Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Blackburn with Darwen

Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 1 SC467268 Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. It is registered to give care and accommodation for five young people who may have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 15 to 16 November 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

Date of last inspection: 18 October 2017

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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: SC467268 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/10/2017 Full Good 01/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/10/2016 Full Good 23/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring that an impact risk assessment is completed for each new referral to the home and that the young person’s impact risk assessment considers the safer area report, to ensure that the area is safe for them. 31/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 31/12/2018

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) This is specifically in relation to ensuring that the record is clear, so that duplicate sanctions are not used. This is also so that young people have the opportunity to comment on the sanction given.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 4 the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) This is specifically in relation to describing the behaviour observed and not using jargon within the young people’s records.

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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)

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) This is specifically in relation to reviewing the scaffolding risk assessment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive good care that is making a positive difference in their lives. Staff’s strong relationships with a range of external professionals mean that young people receive well-planned care that promotes improved outcomes across all aspects of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a home that is nurturing and caring. One young person said, ‘It is great here.’ Four social workers commented on the excellent care given and the good progress that the young people have made. One social worker said, ‘He has made measurable progress and I could not ask for a better placement for him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person has recently come to live in this home. The manager received useful information about the vulnerabilities of the young person and the manager made sure that they met the young person before he came to live at the home. However, the impact risk assessment does not address all the identified concerns and how the home can fully meet the young person’s needs. Similarly, another young person was due to be admitted to the home in the week of the inspection. The manager again made sure that he had the referral information from the local authority and that he had visited the young person. However, the manager agreed to take the young person without formally completing an impact risk assessment. The manager could not evidence how he had considered the impact and risks for each young person, or how he had concluded that the young people were compatible. Further to this, the manager did not use the safer

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

location area report to see whether the location of the home posed any risks to the young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are in good health because they attend all their healthcare appointments. Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 5 Some young people have extra help from specialised health professionals. This extra support helps them with their emotional health and well-being. One young person said, ‘I am less angry now. I can deal with things and I know when to walk away.’ Two social workers commented on the secure and stable environment of the home that has allowed the young people to talk about their past trauma. This high level of therapeutic support has provided the young people with a strong platform that is supporting them to overcome past difficulties, develop a positive self-view and increase their emotional resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people attend the company school, which is situated on the same grounds as the home. Before coming to this home, all the young people had little or sporadic attendance at school. The routines and structures in the home support attendance at school. As a result, all the young people attend regularly, and they are making good progress from their starting points. One young person said, ‘I am doing well at school and I want to be a welder on an oil rig when I am older.’ All the social workers commented on the excellent progress that the young people have made in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are highly active and enjoy most sports. The home has a football pitch and basketball court. The young people enjoy spending time playing on them during their school breaks and after school. In addition to this, young people enjoy BMX bike- riding, walking and go-karting. They also enjoy relaxing and watching a film or playing on a games console.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are being prepared for becoming independent. For example, they are routinely involved in shopping, helping to prepare meals, doing their laundry and helping with chores in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm, welcoming and has recently been redecorated. The exterior of the home is being painted and scaffolding has been erected. There is a good risk assessment that details the safety concerns related to this. However, two young people have tried to climb up this structure and the risk assessment has not been reviewed or updated to reflect this. This does not sufficiently ensure the safety of young people.

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

The young people are very positive about the care that they receive, and they say that they feel safe living in this home. Young people have built strong and trusting relationships with staff, who listen to them and invest time in them daily. Young people were confident that they could talk to any member of staff if they were worried or felt unsafe. This is clear from the information shared by young people with staff about past traumas.

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

There have been no safeguarding incidents that have needed to be notified to external agencies. Staff receive regular training in several safeguarding areas, such as county lines, whistleblowing, safe removal of ligatures and child sexual exploitation. As a result, staff confidently discussed their roles with the inspector about the action they would take if an incident were to occur. Further to this, young people have covered subjects, Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 6 such as gang culture, drugs and county lines, within education. This approach means that the young people are aware of issues that may affect them and how to seek the help that they may need.

