Children's home run by Proactive Care in Tameside

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 1 SC479776

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Proactive Care

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This independent children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently operating without a registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

On 10 June 2020, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to the home following a complaint made on 2 June 2020. The complaint raised a number of concerns in relation to children’s welfare and safety and the standard of accommodation. Significant failures to comply with the regulations as set out under the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 were found, and six compliance notices were issued.

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This monitoring visit

On 22 June 2020, Ofsted received a further two concerns in relation to children’s welfare and safety, a lack of staffing and the standard of the accommodation. A monitoring visit was completed on 23 June 2020.

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This monitoring visit

During this monitoring visit, inspectors found ineffective risk assessments and risk management plans. It was identified that these have not been updated to include the current risk factors for all children. In addition, risk management plans do not include appropriate strategies for staff to follow to keep children safe. For example, despite a child having additional learning needs and a history of self-injurious behaviours, the assessment is generic and does not reflect all recent incidents or consider appropriate strategies to keep the child safe. When strategies have been identified, such as regular welfare checks, staff have failed to follow them. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 2 Managers and staff do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children. Consequently, children are not appropriately safeguarded by the adults who are caring for them. For example, inspectors found that an agency

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This monitoring visit

member of staff had not had an induction or had the opportunity to read any of the children’s care plans prior to starting their first shift. This staff member took a child out into the community without understanding his level of communication needs or the significant concerns about his self-injurious behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns were highlighted at the last monitoring visit about children smoking in their bedrooms. No direct work had been completed with the children to enable them to understand the risks from smoking or the potential impact on their health and well- being. It was clear during this visit that a child had again been smoking in their bedroom. This was not identified or challenged by the staff on shift and continues to be an unmanaged risk factor.

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This monitoring visit

Fire doors in the home do not shut properly. There were gaps evident under the fire doors, and one of the fire doors had been propped open. This is a further health and safety concern and a fire hazard, which may be a serious risk of harm for all in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Recent flooding has caused significant damage to the house’s cellar. The floor is damaged, and there is a very strong smell of sewage. The area outside the cellar, which is accessible to children, was found to be in an unsanitary condition, with evidence of cigarette butts and sanitary wear discarded on the ground. This is a further hazard for the children and staff working at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s bedrooms are also a further cause of concern, with evidence of mould and damp in a child’s bedroom and unsanitary conditions. As children refuse to let the staff in their bedrooms, this was left unchallenged by the staff, resulting in increased health and safety risks.

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This monitoring visit

Children have not received consistent care. A number of permanent and temporary staff have left the home since the visit on 10 June 2020. There is a reliance on agency staff and staff from another children’s home operated by the provider to cover the vacancies in the staff team. As a result, children are not being effectively safeguarded or cared for by staff who understand their needs and vulnerabilities.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors identified that the current staff rotas are not accurate and do not reflect the actual staff who are working on shift. The staff named on the rota had left their position and were no longer employed by the home. This means that managers have failed to maintain up-to-date staff records.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit by Ofsted on 10 June 2020, the acting manager has resigned with immediate effect. There is no manager or deputy manager in post, and two senior posts are vacant. In the absence of stable leadership, staff lack the necessary oversight, guidance and support to work effectively and safely with the children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 3 Despite providing reassurances to Ofsted during the visit on 10 June 2020 that appropriate leadership and management would be put in place to effectively safeguard children, it is clear that this has not happened. This is of significant concern, and there is evidence of additional serious safeguarding concerns, as outlined above. As a result of these findings, Ofsted has taken the decision to place an emergency suspension on the service.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 15/09/2019

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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

helps children aspire 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

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; 31/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 5 ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)) The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to removing the closed- circuit television (CCTV) on the top-floor landing of the home. 15/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

* The standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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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 (2)(a)(b)(vii)(c)(i)) 07/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

* The health and well-being standard is that— 07/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 6 the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(i)(ii)) * The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)) 07/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

* 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. 07/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(2)(a)) * The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(3)(a)(viii)) 31/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 11.4, page 56)  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 8

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Recommendations

 Ensure that relevant plans are obtained from the placing authority. This relates specifically to obtaining an up to date copy of the young person’s Personal Education Plan (PEP). (‘Guide to the children homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 3.1, page 14)

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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

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 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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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 address: 2 The Chase, Bolton, Lancashire BL1 5HL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Ashley O’Leary-Jones

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Inspectors

Michelle Bacon, social care inspector Sophie Thomson, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479776 9 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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