Children's home run by Stockport Supported Accommodation Service in Stockport

Inspection report children‟s home: SC039070 1 SC039070 Registered provider: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority-operated home is registered to care for up to five children and young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 25 September 2015.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 July to 1 August 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC039070 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2017 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/11/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC039070 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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children‟s home‟s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children‟s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b), (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that, internally, the cracked paintwork in the bathrooms and communal areas is repainted. Externally, the damaged fencing and greenhouse need to be removed or repaired. 30/10/2018

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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— 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. (Regulation 12(1), (2)(a)(i)) 30/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out— how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children‟s home; and the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. 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”)— 30/10/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC039070 4 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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35(1)(a)(b), (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when the registered manager has been involved in a restraint of a young person an appropriate authorised person has reviewed the appropriateness of this measure of control. The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c)) 30/10/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC039070 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager‟s robust planning ensures that new admissions to the home are matched well to both the existing young people and the skills of the staff team. As a result, young people settle quickly. For some young people, the home affords their first real experience of stability and security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide young people with the encouragement, guidance and support to make progress in their social, emotional and behavioural development. For example, young people who were previously anxious and shy now engage in a variety of activities in the community. As a result, one young person has learned to make and sustain friendships with peers. This is a significant achievement for the young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people flourish because of the care and commitment that they experience from staff. For example, where needed, staff go into school to support those young people who are struggling to regulate their emotions. This ensures that young people can continue to access school and make academic progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person has not had an appropriate education provision in recent months. The registered manager has been proactive in addressing this. As a result, an appropriate education placement has now been identified for the young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people say that they like staff as they are fun and pleasant to be with. Staff are creative in how they engage young people. For example, one staff member‟s mystery bus rides provide young people with an alternative and entertaining way of spending one-to-one time with staff. Staff use such opportunities to develop relationships with young people and provide them with the chance to talk openly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is looking tired and in need of redecoration. Positively, some improvement work has already commenced. However, the paintwork throughout the house and the damaged radiators are in need of replacement. Outside, the broken greenhouse and damaged fences are unsightly. However, young people commented to the inspector that they like the house and do not feel that it needs to improve.

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

Staff have a good understanding of young people‟s vulnerabilities, and take the necessary actions to keep young people safe. Despite this, some risk assessments do not accurately reflect staff‟s knowledge about the young people or outline the strategies in place to protect them. This recording issue has not impacted upon the safeguarding of young people.

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

The home has experienced periods in which young people regularly have gone missing. Staff‟s response to such incidents has been proactive. Staff are effective at Inspection report children‟s home: SC039070 6 understanding the triggers of such incidents, which helps to inform staff‟s planning for how to manage these behaviours. As a result, the number of missing incidents has been reduced.

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

Staff involve young people in developing strategies to keep themselves safe. For example, young people identify their own incentives for making positive choices. One young person has been go-karting as a reward for not going missing for a month.

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

Staff use de-escalation and distraction techniques to good effect. This means that, in most instances, staff are able to help young people who are feeling anxious or frustrated to calm down. When staff use physical interventions, they are reflective and analytical about these incidents. In one example, a change in type of hold used by staff has resulted in physical interventions no longer being required.

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

In situations where the manager is involved in the physical restraint of a young person, there is no system in place to ensure that such incidents are reviewed by an alternative individual. Although this has not had any impact on young people, it potentially means that in some instances there is insufficient scrutiny of the physical interventions used.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is an impressive and knowledgeable leader who puts young people at the centre of everything that she does. The registered manager champions the needs of young people and acts as a strong advocate for them. For example, the registered manager challenges the local authority‟s care planning for some young people to ensure that they achieve the best possible outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager‟s responsibility for a second children‟s home has not impacted upon the effectiveness of her leadership of this home. Imminent changes to the structure of the management team will further enhance the leadership of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Changes to the staff team since the last inspection have not impacted upon the quality of care provided to young people. An improving training programme ensures that staff are provided with the skills and knowledge that they need to meet the needs of young people. The registered manager leads a team that shares her passion for ensuring that young people are safe, happy and able to make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a registered manager who is supportive and approachable yet able to constructively challenge them about their practice. Team meetings and supervision sessions provide suitable platforms for staff to consider and develop their consistent and reflective approach to caring for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In some instances, case records are not as clear and accurate as required. For example, the actions taken as part of the manager‟s medication audits are not clear. This has no direct impact on young people, but means that the records are incomplete. Inspection report children‟s home: SC039070 7

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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 difference 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: SC039070 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 3XE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jeanette Warburton

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Inspector

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC039070 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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