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

There have been a few occasions when the young people have gone missing from the home when they have been out on an activity. Staff follow the local authority’s missing from care protocol. They search local or known areas and keep professionals and parents informed. An independent visitor undertakes return home interviews, but the home’s documentation does not include this information. This does not help ensure that the staff are aware of the reasons why the young person went missing and what changes, if any, they can make to their practice to prevent future occurrences.

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

The positive behaviour of young people is continually promoted and rewarded. Physical intervention is used, but only ever to keep young people or others safe from harm. Records show that members of staff revisit the incident with the young person, and this gives them the opportunity to discuss what happened and how it can be avoided in the future. Any information obtained is recorded in the young person’s behaviour management plan. These practices allow members of staff to reflect on their involvement and it means that the young people’s views are respected.

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

In general, the young people undertake a chore when they have displayed unacceptable behaviour. However, the sanction record is not clear because it does not say what the chore is or whether it was completed. Further to this, there is no information about the young person’s behaviour before the incident. Some entries use jargon, such as ‘winding each other up’, and some entries look as if there are two sanctions for one incident. For example, one young person was given a 24-hour car ban, which then meant he could not go on a planned activity. Similarly, the positive reward book just says that the young person has had a positive day rather than explaining what was different or positive about the young person’s day. The record also lacks a section for the young people to comment on their view about the sanction.

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

The company follows safer recruitment guidance. All checks are completed and verified to make sure that members of staff are suitable to work with young people. Regular health and safety checks mean that the home is physically safe and secure. However, not all staff have completed a fire evacuation, which means that they may not know what to do in an emergency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced and suitably qualified manager manages the home. He maintains good oversight of the home and works alongside the staff with young people. This means that he can see and evaluate the staff’s practice and relationships with young people. The manager also receives added support from the previous manager who still works at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose sets out the ethos and objectives of the home and it is kept under regular review. Professionals confirm that they are given a copy of the statement Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 7 of purpose and that they receive regular reports about young people’s care. Generally, the young people’s records are well maintained and up to date. However, staff too often use broad statements, such as ‘aggressive’ when referring to young people’s behaviour rather than explaining the actual behaviour. This lack of detail in the recording is not helpful in understanding the context of the incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work collaboratively with a range of agencies and professionals who are involved in young people’s care. When services have been slow or not available, the manager has challenged these shortfalls effectively. For example, he has chased late personal education plans. This proactive approach means that the manager and staff have the necessary documents and information to support young people well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good levels of staffing mean that the young people’s needs are well met. Staff show a real commitment to their role and speak proudly of the young people’s achievements and progress. One member of staff said, ‘I want them to have every opportunity that my child does, and I will help them to achieve this.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most of the staff hold a relevant level 3 childcare qualification. Some staff have continued with their learning and hold a higher-level qualification. New staff, should they not hold the recognised qualification, are enrolled on the course after their induction. The staff receive good support through regular supervision, appraisals, training and staff meetings. They continue to broaden their knowledge through additional training, such as attachment survival, understanding bullying and canoe safety. Further to this, topics, such as deprivation of liberty orders, county lines and autism spectrum disorders have been discussed at staff meetings. This proactive approach to continued professional development and good oversight of staff practice means that the staff have the skills and knowledge to care for the young people well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and reviewing systems at the home help the manager to identify any shortfalls, as well as areas for development or good practice. Therefore, the manager can take appropriate action to improve the service and celebrate good practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the last inspection, the manager was asked to ensure that the statement of purpose was kept under review; that young people received a debriefing after a restraint; that the environment is homely; that consent is gained for the use of CCTV; that staff should actively risk-assess the risks for each child; and that return interviews are completed consistently. These have all been completed. The manager keeps the statement of purpose under review. The young people receive a debriefing after a restraint. Therefore, they can express their views. The home no longer uses CCTV. Good risk assessments show the vulnerabilities of each young person and return interviews are completed. However, return home interviews are not recorded in the necessary documents, and therefore this recommendation has been repeated.

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 8 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: SC467268 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Pam Nuckley, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 10 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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