed residential targets, and the quality of work undertaken to meet these targets. Progress is made in this area.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and responsible individual undertake weekly screening of all the work undertaken in the home. Any concerns are managed quickly with individual staff members or within the regular team meetings. Likewise, planning for care is now routinely discussed both in team meetings and in individual staff supervision. This means that care practice and risk management are reviewed consistently and collectively to ensure that the most effective measures are in place.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people admitted to the home have a history of non-attendance or disruption within educational settings. Since the last inspection, the home has made good progress in addressing these concerns. There has been a focus on reshaping young people’s views about education coupled with a dedicated incentive plan for progress and attainment and key-work sessions. As a result, one young person with a significant Interim inspection report children’s home: SC479776 3 history of non-attendance now has an educational placement, has formed trusting relationships with his key teacher and is attending on a more regular basis.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management plans are improved. The registered manager and staff have worked together, alongside young people, to develop plans unique to young people’s behaviours and difficulties. This means that young people are consulted about how their behaviour is to be managed and strategies are in place to help them manage challenging situations. Therefore, young people feel more in control of their lives and are better equipped to manage their behaviours.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager was asked to review the induction and supervision of new staff to the home. Progress is made in this area. A new induction pack is now developed to ensure that all new staff receive appropriate training, mentoring and coaching, supervision and support. New staff meet with their supervisor weekly to review their progress and receive formal supervision on a two-weekly basis. Records are now more robust. Concerns or worries raised by staff members are now fully recorded. Likewise, details of any discussions and advice given are also recorded. The registered manager said, ‘We acknowledge that a lot of what we do was not recorded and this was our failure. We have addressed this throughout our practice, not just as managers but as a whole team.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal and external monitoring processes are improved. External regulation 44 reports are now received by Ofsted in accordance with regulation. Internal monitoring is now regularly undertaken. Reports provide a detailed review of the work undertaken in the home and the progress made and include critical analysis highlighting areas for further development and the plans to address these shortfalls. The responsible individual and director also undertake regular unannounced scrutiny of the quality of care provided by the service. The responsible individual said, ‘We want to ensure we provide a service that benefits young people. We review the quality and consistency of work on a monthly basis and meet regularly with the registered manager to review our findings.’ As a result, the registered manager and staff are now working collectively and as a team to ensure the best outcomes for young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the interior of the home has been further improved. The entrance hall and stairways have been repainted in vibrant colours. Photographs of young people enjoying outings and activities are hung within the hallway and living areas. The living room and dining room were fully decorated by young people in a Halloween theme awaiting Halloween celebrations. Individual bedrooms have been repainted and were clean and tidy.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have been enjoying a range of activities including go-karting, boxing, swimming, going to the gym and cycling. They are eagerly awaiting an annual trip to Spooky World for Halloween, which will also be attended by staff. Young people are now more engaged within the home. Trusting relationships are now established and this increases the progress towards identified goals and targets. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC479776 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/03/2017 Full Good 17/08/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

 There are no requirements or recommendations made at this inspection.

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC479776 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Family Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 26 Ardern Road, Manchester M8 4FB.

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC479776 6 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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