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 local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional, behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides an emergency placement for young people between the ages of 10 and 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

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last full inspection, this home required improvement to be good.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of this inspection, three young people are living at the home. Two of them are relatively new to the home. There is a mixed picture in terms of the overall progress and experiences of the young people. This is because engagement with education is variable. One young person is currently refusing to attend their education provision. Another young person, who has left school, is not engaging in any form of education, training or employment. Consequently, they are not achieving their full potential. That said, one young person is fully engaged at school. Staff work proactively with education professionals to try to promote young people’s attendance and participation in their education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have displayed challenging and harmful behaviour that has, at times, placed them at risk of harm. A young person was moved out of the home for their own safety following a serious incident of self-harm. There are concerns in relation to a young person’s substance misuse. Staff understand the risks associated with this and have taken action to minimise the harm. They conduct daily room searches, attend regular strategy meetings and ensure that the young person has access to specialist services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who go missing from the home are protected in line with agreed individual protocols. Staff try to maintain phone contact with young people when they are away from the home. When they fail to return on time, staff follow the agreed ‘missing from care’ protocols.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of young people’s risks and vulnerabilities. However, the locality risk assessment should be reviewed to reflect the current risks in relation to the motorway bridge and railway tracks to ensure that staff have the most up-to-date information to inform their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that clear and consistent boundaries are in place to help young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. They use positive reinforcement to promote positive choices. As a result, sanctions and physical intervention are kept to a minimum. However, not all records regularly include the views of young people to show that they have had an opportunity to reflect on any consequences imposed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is meeting the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose. However, the manager should ensure that key documents, such as education, health and care plans and placement plans, are on file so that staff are aware of any additional support that individual young people may need. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 3 Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of care and outcomes for young people. They have provided placement stability and consistency for one young person. This has enabled them to make some progress relative to their starting point. Staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of the young people. Where appropriate, young people can access the home’s computer under the supervision of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The records show that staff are receiving regular supervision. Managers have undertaken an audit of staff training files and are currently working on a new training matrix. This will make it easier to see what training the staff have undertaken and what needs updating. That said, a recommendation is raised for staff to have some training in relation to ligatures and self-harming behaviours. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/05/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 5

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the location risk assessment is kept up to date to reflect the current risks for young people in the local area. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1). This specifically relates to the motorway bridge and the local railway lines.  Staff should understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) In particular, ensure that young people have the opportunity to reflect on any consequences imposed and that this is recorded in the consequences book.  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role

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Recommendations

they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered manager must challenge (under regulation 5(c)) the placing authority who asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and current plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 6

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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 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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