Children's Home run by New Horizons (Stockport) Limited in Bury

Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 1 Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: This is the first inspection

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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Key findings from this inspection

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

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Key findings from this inspection

 One young person has not had sufficient support to engage in independent study while waiting for formal education to begin.  Leaders have not taken sufficient action to escalate to the placing authority their Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 2 concerns in relation to educational provision.  Young people do not always have access to all communal areas of the home.  There have been instances of challenging behaviour and there is limited evidence that staff are helping children to reflect on their behaviour and manage their feelings in a more positive manner.  Incidents of physical intervention have not been sufficiently de-briefed with young people or the staff team.  Leaders did not manage an allegation in accordance with the procedures outlined in the company policy.  Some staff had not completed all mandatory training courses.  Monitoring and review systems require enhancement as they have failed to identify

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Key findings from this inspection

regulatory shortfalls.  Leaders and staff have not notified Ofsted of significant and serious events in the home.  The report provided by the independent visitor to the home does not include a direct conclusion on whether children are safeguarded and whether the conduct of the home promotes their well-being.  Leaders should evaluate the information provided during independent return interviews to inform practice and reduce the likelihood of young people going missing from the home in the future.  The workforce development plan should be kept up to date.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people feel safe and well cared for at the home.  Transitions into the home have been well planned and managed.  The physical environment in the home is modern and luxurious.  Young people have developed positive relationships with the staff team.  Staff are highly proactive in meeting the healthcare needs of young people.  Staff promote social opportunities and encourage young people to engage in positive activities.  Risk assessments are completed to a high standard when young people move into the home and reviewed regularly.  When young people have been missing from the home, staff make every effort to locate them and have taken appropriate action to safeguard them from harm.  Staff have made good use of local, specialist services to provide additional support for young people.  Placing authorities have provided positive feedback about the service provided at this home. Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This is the first inspection Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 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, the 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(ii)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(iv)(xi)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff take effective action 28/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 5 whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

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 their full potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff have the experience, qualification and skills to meet the needs of each child; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(h)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21(b)(c)(I)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 28/02/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a 28/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 6 child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry): or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

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— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) 31/03/2018

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Recommendations

 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. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Evaluation of missing-from-home incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff to record and retain evidence of what worked well. This evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and

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Recommendations

20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 7

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improvement to be good

This home was registered in August 2017. Four young people have moved in, one of whom has since returned home to the care of his family. Transitions into the home have been well planned and managed. One young person was able to visit the home twice before moving in, which helped him to settle. Young people are provided with a children’s guide to the home and are able to personalise their bedrooms according to their individual preferences.

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improvement to be good

Children are making some progress at the home across aspects of their development. One young person had not been in education for some time prior to moving into the home. He has recently engaged with a tutor, although engagement is limited. Another young person has not accessed education since she was excluded in December 2017. Staff have been communicating regularly with the placing authority to put appropriate educational provision in place. Leaders and staff knew that the situation was unacceptable but had not escalated their concerns to an appropriate person in the relevant placing authority. A requirement is made to address this shortfall.

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improvement to be good

Healthcare arrangements are good. Staff are proactive in ensuring that young people are registered with local services and supported to attend appointments. Staff have worked hard to develop good relationships with young people. One young person said, ‘I like the home and the staff are all alright.’ A social worker said, ‘[Name of young person] has been the most settled he has ever been. They have been fab with him. He likes it at the home and doesn’t want to move.’

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improvement to be good

Young people regularly access social opportunities and the staff encourage a wide range of positive activities. Young people go to the cinema, the local gym and have regular meetings where staff ask them for their views on food, activities and other matters that affect them. Young people are aware of the complaints procedure. One young person said, ‘I know how to complain; we have a grumbles book.’

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improvement to be good

The home promotes contact arrangements in line with the placing authority’s plans. Young people are encouraged to have positive appropriate friendships and relationships outside of the home, all of which increases their self-esteem and enhances their social development.

