Children's Home run by New Horizons (Stockport) Limited in Bury

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children or young people who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been working in the home since July 2019.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 15 October 2019

p.1

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).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

p.1

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.

p.1

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. Assurance visit report: 1261138 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

Children and young people who currently live in the home are settled and engaging with their plans. They have good relationships with staff and feel safe. There are four children and young people living in the home. Memories have been captured in photograph books for them. At the time of the visit, the home was decorated ready for Christmas.

p.2

The care of children

There has been a significant number of children and young people moving in and out since April 2020, including a number of placement breakdowns. Two social workers spoken to felt that notice was served on the placements too quickly, stating that young people had to leave due to risks that were already known prior to admission.

p.2

The care of children

The managers have used learning from their previous experiences of matching children’s needs and are carefully reviewing new referrals. Discussions have been held with the team to review skill sets to ensure that matching of the children and young people is more appropriate.

p.2

The care of children

Children and young people have been supported to stay in touch with their families throughout the COVID-19 restrictions. Sensible measures are taken to reduce the spread of the virus, including use of hand sanitiser, track and trace and temperature checks on arrival.

p.2

The care of children

Children and young people are engaging in their individual education plans. Schools are being reviewed for one young person who has only recently moved into the home. Staff are building relationships with the young person before introducing schoolwork which will be completed in the home.

p.2

The care of children

Staff have made significant efforts in order to try to keep children and young people active. A beauty room and a music room have been created in response to children and young people’s requests. One young person has developed a new skill in mixing music tracks. This has built his self-confidence and gives him focus. He told the inspector he felt very lucky to have this opportunity, particularly during the COVID- 19 restrictions.

p.2

The care of children

One young person is currently staying in the annexe attached to the home. This allows him the time and space to develop independence skills without fear of being judged by others. This has been carefully planned, with staff supporting him closely. He has access to the home and is encouraged to spend time with others. Assurance visit report: 1261138 3

p.2

The safety of children

Children and young people currently living in the home are well matched and do not present a risk to each other. One young person displayed suicidal ideation. Due to limited vocabulary he was unable to describe his real feelings. Staff, together with the mental health team, have been supporting the young person to develop his communication. His social worker said, ‘The home have worked really hard using cue cards and other methods to build his vocabulary. They have worked well with the mental health team.’

p.3

The safety of children

The children and young people who are currently living in the home are now safe. However, since April 2020, there have been a number of incidents in and out of the home when children and young people have been at risk. Staff followed risk management plans by following children and young people when attempting to go missing from home. However, a previous recommendation to use information from independent return home interviews has not been met, and is repeated.

p.3

The safety of children

There have been occasions when children and young people have not been adequately supervised by staff. As a result, bullying has taken place. The managers have discussed this with staff in a team meeting. However, staff spoken to during the visit still reported times when children and young people are left without supervision.

p.3

The safety of children

Work has been completed with children and young people around the effects of bullying and racism. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘They talk to [Name of young person] about how his behaviour is unacceptable, but also how it can make others feel.’ This work is increasing children and young people’s empathy, without criminalisation.

p.3

The safety of children

A grumbles book is used for children and young people to voice informal complaints and ensure that a response is given. Children and young people also engage in regular meetings. A ‘You said, we did’ section is now included. As a result, children and young people’s wishes are heard and acted upon. This meets a previous recommendation.

p.3

The safety of children

Restraint has been used when necessary to keep children, young people and staff safe. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘I think staff work really well with [name of young person]. He is having less and less emotional and physical outbursts.’

p.3

The safety of children

The fire risk assessment has been updated to reflect the increased risk of a fire due to one young person smoking in his bedroom and others who have set fire to items, including the doorbell. Effective strategies need to be implemented to reduce this risk. Assurance visit report: 1261138 4

p.3

Leaders and managers

The registered manager is experienced and knowledgeable. A number of personal circumstances and the effects of COVID-19 have led to reduced management presence in the home since April 2020. Although managers are aware of the events in the home, the lack of physical presence has had an negative effect on staff morale and communication. One social worker said, ‘Communication is good, but I think sometimes managers need to work on filtering [information] to the staff as some messages are missed.’

p.4

Leaders and managers

Staff have received regular, reflective supervision that they value. At times, this has taken place remotely, in order to reduce the number of people in the home. Staff have also undertaken a range of training since April 2020 and are working through an extensive programme. Some of this training should have been undertaken prior to the admission of children and young people and so a repeat requirement has been made.

p.4

Leaders and managers

Managers advocate for children and young people’s individual needs. Efforts are made to integrate their wishes and feelings into the day-to-day running of the home.

p.4

Leaders and managers

Rotas do not distinguish the time that managers work in the home or remotely, making it difficult to track who is on duty. Although this does not affect the care of the children and young people, it is important to rectify this to ensure that there is a clear audit trail of who is working in the home.

p.4

Leaders and managers

Independent visits are completed monthly but reports lack evaluation. The visitor does not include a clear statement of whether children and young people are effectively safeguarded and their well-being promoted. This is a repeat requirement.

p.4

Leaders and managers

The manager submitted a detailed review of the quality of care shortly after the visit took place. However, the report did not include the opinions of young people and parents or the manager’s action plan of how to improve the home as a result. This reduces the potential for positive change on children and young people.

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 28 February 2021 Assurance visit report: 1261138 5 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that staff have the relevant skills to understand and manage the risks identified and avoid placement breakdown.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers having sufficient information about the needs of children and young people to inform their placement decisions, and reviewing the matching of children and young people prior to agreeing a placement.

p.5

Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers finding effective strategies to reduce the opportunity for fires in the home. Including preventing children and young people from smoking in their bedrooms, or setting items on fire. 28 February 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, staff must be provided with training relating to the complex needs of children and young people prior to them being admitted to the home. 28 February 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. 28 February 2021 Assurance visit report: 1261138 6 The registered person must—

p.5

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to staff rotas evidencing the manager’s hours worked in the home and remotely.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to providing an evaluative report that can be used to improve the home with a clear statement as described in the regulation. 28 February 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

p.6

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (2)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)) 28 February 2021 Assurance visit report: 1261138 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand what they must do to prevent bullying of children and young people by others. Specifically, staff need to supervise children and young people who are spending time together. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.16)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of the information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and

p.7

Recommendations

make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons-(Stockport) Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 154 Buxton Road, High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8EA

p.7

Inspector

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1261138 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and children and 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8