Children's home run by Your Chapter Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1240884 1 Registered provider: Care 4 Children Holdco Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is one of a number of homes operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three young people have left the home since the last inspection. In general, the young people’s progress, experiences and outcomes deteriorated while they were living in this home. An increase in incidents of young people going missing from care and being involved in criminal activity placed them at greater risk. Despite the efforts of the staff, they could no longer manage the young people’s safety. Consequently, these two placements ended abruptly. The home worked in partnership with local authority to ensure that another young person enjoyed a positive transition from the home with the placing authority.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The two young people currently living at the home are continuing to settle. They attend school and participate in a range of activities that they enjoy. These include snooker, Inspection report children’s home: 1240884 2 going to a gym meals out and bowling. Evidence of school attendance and achievement was unavailable at the inspection, despite the manager trying to gain this from the school staff at the time of the inspection.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are registered with appropriate healthcare services. However, a young person has not yet had a statutory health assessment or any medical assessment to inform their care planning. Therefore, it is difficult to ascertain the health outcomes of this young person. An in-house therapy team is accessible, and provides guidance for the staff, although evidence of this direct therapy being delivered to young people is not available, and therefore the impact of this service cannot be measured. Furthermore, staff have not been provided with training that is specific to one young person’s needs, as suggested in their placing authority care plan.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of young people going missing from care are not recorded accurately. For example, young people have been recorded as being absent from care, when clearly their whereabouts were unknown. Despite risk assessments being in place, a young person who should have been reported missing from care to the police after 20 minutes was reported at 90 minutes. That said, the staff search for the young people and work with the police to promote the safe return of young people.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s behaviour is challenging and the staff work hard to implement strategies for promoting respectful relationships. However, a developing pattern of bullying behaviour has not been addressed effectively, and incidents continue. This could negatively impact on young people’s safety and well-being.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team remains stable. This provides the necessary consistency and predictability for young people to settle. The staff have regular training, supervisions, appraisals and team meetings to inform and develop their care practice. The staff are either suitably qualified or are working towards a qualification. There are sufficient numbers of staff with the right skills to meet the needs of the young people. Serious events are generally reported to the appropriate authorities. However, one such event was not reported to Ofsted in line with regulation. This hampers information sharing, through the network of professionals to safeguard young people.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has recently been refurbished, and provides a homely environment. There is space for young people to have privacy and personal time alone, away from the group. The home is located in a residential area and it is indistinguishable from other residential houses.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. He is currently taking action to remedy the concerns identified as a result of this inspection. However, the breaches of regulations and shortfalls in practice have contributed to the judgement of declined effectiveness. Inspection report children’s home: 1240884 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)) and (v)) 19/02/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11(2)(a)(xiii)) 19/02/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure that children have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14(1)(b)) 19/02/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard, the registered person should ensure that children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10(1)(a)) In particular, this refers to ensuring that young people have statutory health assessments and that staff receive training that 19/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1240884 4 is specific to young people’s needs. 40: Notification of a serious event

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (3)(c)) 19/02/2018

p.4

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.4

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.

p.4

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’.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care 4 Children Holdco Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care 4 Children, 1 Stuart Road, Bredbury Park Industrial Estate, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2SR

p.4

Inspector

Caroline Jones, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1240884 5 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.4

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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5