Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271998 1

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Care 4 Children Residential Services Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of a number of homes owned and operated by a private company. This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have social or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who was registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 (coronavirus) is currently posing to those we regulate. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 by the home. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns were identified by Ofsted following some notifications of significant incidents that had occurred at the home. In addition, information was received that indicated that the home may be in breach of regulation. As some of the concerns were of a safeguarding nature, a monitoring inspection was carried out.

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This monitoring visit

There were three young people living at the home at the time of the inspection. From their starting points, young people are making positive progress in a number of areas. They are attending education, taking part in positive activities and have reduced high-risk behaviours such as going missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

Young people described highly positive relationships with staff. Observations throughout the visit supported this, as young people and staff were observed having fun together and interacting in a warm and comfortable manner.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been some incidents of bullying. These have led to one young person contacting Ofsted because he felt unsafe. During this visit, the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271998 2 young person reported that relationships in the home had improved greatly and that he now feels ‘10 out of 10’ safe. The young person spoke highly of staff and expressed confidence in them. He confirmed that he feels able to raise any future worries with staff.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff demonstrate awareness of previous bullying concerns and are able to describe the measures in place to reduce the risk of further incidents. It is evident that there have been attempts to support young people to improve their behaviours. However, improvements could be made in terms of helping young people understand the impact of their behaviours on others.

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This monitoring visit

Staff demonstrate awareness of the risks to young people’s safety and well-being and the measures in place to manage these risks. However, shortfalls were identified in young people’s risk assessments and written risk management guidance. In the examples viewed, information was difficult to locate and unclear. Risks were not always clearly identified, and actions to reduce risk lacked clarity.

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This monitoring visit

Following significant incidents, the response of managers and staff is not consistently thorough. There are some examples of good practice where the manager has carried out appropriate de-briefs with staff and young people, but these are inconsistent. The manager generally notifies appropriate agencies but, following one recent incident, failed to promptly request a safeguarding strategy meeting for the young people involved.

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This monitoring visit

The standard of recording was found to be variable. In some cases, recording was poor. For example, incorrect dates were identified in some records and, in others, information was missing. A requirement has been raised to support improvement in this area.

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This monitoring visit

Internal monitoring could be used more effectively to ensure that shortfalls and areas for development are identified quickly. Shortfalls noted in this inspection, including general standards of cleanliness in the home, had not been identified or addressed by the manager. Failure to monitor standards effectively means that opportunities to make improvements might be lost. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271998 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/10/2019 Full Good 17/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271998 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 protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to 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 risk of any harm to the child; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)(iv)(vi)) 12/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

Children’s case records The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c)) 12/06/2020

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments, maintained to good standards. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271998 5  The registered person should make best use of internal monitoring processes to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  Regulation 19(2) details sanctions that are prohibited in behaviour management. Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make

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Recommendations

reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care 4 Children Residential Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Stuart Road, Bredbury Park Industrial Estate, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2SR

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Inspectors

Marie Cordingley, social care inspector Lisa Gregoire-Parker, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1271998 6 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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