Children's home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC034108 1 SC034108 Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

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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 local authority children’s home provides long-term and short-break care for up to six children who may have physical and/or learning disabilities. The home is run by a qualified and highly experienced registered manager who is supported by a qualified and consistent staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 6 September 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC034108 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/09/2017 Full Good 20/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/07/2016 Full Outstanding 16/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC034108 3

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Recommendations

 Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) This is with specific regard to completing the ongoing refurbishment work, providing an established staff team and completing the planned transition of young people from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last full inspection in September 2017, three young people have moved on from the service. Two young people made a positive transition into adult services and one young person has been successfully fostered. Two young people remain in placement and are accompanied by two young people who access the short-break service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people live in a happy, relaxed and comfortable environment. They form excellent relationships with staff who genuinely have their best interests at heart. Young people view this service as their home. They have been active in the redevelopment of the home’s sensory garden and the design and decoration of their bedrooms. A young person said, ‘I love it here. I like the staff and I really like the food and my bedroom.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Daily routines are clear and consistently followed by staff. Young people understand their routine and are able to pre-empt each stage of their day. Because of this, young people develop in confidence and security. A social worker for a short-break child commented, ‘He loves coming to this home. He already knows the home’s routines and really enjoys time with staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Care planning is outstanding. Young people have clear targets, such as learning to wash and dress themselves, traffic awareness, eating independently and developing safe kitchen skills. Staff utilise the expertise of external health agencies, such as the occupational therapist and clinical nursing team, to assist them in the development of Inspection report children’s home: SC034108 4 each plan. Targets are regularly reviewed and further developed to correspond with the progress young people make. A social worker stated, ‘My young person has been very well cared for with a high level of professional and genuine care.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Educational attendance and attainment is excellent. Young people attend the most appropriate schools and receive a high level of individual support. A teacher commented, ‘The staff have done an amazing job with this young person; he has come on leaps and bounds.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff form trusting relationships with families and ensure that contact is maintained and supported. They are welcomed to the home to enjoy mealtimes with their child and activities. Likewise, families are provided with lots of helpful guidance to ensure that a consistent approach is maintained at all times. A parent said, ‘I truly appreciate what the staff have done for my son. He has come on so much. It is time for him to move on now and both of us will miss the staff greatly.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The registered manager and staff are committed to ensuring that the young people are included in home life. Consequently, young people are supported to try out and take part in as many fun activities as possible, for example, trampolining, drama, dance and swimming. Staff also promote young people’s attendance within community groups such as Girl Guides and cadets. This means young people make friendships and feel part of the community in which they live.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Consultation with young people takes place on a daily basis. Bespoke communication aids are developed to enable young people to express their views, wishes and feelings. It is clear that staff communicate exceptionally well with young people. However, young people’s meetings are not consistently carried out. In part, this is because some young people have moved on. The registered manager should now re-evaluate the group and ensure that regular young people’s meetings take place and are recorded. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The safety and protection of young people are exceptionally well managed. Up-to-date risk assessments are developed in consultation with social workers and the clinical nursing team to ensure that all eventualities are considered. Young people are cared for on a one-to-one basis and additional staff are available at all times.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Although there have not been any instances of young people going missing from the home, missing from care risk assessments and action plans are in place. This precautionary measure means that staff are vigilant and ensure the continued protection of young people resident in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All staff are trained in the use of physical intervention. A staff member said, ‘We use the 95% rule. This means we work through the de-escalation and redirection plans for young people in order to avoid the use of a physical intervention.’ Records confirm that, on the whole, de-escalation techniques are successful and the use of intervention is Inspection report children’s home: SC034108 5 minimal. Where behaviours have escalated, the home maintains a detailed record which is shared with health professionals in order to re-evaluate behaviour management techniques as appropriate.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There are no child protection concerns within the home. The registered manager maintains close links with the designated officer, who said, ‘I have no concerns at all about this children’s home.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Behaviour management plans are developed in partnership with health and educational professionals. This means that a consistent approach to all behaviours is applied at all times. Young people receive sanctions which are fair and proportionate and suitable to their age and understanding. Likewise, young people receive consistent praise and reward for good behaviour and the excellent progress they make towards their individual goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a registered manager who has worked within the home for over 33 years. She has a wealth of experience within the field of physical and learning disabilities and is qualified to level 5. She is well supported by senior care staff and a very experienced staff team. A social worker said, ‘Staff consistently work over and above in order to meet young people’s needs.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The work undertaken with the young people accommodated in the home is based on two theoretical frameworks: attachment theory and the social model of disability. Using these theories enables the staff to plan the care of young people taking into account the impact of life experiences and abilities. Staff work hard to ensure that young people are included and offered experiences and life chances comparable with their peers. This positive and proactive response enables young people to grow in confidence and self- esteem and try out new opportunities, gaining a true sense of achievement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose, and young people, social workers and families are clear about the service and support the home provides.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Exceptional internal and external monitoring systems provide the home with a clear approach to the overall monitoring of care. These detailed records highlight areas for development, including the full refurbishment of the home, which is now underway, and the further recruitment of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home employs a highly committed and enthusiastic staff team, whose members are all qualified to level 3. The training of staff at this level ensures that they are suitably qualified in the care and management of young people. Likewise, staff receive consistent and relevant training in the home. A clinical nurse said, ‘The registered manager always contacts the team when there is a new referral to the home. We provide bespoke training to all staff prior to a new admission. This makes sure that staff have a good understanding of the young person’s needs.’ A staff member said, ‘Training is really Inspection report children’s home: SC034108 6 good. We have face-to-face and online training.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff help young people understand the fire evacuation procedures. Regular tests are undertaken and this helps young people to not be alarmed or scared, but to safely evacuate the building with their named staff member. Staff have a grab bag set up which includes a charged mobile phone with relevant contact numbers, spare car keys and medication where appropriate. This means that in the event of a fire, staff and young people are able to vacate the home quickly and safely and have priority items to hand.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive consistent support from the manager. A staff member said, ‘Things are great. The registered manager has a vault of knowledge which she shares with all the team.’ This strong, committed and skilled team aspires and achieves consistent, positive outcomes for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff demonstrate commitment to developing and improving practice. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the progress young people make from their initial starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is aware of the procedure for notifying Ofsted of incidents under regulation 40. The home has a good record of submitting notifications accordingly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

