Children's home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 1 SC064858 Registered provider: Salford City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This short-term reception home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides a police and criminal evidence bed for young people, irrespective of gender and aged from 10 to 17 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2007.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 11 September 2018

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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 required improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is a short-term reception home, working towards young people returning to the care of their families or moving on to long-term residential placements. At the time of this inspection, three young people are living at the home. Since the last inspection, there is a mixed picture in terms of overall progress and experiences for young people. One young person who moved to the home in an emergency continues to engage in unsafe and criminal behaviour that has resulted in their being further criminalised and moving to a secure provision. However, there is good evidence of the risk-taking Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 2 behaviours of another young person reducing since they moved to the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two young people who have been admitted to the home since the last inspection are making steady progress. One young person has good attendance at school, and the other young person’s attendance has increased relative to their starting point. However, one young person often refuses to attend. The manager and staff are working with education professionals to address this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, young people who go missing from the home are protected in line with agreed individual protocols. Staff try to maintain phone contact with those young people who are unsupervised in the community. When they fail to return on time, staff follow agreed missing from care protocols. One young person is regularly reported missing from the home because they prefer to spend time away from the home with their friends and often return late. More needs to be done to encourage the young person to engage in more exciting and stimulating activities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, six requirements and a recommendation were made, and all have been addressed. Improvements in records, including risk assessments, ensure that strategies put in place to manage young people’s risks are followed by all the staff. Ofsted has received copies of the independent visitor’s reports and the statement of purpose. This enables the regulator to be kept fully up to date with any changes to the home between inspections.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement made in relation to complaints has been met. There have been three complaints made since the last inspection. Records show that these have been fully investigated and resolved. However, one young person spoken to during the inspection told the inspector that there have been times when they have not always felt listened to. A recommendation is raised to help with this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff rarely use physical intervention and are well trained in behaviour management. However, the physical intervention records do not meet regulations. For example, records do not always provide an explanation of the build-up to an incident, techniques used to de-escalate a situation, the holds used and whether a debrief with the young person has taken place. This hinders the effective monitoring of physical interventions to ensure safe practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers use the findings from previous inspections and the independent person’s visits to help improve the service. The number of emergency placements has significantly reduced over time. This has led to a more settled home. In addition, there have been improvements to the environment, including a new kitchen, new carpets and redecoration throughout. This means that young people live in a home that is more homely and welcoming. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/05/2018 Full Inadequate 14/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

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’)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and 08/03/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 4 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. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Recommendations

 Staff should encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Children must be able to take up issues or make a complaint with support and without any fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Regulation 39 sets out the requirements on the registered person to have a complaints procedure. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)  The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Staff should support children to take part in school trips, out of school and other clubs, volunteering and leisure activities. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality

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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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 5DA

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Inspector

Michelle Bacon: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 6 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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