Children's Home run by Choices Home for Children Limited in Stockport

Inspection report children’s home: SC008485 1 SC008485 Registered provider: Choices Home For 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 owned and run. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for six children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home’s registered manager left in December 2019. Her successor left the home in January 2020 prior to being registered for this home. There is an interim manager at the home and the vacancy is currently being advertised.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC008485 2

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children 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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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On 6 November 2019, a monitoring visit took place. This followed a rise in the number of notifications of serious incidents from the home. In addition, there had been resignations by key members of staff. Care planning relating to admissions to the home and management oversight of these processes were found to be weak. As a result, further requirements were made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this inspection, it was found that not all requirements had been met. Although the frequency of staff changes within the home has begun to stabilise, since the last visit both the registered manager and her successor have left the home. There is an interim manager in post and recruitment to fill the vacancy is underway.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, a requirement was made regarding notifications being made to Ofsted. This requirement has not been met, and recent changes in management arrangements have contributed to this shortfall. Any concerns regarding the safety and welfare of young people have been appropriately addressed by staff and managers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the monitoring visit, there have been improvements to the matching processes used for admitting young people to the home. The current manager is fully aware of previous concerns regarding care planning and admissions. He has identified the changes necessary to embed careful and considered processes that prevent young people experiencing unnecessary placement changes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the manager has undertaken recent supervision with staff, previous supervision could not be evidenced. As a result, a requirement has been made with regard to this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have made progress regarding increased frequency and quality of family contact. They have also ceased to be involved in activities that would place them at risk of criminal behaviour. Other young people have experienced a significant decrease in incidents of going missing from home and are safer as a result.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Through the care that staff have offered, some young people have been supported to recognise and cease previously damaging relationships. As a consequence, they have re-engaged with supportive peer friendships. One young person commented: ‘I couldn’t be more grateful for what they have done for me. They have been able to show me my self-worth. No one judges you and they find me the help that I need.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC008485 3 However, not all young people have made progress with regard to their education. Delays in planning and decision-making have resulted in one young person continuing to be educated on a part-time basis at the home. Managerial challenge of this has not been effective or timely.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the use of incentives for young people have been revised and young people are responding positively to this change. Inspection report children’s home: SC008485 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2019 Full Good 06/02/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/11/2018 Full Inadequate 05/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC008485 5

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. 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. (Regulation 13(1) (a)(b)(2)(a)) 31/05/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 31/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any other incident which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 31/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)) 30/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must— if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 31/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC008485 6

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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: SC008485 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Choices Home For Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 31, Wellington Road, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 7ED

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Inspector

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC008485 8 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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