Children's Home run by New Horizons (Stockport) Limited in Bury

Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 1 Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is currently being operated without a registered manager. A recently appointed manager is in the final stages of her application for registration to Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be 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: 20 February 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/09/2018 Full Good 30/01/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1)) Specifically, ensure that the detail contained in the statement accurately reflects the service provided in the home. 15/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of a complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) Specifically, ensure that a log is maintained of all complaints received in the home. 15/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must 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 risks of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(2)(a)(i)) Specifically, ensure that steps are taken to search for young people who may be missing, and/or follow a young person should they leave the home at an inappropriate hour. 15/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent person produces a report which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether, (a) children are effectively safeguarded) and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) Specifically, reports must provide an accurate reflection of the home. Where amendments are made, an updated report must be forwarded to Ofsted. 15/11/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(4)(a)) Specifically, staff must be provided with training relating to the complex needs of young people prior to the young people being 15/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 4 admitted to the home.

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Recommendations

 Staff should understand what they must do to prevent bullying of children by other children or adults. Staff should be able to recognise and address different types of abuse such as peer abuse, cyber bullying and bullying in the day-to-day relationships in the home. Registered persons must ensure that procedures for dealing with allegations of bullying are in place and staff have the skills required to intervene, protect and address bullying behaviours effectively (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.16). Specifically, the registered person must maintain records of all incidents of bullying behaviour that include how this is addressed and monitored.  Where children placed in the home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that

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Recommendations

the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must challenge them to meet the child’s needs under regulation 5. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  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 the 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,

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Recommendations

paragraph 9.30)  Children should be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation process. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listed to and acted upon (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11). Specifically, ensure that the records of young people’s meetings include the outcomes of any suggestions made.  All children’s case records must be kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and must be signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3).

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Recommendations

Specifically, ensure that records are updated where changes have been made to the day-to-day care of the young person. Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, four young people have moved on from the home. One young person returned to live with his family and three young people were placed in alternative accommodation as it was felt that the home could no longer meet their presenting needs. At the time of the inspection the home is providing care and accommodation for four new young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The new manager has worked hard to develop care plans in the home. As such, residential care planning is good. Young people and staff work together to identify and prioritise individual achievable goals, which are regularly reviewed and updated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions are further developed and are now consistently undertaken with young people. Sessions are planned and relevant to young people’s targets and this helps them to see the progress they make towards their identified goals. Therefore, young people feel they have some control over their lives. One young person said, ‘I really like it here. I like the staff and I feel settled here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most young people make suitable progress in their education. Staff work well with the headteacher of the local authority’s virtual school to ensure that young people are provided with the best opportunities and resources. As a result, one young person has gained a college placement to study hair and beauty, a second young person attends a local secondary school and a third young person currently receives in-house tuition. However, the home has encountered some difficulties in gaining funding from one local authority for a fourth young person. This has resulted in delays in enrolling him in a suitable education placement. The manager has challenged this concern, but has not escalated it to senior managers. The manager must ensure that any delay in securing an educational placement is suitably challenged to avoid young people having prolonged periods without structured education. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between young people and staff are good. On the whole, observations highlighted the relaxed atmosphere in the home and the banter shared between everyone present. Young people are happy, confident and eager to share their views and opinions about the home. One young person said, ‘Although I don’t get along with everybody all of the time, I like it here. Staff are helping me, and I am not getting involved in things I used to get involved in.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy structured contact with family and friends. Contact plans are agreed between young people, families and placing authorities to ensure that contact is valuable and positive for the young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people confirmed that their views and opinions are sought and respected. Records evidence that staff listen to young people and enable them to understand that their contribution is important. Regular young people’s meetings take place. One young Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 6 person said, ‘We have house meetings which are good because we do most of our planning there. We plan menus, activities and anything we want to talk about.’ However, records do not include what action is taken to address any of the suggestions made by young people during the meetings. Such records would enable young people to see how their ideas have been implemented. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people confirmed that they are provided with a range of information prior to and upon admission to the home. Young people are helped to understand how things work at the home through the information they receive on areas such as individual rights and how to make a complaint, and through a guide to the running of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A wide range of recreational activities are available to young people. Young people are supported to take on the challenge and try out new activities, either individually or as a group. They develop in confidence and enjoy regular activities, such as going trampolining and swimming, and going to museums, football practice, theme parks and beaches. Photographs displayed in the home capture valuable experiences and the memories young people make at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On the whole, records pertaining to young people’s care are suitably maintained. However, some records are not consistently updated and therefore information may no longer be relevant, which can be misleading. The manager must ensure that only relevant information is contained in the plans. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a beautifully maintained and spacious home. The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard.

