Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240843 1

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Care 4 Children Holdco Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice under regulation 12 was served following a monitoring visit to the home on 24 January 2018. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to monitor the actions taken by the provider to meet that compliance notice. At the monitoring visit on 24 January, a number of concerns were found relating to: risk assessments and placement plans lacking the necessary detail to safeguard young people effectively; staff failing to be alert to conflicts between young people; strategies for staff being unclear about how to eliminate the risks of conflicts, such as aggressive behaviour and bullying between young people; and a lack of detail in behaviour management plans about triggers and strategies for staff to follow relating to de-escalation techniques for individual young people. This visit found that placement plans and risk assessments have been updated to reflect the needs of the young people living at the home. These now detail all

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This monitoring visit

relevant information pertaining to young people’s histories, agreed care arrangements and current risk factors. All these factors have been shared with staff and the relevant placing authorities. During the visit, the registered manager and staff demonstrated a good insight into the current risks affecting young people. Where necessary, specialist input has been sourced from outside agencies, and staff are providing tailored support to young people. This is provided through regular key-worker sessions to address concerns such as criminality, anger and anxiety-related issues. These sessions are helping young people to develop an awareness of the impact of their criminal behaviour on others and, therefore, reducing the risk of them being marginalised in society. The Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240843 2 key-worker sessions are also encouraging young people to manage their anger more

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This monitoring visit

appropriately without resorting to violence. The registered manager has implemented a revised system, namely the triangulation checklist that ensures that staff capture in the records all relevant information pertaining to any incidents of concern. Staff share this information during staff handovers and update risk assessments as appropriate. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of this revised practice and report that they are now working more consistently as a team, resulting in improved lines of communication and accountability, thus contributing to keeping young people safe. The registered manager and staff demonstrated a good awareness of young people being at possible risk from relationships with their peers. Since the previous monitoring visit, there has been a new admission. Reports from the registered manager indicate that this young person has settled well. At the time of the visit, he was in school. The young person has engaged well with staff during key-worker

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This monitoring visit

sessions about bullying, thus empowering him to speak up should he encounter this, either in or outside the placement. There are no known bullying issues between the two young people currently placed at the home. However, should there be, staff are confident that key-worker sessions would be undertaken quickly to prevent a reoccurrence. Both young people have created their own anti-bullying posters, have signed up to an anti-bullying charter, and have completed related questionnaires. Through this positive engagement, young people are receiving clear messages that bullying will not be tolerated. Staff are reinforcing these messages through forums such as young people’s weekly meetings. Staff themselves have attended refresher training on anti-bullying and have re-read the anti-bullying policy and signed it to confirm that they will adhere to this in practice. Systems are now in place that staff use to monitor, supervise and identify young

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This monitoring visit

people’s risk-taking behaviour. As a result, staff are taking timely action to protect young people when there are concerns for their safety, for example the completion of key-work sessions on the dangers of taking drugs. Staff are more alert to the triggers for young people’s behaviour and these are now reflected in young people’s risk assessments and behaviour management support plans. There are ongoing challenges relating to one young person in particular. However, staff are showing good resilience and perseverance in managing conflict without the need to resort to physical intervention. Staff reinforce the positives with young people in the form of rewards where it is deserved, but stand firm when they need to. This visit has also taken into account the last regulation 44 independent visitor report, dated 25 January 2018, which comments on how effectively young people are being safeguarded in the home.

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This monitoring visit

In conclusion, the provider has taken all necessary steps to comply with the notice under regulation 12. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240843 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240843 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, 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

13: The leadership and management standard 15/02/2018 14: The care planning standard 15/02/2018

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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 the previous monitoring inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care 4 Children Holdco Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Michael Charnley, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240843 5 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 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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