Children's home run by Care 4 Children Holdco Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 1

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Care 4 Children Holdco Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of a number of homes operated by a large, private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in place who registered with Ofsted in August 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to assess the home’s progress in meeting a compliance notice issued by Ofsted in November 2020, regarding the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Following an assurance visit on 27 October 2020, concerns were identified in relation to the monitoring of quality and safety in the home and the standard of young people’s accommodation. In addition, it was found that significant incidents were not always reviewed in an effective manner.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, the registered manager advised that he had received a good level of support from senior managers to achieve the necessary improvements. He also stated that he had been supported in his decision not to admit any more young people to the home until requirements set out in the compliance notice were addressed.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has undertaken team building with the staff. Minutes of team meetings show that there has been transparency regarding shortfalls and that the staff have been encouraged to share their opinions and thoughts for improvement. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 2 Steps have been taken to improve quality assurance processes. This includes the implementation of new audit systems and daily monitoring schedules, which enable the manager to identify and address shortfalls more promptly.

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This monitoring visit

The standard of young people’s accommodation has significantly improved. All areas of the home were viewed and found to be clean and comfortable. Young people’s bedrooms, the lounge and kitchen have been refurbished and new furniture and soft furnishings have been provided. The final phase of the home’s refurbishment is due to commence and will include the improvement of bathrooms and communal areas.

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This monitoring visit

Measures to maintain environmental improvements have been taken. The provider is in the process of employing a maintenance team, which will help ensure that any necessary repairs are addressed promptly. Improved monitoring will also help to ensure that young people continue to benefit from safer and more comfortable accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

One significant incident has occurred since the assurance visit in October 2020. The manager carried out an effective review of this incident and recorded actions taken as a result. These included meeting with staff, a review of the young person’s behaviour support plan and a request for additional input from relevant external professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements to the review of significant incidents mean that shortfalls can be identified and addressed more promptly. This helps to safeguard young people and protect them from poor or inconsistent practice.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/09/2019 Full Good 26/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 24/04/2018 Full Good 31/10/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 3

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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; that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(b)(d)) 11 December 2020

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Requirement Due date

Statement of purpose The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)(b)) 11 December 2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 4 Behaviour management policies and records The registered person must ensure that— 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— the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 11 December 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)) 11 December 2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 5 Notification of a serious event The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the

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Requirement Due date

outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 11 December 2020

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Requirement Due date

Independent person: visits and reports The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. 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— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— HMCI; upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located; the placing authorities of children; the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44)(1)(4)(a)(b)(7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 11 December 2020

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Requirement Due date

Review of quality of care The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months. 11 December 2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 6 The registered person must— 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; and make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 45 (1)(4)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 Please see regulation 23. Medicines, prescribed for ‘as and when required’ use, must be administered in line with a clear, individualised protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff have clear guidance about how to respond to each child’s individual behaviour to enable them to manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues and react appropriately and consistently if challenged by a child in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14)  The registered person should ensure that, for children’s homes to be

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Recommendations

nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); and be maintained in a good state of repair. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care 4 Children Holdco Limited

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Stephanie Hewitt

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Inspector

Marie Cordingley, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1240803 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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