Children's home run by Oldham Children’s Social Care in Oldham

Inspection report children's home: SC035492 1 SC035492 Registered provider: Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This is a local authority children’s home. It provides short-break care and accommodation from Friday until Monday. At any given time, the home can accommodate up to four children and young people, including one emergency placement.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The staff also provide outreach services for children, young people and their families. The aim of this service is to prevent admissions into care and to support and improve family relationships.

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is managed by a registered manager who was registered by Ofsted in November 2018

p.1

Information about this children's home

Inspection dates: 19 to 20 December 2018

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 17 November 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC035492 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/10/2016 Full Outstanding 01/06/2016 Interim Not judged Inspection report children's home: SC035492 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Where there is a possibility that a child will run away or go missing from a children's home placement, their placement plan should include a strategy to minimise this risk. (‘Guide to the children's home regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.24)  The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission (‘Guide to the children's home regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.27) In particular, all missing from home risk assessments must include the details of the relevant people to contact should a child be missing from the home, including details of parents and/or guardians.  The information set out in the statement of purpose is an essential part of the process of agreement between the registered person and placing authority that a

p.3

Recommendations

placement in that home is the right one for that child, and that the home will be able to respond effectively to the child's assessed needs. Emergency admissions should not be taken unless the home's statement of purpose and its capacity and support system mean that it has the capability to care for children admitted at very short notice whilst continuing to offer high quality care to children already in the home (‘Guide to the children's home regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.6). In particular, consideration should be given to minimise disruption or cancellation to planned short-break arrangements when an emergency placement is offered.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people enjoy their short-break stay at the home. Outreach support provided by the staff has enabled families to stay together. The service is highly valued by professionals who work in close partnership with the staff team. This includes social workers, health and education professionals and the specialist child exploitation teams. Parents spoken with said that they have found the service to be very helpful for their child. One parent commented, ‘I cannot thank [Name] enough for the support provided to not only my child, but to the family as well. It has helped me to trust and work with professionals again without feeling judged.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The healthcare and educational needs of the children and young people remain the responsibility of their parents and carers. That said, staff work in partnership with healthcare professionals, schools and education providers to make sure that the overall needs of children and young people are consistently met. For example, staff attend Inspection report children's home: SC035492 4 education meetings and work with schools to engage children with attendance and attainment. Staff work with professionals from the substance misuse team and other specialist services to further enhance and support the children and young people.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Outreach work undertaken by the staff team has supported the children and young people in developing strategies to manage some complex and difficult behaviours. The work has also helped develop their social skills and promoted positive relationships with their families and friends.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people feel that their views are important. They feel listened to and fully involved in their plans. One young person said, ‘I like the support [Name] has given to me. He really listened to me and understood me.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are very keen to continue with the development of the service and to make sure that it has a clear and definitive role in the future. Staff work together to make sure that all plans for children and young people are not allowed to drift, and this promotes children and young people’s positive outcomes.

p.4

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

The safety and well-being of children and young people are central to the ethos of the home and the care practice of staff. Plans and risk assessments identify known risks, and most have strategies included to help minimise risk. However, not all placement plans clearly reflect the procedures and the people to notify if children and young people go missing from the home. That said, staff demonstrate a good knowledge of what action they are required to take when there have been incidents of missing. Staff have worked closely with parents, carers, police and social workers to ensure that the child or young person is returned safely.

p.4

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

Children and young people feel safe. Staff undertake highly individualised work with children and young people to help to equip them with the knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe. One young person said that they like the service because of the support and care provided. They said that they feel safe, can talk to staff about things and feel listened to. A parent commented, ‘The care that the staff have provided has been excellent. It has helped our child to have a greater understanding about safety and, as a result, the whole family have benefited from the support provided. I would recommend the service to other families.’

p.4

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

The manager and staff demonstrate a good understanding of the complexities of the children and young people accessing the service. Careful and considered impact and matching assessments are completed. However, on occasions, the need for an emergency placement has resulted in the cancellation of a short-break stay for some children and young people. Although alternative support is offered, this still has had an impact on a young person who was looking forward to their short break. Although this occurrence is rare, the manager continues to look at ways to avoid this happening. Inspection report children's home: SC035492 5 Children and young people’s behaviour is managed well. Consequences and sanctions are very rarely used. Instead, staff concentrate on positive rewards and praise and the use of clear and detailed behaviour management plans. These plans are reviewed every six weeks or sooner if required. This means that the information is up to date and

p.4

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

supports the effectiveness of the strategies in place. One parent said, ‘Myself and my child have a better understanding about how we both feel and how to deal with different issues. The support we have received has been great and made a real difference.’

p.5

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

The manager ensures that all health and safety matters are adhered to through regular monitoring. This means that the home environment is safe and comfortable for children, young people, staff and anyone accessing the service.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2018. She has experience of working with children and young people in short-break services, having been a deputy manager and residential childcare worker in another children’s home in the local authority. She is currently completing her level 5 qualification to further enhance her skills and continue her professional development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported in her role by an experienced deputy manager and an established staff team. Together, they have an excellent understanding of the needs of the children and young people, and this is reflected in the positive comments and views from parents and professionals. One social worker said, ‘The staff are excellent at providing supportive, creative and direct work with children and their families. I have been very impressed with the work undertaken by the staff. The service has maintained children with their families and helped them through periods of crisis.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel exceptionally well supported by the manager. They have been through a period without a registered manager and although the deputy manager acted in an interim capacity, staff said that they feel that the stability of a permanent manager enhances their work. Staff all receive monthly supervision, which enables them to discuss their work and reflect on their practice. Training is completed within agreed timeframes, and all staff hold the required qualifications in childcare. This means that children are supported by suitably qualified, experienced and dedicated staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager undertakes detailed monitoring to make sure that the home is meeting the agreed aims and objectives. When shortfalls are identified, action is taken to rectify these. Further monitoring is provided by an independent visitor each month. The manager responds to any actions raised and finds the role of the independent visitor invaluable in making sure that the service continues to provide high standards of care and support.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

As a result of this inspection, three recommendations have been raised in relation to missing from home risk assessments and ensuring, wherever possible, that planned short-break stays to the home are not cancelled for children and young people. Inspection report children's home: SC035492 6

p.5

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 works 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.

p.6

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: SC035492 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham OL1 1UT

p.7

Inspector

Sarah Oldham, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC035492 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8