Children's home run by Footsteps a Path to Change 08 Limited

Information about this children's home

This is a privately run children’s home. It is registered to care for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager was registered in September 2019.

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Information about this children's home

Previous inspection date: 30 January 2020

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children's social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills is leading Ofsted's work into how England's social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 2545082 2

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The care of children

At the time of the visit, both young people were preparing to move on from the home. One young person was looking forward to returning to live with his family. He described the staff as, ‘sound’ and said, ‘If I didn’t come here I would be in prison, without a doubt.’ The staff have been supportive of his family to help his transition progress positively.

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The care of children

The staff form positive relationships with young people, which contributes to young people’s progress and the longevity of their placements. The team feels that the activities put in place during COVID-19 restrictions helped to further strengthen relationships. One young person taught a member of staff how to ride a bike and was involved in celebrations for Victory in Europe Day, which the local community enjoyed. Young people also created a large mural in support of key workers and discussed the impact of social affairs in the media, such as Black Lives Matter.

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The care of children

A creative approach was taken to support young people to see significant individuals in their lives. For example, they were able to form a ‘bubble’ so that a young person was able to see her boyfriend, who had no contact with others. As restrictions eased, the other young person was able to have overnight stays at his family home as part of his transition plan.

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The care of children

Young people continued with education on a virtual platform during restrictions. One young person, with a history of non-attendance at school, engaged well with a tutor and visited mainstream schools in preparation for a return to full-time education. However, COVID-19 restrictions, and later behavioural concerns, meant that this transition was not achieved. The other young person’s school attendance improved significantly while living at the home. He is now attending college, which he will be able to maintain after he returns to live with his family. Education providers report good communication from the home and that staff are always willing to support young people in their learning.

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The care of children

The staff have helped young people to remain healthy and to improve their diet. The home seeks specialist external help to support young people’s physical and mental health, and to address any concerns regarding drug or alcohol misuse. The team is also able to seek advice from the provider’s therapist on how best to support young people’s emotional well-being. The staff persistently encourage young people to attend appointments when there are concerns about their health and provide advice about sexual health and contraception.

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The care of children

Young people’s wishes and feelings are taken into account via meetings and individual consultations. These views are shared with placing authorities so that they are considered when planning young people’s care. One placing authority noted that the staff are strong advocates for young people and are willing to challenge any delays in progression of care plans. Assurance visit report: 2545082 3

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The safety of children

The staff understand and respond to young people’s individual risks and needs. Risk management plans are kept under regular review and are now more succinct and individualised. However, one young person’s risk assessment does not highlight an emerging cause for concern, to support the staff in how to respond most effectively.

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The safety of children

Young people are helped to understand the importance of keeping themselves safe and healthy and are kept updated regarding government advice about COVID-19. A young person did comply with guidance to minimise risk of infection when she returned after going missing from the home. The staff followed all missing procedures and liaised appropriately to ensure that she returned to the home safe and well. However, due to the increased frequency and duration of missing episodes, notice was served on her placement due to concerns that the staff could not keep her, or others, safe.

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The safety of children

The police were required to attend the home on one occasion to help manage a young person’s behaviour. The staff also sought advice from the provider’s therapist on how to support the young person, who was expressing an intent to self-harm. While the staff responded appropriately, the regulator was not notified of this serious incident.

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The safety of children

The staff challenge young people when their behaviour is unacceptable. Restorative practices are regularly used to help young people make amends and understand how their behaviour can be harmful or upsetting to others. This means that sanctions are rarely required. However, staff are not always able to complete focused pieces of work with one young person. This means that they are unable to reinforce why some behaviours, including physical aggression, are unacceptable.

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The safety of children

Restraint is rarely used to manage young people’s behaviours. On one occasion the registered manager was involved in a physical intervention. They conducted a debrief with the other members of staff involved, rather than involving someone independent of the incident, to maintain an objective approach. The staff were later given the opportunity to have a further debrief with another manager.

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The safety of children

The staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Managers respond swiftly to investigate any allegations made by young people and liaise appropriately with the local authority designated officer. Managers have also implemented new mandatory professional practice procedures to ensure that the staff understand their responsibilities in the use of online communication platforms. Assurance visit report: 2545082 4

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Leaders and managers

The home is currently being run by the deputy manager during a planned leave of absence by the registered manager. He reports that he feels well supported by senior managers and colleagues.

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Leaders and managers

Despite some challenging periods, the staff remain positive and committed to young people to help them make progress. They speak about young people with genuine pride and praise their achievements. The team ensures that young people enjoy positive endings to their placements, with celebratory events.

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Leaders and managers

The staff receive regular reflective supervision and attend team meetings, to support their practice in delivering good-quality care for young people. They have been willing to be flexible, in the absence of colleagues requiring to self-isolate due to COVID-19, to ensure consistency and stability. This means that agency staff have not been required.

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Leaders and managers

Training has been delivered online while restrictions have been in place, and in person as restrictions have eased. This has included training to support a young person’s identified individual needs, prior to his admission to the home. Staff who do not have a suitable qualification are on track to complete this within timescales. The registered manager has submitted her management qualification portfolio but is yet to receive confirmation of the award.

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Leaders and managers

Effective working relationships are built with external professionals as well as within the local community. Any issues are addressed promptly and professionally. As a result, the home has received no complaints.

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Leaders and managers

Managers have good internal monitoring systems in place, and clear oversight of records is evident. Young people’s plans have been reviewed regularly, so that as restrictions have eased, progress has been made to ensure that transitions have kept to timescales. Any recommendations from external monitoring reports are responded to promptly, to drive forward continued improvement in the home.

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Leaders and managers

The requirements and recommendations from the last full inspection have been met.

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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. Assurance visit report: 2545082 5

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Requirement Due date

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

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.

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Requirement Due date

Risk assessments should identify all known or emerging risks and include clear strategies for the staff to follow. 4 December 2020

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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

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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(e)) 4 December 2020

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Recommendations

 Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. Children should be supported to develop understanding and empathy towards each other. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 39, paragraph 8.11).

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Recommendations

In particular, key work should be undertaken to address abusive behaviour within relationships.  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. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 49, paragraph 9.59).

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Recommendations

Specifically, the review of the use of restraint by the staff should be undertaken by an individual who is not involved in the measure. Assurance visit report: 2545082 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Footsteps A Path To Change 08 Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Landmark House, Station Road, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7BS

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Charlotte Davies

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Inspector

Karen Willson, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2545082 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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