Children's home run by Broadwood Education Services in Rossendale

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC363395 1 SC363395

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Broadwood Education Services

Monitoring visit 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 three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was conducted to monitor the home’s performance and check progress regarding the two compliance notices that were issued following the inadequate inspection judgment of 13 September 2017.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous inspection, it is clear that the organisation has taken the concerns raised by Ofsted very seriously. There has been a strong focus on making improvements to how effectively the team approaches the safety and welfare of children. There are some tangible changes to practice, such as risk-managing the children’s use of smart phones by ensuring that children hand in their mobile phones at night. Staff now understand the importance of checking the suitability of the people with whom children spend their free time. There are early signs of a more positive, nurturing ethos, and an understanding of the team’s responsibilities to fully protect the children in their care.

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This monitoring visit

Sadly, one child who had lived at the home for some time moved on more suddenly than is desirable. There was no time for goodbyes, and no process of planning where she would move to. Following a series of situations where the child was missing from home, the manager felt that the team could no longer manage the risk. She did not return to the home and has moved out of the area. So far, the manager has been unable to find out where she has gone. As a result, the manager has not been able to provide this child with information about a complaint that she was involved in.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted judges that the two compliance notices issued under regulations 6 and 12 are Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC363395 2 met. However, some new shortfalls were identified during this visit. The manager failed to think laterally when dealing with a safeguarding concern. Assumptions were made that the concern linked to a particular incident. As a result, there has been a failure to employ strategies to ensure that children are fully protected while the matter is under investigation. Additionally, there is a failure to carry out meaningful risk assessments regarding the gender of members of the staff team. There are some planned shifts where two staff of the same gender are working exclusively with a child. There has been no assessment of the suitability of this arrangement against the needs, background and histories of the children living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The manager should give further consideration to the way that her team records the discussions that they have with children. The current documents serve to validate the actions of staff and have no meaningful purpose for the child, despite the child being compelled to sign them.

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This monitoring visit

In conclusion, there is an obvious sense of urgency around ensuring that improvements are made swiftly. The investment of time and expertise provided by the new senior team is ensuring that this home is currently operating at an acceptable, but not yet good, standard. Systems to ensure that the standard of care is maintained and developed, once senior staff retreat, must be established.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/09/2017 Full Inadequate 15/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/09/2016 Full Good 30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC363395 3

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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

(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure — (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. 31/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(1) The leadership and management standard is 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. (h) Use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, establish effective systems to ensure that the standard of care is maintained and developed, once senior staff retreat. 31/12/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information about individual children in a non-stigmatising was that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third party information. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC363395 4 Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.23)

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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: SC363395 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Broadwood Education Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: New Hall Hey Road, Rossendale BB4 6HR

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Inspector(s)

Guy Mammatt, social care inspector Michelle Oxley, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC363395 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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