Children's home run by Care 4 Children Holdco Limited in Stockport

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240803 1 Registered provider: Care 4 Children Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new home manager in place who is not registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection visit, two young people have been discharged from the home and two have been admitted. The dates of discharge could not be accurately ascertained as the admissions and discharge book could not be located.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Over the last 10 months preceding this inspection, there have been changes in managers and deputy managers. Three managers have been appointed, the most recent being appointed six weeks prior to this inspection taking place. The lack of managerial stability has contributed to many of the previous requirements and recommendations not being met. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240803 2 Management review of the quality of care provided to young people has not been completed within timescales as laid out in regulation, and the supervision of staff has not been kept in line with the company’s policies and expectations. This means that practice in the home has gone unchecked.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The newly appointed manager is aware of the shortfalls and is committed to addressing them. Since the last inspection, notifications have been appropriately made to Ofsted and the staff no longer inappropriately use monetary sanctions to manage young people’s behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, young people attend and enjoy their education, with one young person achieving a full attendance record. However, on the occasions when young people refuse to attend, there are no expectations currently in place for staff to provide educationally based work or activities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have made progress since joining the home, with regards to incidents of missing from home and engagement with therapeutic services. When young people are absent from the home without permission or there are incidents of missing, staff are very active in ensuring that they remain in contact and go searching for young people. However, young people are not consistently offered the opportunity of a return home interview, nor is there a system in place to gather and utilise the information obtained via these interviews.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are individualised to reflect young people’s behaviours. However, actions for staff to reduce some risks are not always clear. There have been some incidents of bullying among young people and these have not been appropriately addressed by staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The scoring system that staff use to reflect young people’s risk-taking does not always reflect the behaviours exhibited. For example, scores in some instances have not increased in line with increased incidents of drug misuse.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Opportunities to better support young people’s emotional health have been missed. There have been gaps in clinical support and input. Additionally, staff have not been trained in areas reflecting some young people’s current needs, such as bereavement. Support from the company’s mentor has been reactionary rather than proactive. This is not commensurate with the risks that some young people present.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some staff who were trained in the areas of drug misuse and the use of ligature scissors are no longer working at the home. This has depleted the knowledge and skills base among staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last full inspection, a number of staff have left the home. This has reduced the level of stable and reliable care offered to young people. The quality of relationships between staff and young people is variable. Some young people expressed opinions of liking and trusting the staff. Others, however, expressed frustration at the number of Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240803 3 staff who have come and gone from the home and feelings of inconsistency with rules and boundaries.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records regarding managerial responses and actions with regards to complaints and allegations are incomplete. Some allegations have not been dealt with in a timely manner and have not been fully explored, nor have the issues been resolved.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Opportunities to work with other agencies have been missed. For example, none of the young people have been referred to the local drugs and alcohol service, nor have staff had the opportunity to learn from this specialist service.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home operates a smoking reduction programme and there are significant benefits to reducing young people’s smoking, with a view to ceasing altogether. However, the programme is controversial. This is because staff at the home purchase the tobacco to be used in the programme. Amendments made to legislation by virtue of section 91 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (purchase of tobacco etc. on behalf of persons under 18) add references to ‘nicotine products’ and provide a definition of a ‘relevant nicotine product’, and make it an offence for a person aged 18 or over to purchase a nicotine product on behalf of a person under 18.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has suffered from some damage, and in certain areas is worn and shabby looking. This impacts on an otherwise welcoming and homely ambience in the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2018 Full Good 31/10/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/10/2016 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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. 30/04/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240803 4 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; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2) (a) (i) (ii)) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1) (2) (a) (c)) 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1) (b)) 30/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(1)(3)) 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 30/03/2019

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that worn areas of the home are repainted and repaired to ensure a welcoming, homely feel.

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Recommendations

 The development of safe, stable and secure relationships with staff in the home should be central to the ethos of the home and support the development of Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240803 5 secure attachments that, where appropriate, persist over time. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that staff supervision is delivered within the company’s expectations.

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Recommendations

 No children’s home will be able to meet, on its own, all of a child’s needs. It is crucial that the home works in close partnership with all those who play a role in protecting and caring for the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3)

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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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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240803 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care 4 Children Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Pauline Yates, social care inspector Dawn Parton, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1240803 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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