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improvement to be good

Since the employment of the new manager there has been a consistent reduction in risk- taking behaviours. Risk assessments are reviewed and, on the whole, include the most relevant information. However, there are areas that require attention in order for the service to be carrying out good, consistent safeguarding practice.

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improvement to be good

There have been occasions when young people have been missing from home. Although staff have taken action to report the young person as missing, there is no evidence of staff intervening to stop the missing episode from happening or reduce its impact. Furthermore, records do not state whether staff have followed the young person or indeed searched the local area. In order for the home to actively safeguard young people who may have a history of absenting themselves from the home, the risk management plan must include the actions to be taken by staff to minimise risk. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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improvement to be good

Return home interviews are not consistently undertaken. Those that have been completed are not held on file and do not include any information that may be pertinent Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 7 to the continued risk management of young people. Moving forward, the manager must ensure that return home interviews take place, and that the person conducting the interviews understands the relevance of gaining information on the young person’s time away from home. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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improvement to be good

Young people are aware of their right to complain, and know who they can contact if they are unhappy or concerned about their care. Since the last inspection, there have been four complaints made by the young people. However, some complaint records lack sufficient detail and do not include all discussions, investigations and outcomes. In addition, a log of all complaints made by young people is not available in the home. This means that there is no reference point to new and old complaints in order for the manager to review any patterns or trends. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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improvement to be good

All staff have received up-to-date training on the use of physical intervention and de- escalation techniques. All forms of physical intervention, such as guiding the young person and/or holding their hand, are suitably recorded and include both a staff and a young person debrief. The use of physical intervention is a consistent area for discussion during staff meetings and individual staff supervision. This enhances the reflective practice being developed by the new manager.

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improvement to be good

Staff are alert to signs of bullying and follow behaviour management plans in order address any concerns that arise in the home. However, there are occasions when a young person’s behaviour can be intimidating for other young people and this can result in episodes of retaliation and/or counter-intimidation. Although there are incident reports that may reference some details about bullying, records are not maintained in a specific log. Therefore, there is no reference point that includes details such as, how many incidents have taken place; who was involved; which staff members were on duty and how it is being managed on an ongoing basis. As a result, there is no clear oversight of such issues. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management plans include restorative justice. This means that staff are beginning to work with young people to address behaviours in a way that helps them to understand the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others. A young person said, ‘Staff are fair and talk to us. It makes me feel calm and it helps. I like it here.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has been without a registered manager since 3 June 2019. An experienced manager has been appointed to the home and is in the process of making an application to Ofsted for registration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is operated in accordance with its registration and accompanying statement of purpose. However, there are elements of this statement that do not accurately reflect the service provided at the home. For example, the wording of the statement alludes to the home being able to provide a specialist education service for young people who are not on roll. Although the home is looking to develop in this area, this service is not currently Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 8 available. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

External monitoring is conducted on a monthly basis by an independent visitor to the home. Most recent reports have highlighted concerns regarding restraint practice, de- escalation techniques and behaviour management. Upon review of the home’s practice and records, it was evident that the independent reports are inaccurate. When inaccuracies have been challenged by the manager, an up-to-date amended report has not been forwarded to Ofsted for review. It is essential that the independent visitor provides a clear and factual analysis of the service provided in the home to both the manager and the regulatory body. Any discrepancies must be challenged, recorded and suitably managed. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive consistent mandatory training in order to meet the basic needs of young people in their care. Some staff bring experience from previous roles and this strengthens the knowledge base within the staff team. However, when young people are admitted with complex behavioural and/or psychological needs, staff do not receive suitable specific training prior to their admission. It is important that staff have relevant and up-to-date training to support all young people being admitted to the home. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular, structured supervision from the new manager and assistant manager. Staff said that they are well supported in their role and feel the manager is helping them to provide a consistent service to the young people accommodated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Regular team meetings take place. Staff are working with the manager to develop reflective practice in order to learn from each other and further develop their practice. This is welcomed by the staff working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is aware of the procedure for notifying Ofsted of incidents under Regulation 40 and has submitted notifications accordingly.

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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

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 Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 9 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Bramhall Park Road, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 3DQ

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1261138 11 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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