At the last inspection in September 2017, three requirements and five recommendations were made to improve practice within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has made good progress in addressing the requirements. A bedroom for one noisy young person has now been soundproofed. This means his noise levels now have less impact on other residents in the home. Behaviour management systems are improved. Although minimal, sanctions are fair and consistent and do not include excessive financial penalties. The registered manager has developed a protocol for staff in the event of a serious event or concern. This means that staff contact the most appropriate people as a matter of priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

To address the recommendations from the last inspection, missing from home risk assessments and action plans have been developed to ensure that staff respond appropriately in the event of a young person being missing or absent. Records of physical intervention have been completely revised. Records now include the range of de-escalation techniques used to address behaviours and include the full debrief with the young person and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has addressed the previous concern regarding the consistency of staffing. Two vacancies have been filled, which means that the current staffing arrangements for the young people receiving the service is consistent and suitable. The local authority has ceased additional placements in the home until the refurbishment is complete, further vacancies are filled and the planned transition of a young person to adult services has taken place. Inspection report children’s home: SC034108 7 The registered manager has further developed the scrutiny and overview of records in the home, with particular regard to behaviour management. Additionally, she has worked closely with adult care providers to ensure that young people moving on from her care are placed in the most suitable placements.

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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: SC034108 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, The District Centre, Town Hall, Market Street, Hyde SK14 1AL

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC034108 9 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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