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improvement to be good

Young people say that they feel safe at the home. Risk assessments have been completed and updated to a good standard. Behaviour management plans are in place but young people do not benefit from key-working sessions to address their behaviour and encourage them to manage their feelings in a healthier and more socially acceptable manner. On one occasion, staff failed to de-escalate confrontation and the police were Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 8 called to the home. This could have resulted in a young person being unnecessarily criminalised. Physical intervention is used only as a last resort. On the two occasions that staff have intervened, they have made a record of the incident and this has been signed by the manager. There is no evidence that incidents have been de-briefed with staff or the young person involved, in the timescales outlined in regulation. Requirements are made to address these matters.

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improvement to be good

One young person made an allegation to her social worker. This information was passed to the designated officer in the placing authority. The registered manager was contacted and asked to provide information concerning a specific incident. While he was aware that an allegation had been made, he was uncertain as to the nature of the incident. He did not follow the procedures outlined in the company policy and the responsible individual was not informed and did not have sufficient oversight of the allegation to ensure that all parties were safeguarded while the matter was investigated. The manager failed to notify Ofsted, which did not give the regulator an opportunity to provide independent scrutiny. Requirements are made to address the shortfalls in regulation.

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improvement to be good

When young people have been missing from the home, staff have been proactive in trying to locate them and have followed in-depth missing-from-care plans to ensure that appropriate agencies were informed. Some instances of missing-from-home behaviour have been serious and, while effective action has been taken by leaders and staff and other agencies have been informed, the regulator was not informed. Incidents of young people going missing are slowly reducing. Independent return home interviews are requested and are taking place but the outcomes of those meetings are not recorded or evaluated to inform future practice. A best practice recommendation is made.

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improvement to be good

Staff have been proactive in making referrals to outside agencies for specialist support to safeguard young people and to educate them on the risks of child sexual exploitation and substance misuse. Young people have successfully engaged with these agencies and the leaders have plans to develop this further and provide informative sessions for young people with other local services. This is positive practice.

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improvement to be good

The physical environment in the home is modern, luxurious and very well-maintained. The home is comfortable, welcoming and homely. Staff have restricted access to some communal areas of the home to encourage young people to engage in education. This is not an appropriate strategy and a requirement is made to ensure that young people have access to all areas of the home unless there is a valid safeguarding reason.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The service is managed by an experienced and qualified leader. He is supported by a deputy manager who also has a wealth of appropriate experience and is working towards a social work qualification. Staff report that the service is well managed and they feel well supported in their roles. They receive regular supervision and have monthly team meetings. Most of the staff are experienced and have the appropriate level 3 qualifications in residential childcare. Staff present as knowledgeable and competent in their roles. Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 9 The statement of purpose for the home states that education is provided where children do not have formal arrangements in place. The home is not currently meeting this aim. There is a workforce development plan but it was not fully updated at the time of inspection. Some of the training had not been completed in a timely manner. For instance, five staff members had not received behaviour management training. A

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

recommendation and a requirement are made to address these leadership shortfalls. The current monitoring arrangements have failed to identify the breaches in regulation found during the inspection and therefore a requirement is made to ensure that leaders make the best use of monitoring systems. The independent visitor to the home does not make a direct conclusion as to whether they feel that children in the home are safeguarded and their well-being is promoted. A further requirement is made to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders are aware of many of the development areas at the home identified in this report and were already taking steps to address many of them at the time of the inspection. The manager states that he is committed to continuous improvement at the home and cited some of the difficulties as being related to the fact that this is a new service. Placing authorities and other partners have provided positive feedback about the service. They do feel that children are making some progress from their starting points. One social worker said, ‘They have done a brilliant job; [the young person’s] behaviour has improved a lot.’

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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: 1261138 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Bramhall Park Road, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 3DQ

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Inspector

Nicola Thomas, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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