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

Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 1 SC035339

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Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children‘s home is owned and managed by a local authority. The home can accommodate seven children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. One part of the home is in an adjoining annexe and is available to young people who have lived at the home for a period of time, to help them gain skills in living semi- independently in preparation to leave care.

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This monitoring visit

On 17 July 2019, an interim inspection concluded that the home had declined in effectiveness. Two compliance notices under regulation 12 and regulation 13 were issued following this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit has been completed to review the registered provider‘s progress in meeting the two compliance notices. The requirements raised at the last inspection have not been considered on this occasion.

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This monitoring visit

Following the interim inspection, the registered provider reviewed the care plans for all young people. A decision was made that all young people would leave the home. Some young people have returned to live with family members and other young people have moved to new placements. There are no young people currently living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered provider has taken this opportunity to start to refurbish the home. It was reported that this will take at least four weeks. Young people will not be admitted to the home until this is completed.

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This monitoring visit

The registered provider has put in place an action plan to meet both the compliance notices and requirements raised at the last inspection. This plan includes the Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 2 recruitment of additional staff for the home and a programme of training for staff.

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This monitoring visit

A new head of service been appointed to improve the leadership over the children‘s homes. There is a plan for him to be the new responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

The registered provider has taken action to plan the areas of improvement required. However, planned actions have yet to be completed. Because of this, it is not yet possible to conclude that the compliance notices raised under regulation 12 and regulation 13 have been met. Both notices will be reissued. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/07/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 21/11/2018 Full Good 05/10/2017 Full Good 20/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 4

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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—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children‘s home‘s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children‘s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation (6)(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the damaged freezer and dining chairs should be replaced or repaired. Redecoration of the home should be completed including to marked and damaged walls, doors and ceilings. The greenhouse and shed should be made safe and either removed or repaired. 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The children‘s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children‘s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff— 16/08/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 5 ascertain and consider each child‘s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child‘s best interests when making decisions about the child‘s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child‘s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home‘s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i) (ii)(iii)(iv)) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child‘s education and training targets, as recorded in the child‘s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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 staff— 16/08/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 6 meet each child‘s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child‘s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children‘s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i))ix)(x)) * The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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)(a)(i)(iii)(b)(d)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‘s home that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 16/08/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 7 ensure that the home‘s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(e)(h)) The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children‘s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(ii)) 16/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‘s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home‘s records (except for a child‘s case records, unless the child and the child‘s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (―the independent person‘s report‖) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‘s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children‘s well-being. 16/08/2019 Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 8 The independent person‘s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 9

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children‘s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Mrs Oldham, social care inspector Inspection report for children‘s home – monitoring visit: SC035339 11 to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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