Children's home run by Social Care Services (Clayton) Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2597738 1

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Social Care Services (Clayton) Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. It offers care and accommodation for one child who may experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home currently does not have a registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted identified significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice at an assurance visit on 15 December 2020. As a result, three compliance notices were issued under section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000. These were in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, and regulation 14, the care planning standard. This monitoring visit was undertaken on 20 January 2021 to monitor compliance with these notices.

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This monitoring visit

At the visit, the inspectors found that the provider was unable to demonstrate that sufficient action had been taken to show that the notices are met. This is partly due to the previous registered manager resigning from his post soon after the last visit. There are also no children currently in placement.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has since been able to recruit a new manager, however, she has not been in post long. She has, therefore, not had sufficient time or opportunity to implement the actions to demonstrate compliance with the notices.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors found that staff had attended training in safeguarding and child sexual exploitation. Staff spoken to during the visit know the current risks in respect of children. They demonstrate that they understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting children. However, the provider is unable to show how risk management strategies will work in practice, given that there are currently no children in placement. This aspect of the notice under regulation 12 is, therefore, not met. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2597738 2 Further therapeutic crisis intervention training is scheduled to take place in February 2021, designed to help staff support children in crisis. The staff group has also engaged in a team session. This gave them the opportunity to reflect on the shortcomings from the previous placement and work on task-related scenarios to promote their understanding of safeguarding and risk. The notice under regulation

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This monitoring visit

12, however, is not met because the provider is unable to demonstrate how this training and lessons learned in practice will impact on the day-to-day care of children.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors observed that the risk assessment had been updated following the last visit, however, the care plans had not, but this is partly due to the child no longer being in placement. The monitoring of records does not reflect effective manager oversight. However, the manager did demonstrate good insight into the importance of such documents, keeping them current and reflective of the child’s needs. The notice under regulation 12 is, therefore, not met as the manager is unable to demonstrate the impact of their work with children.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors were informed that the manager will receive support from the quality assurance manager, who intends to conduct fortnightly visits to the home. The manager intends to use the findings from the independent visitor reports to inform her practice and improvement. She was able to show good insight into the importance of identifying patterns and trends as part of her monitoring of the home and tracking of children’s progress. However, she is unable to demonstrate at this time how this will work in practice. The notice under regulation 13 is, therefore, not met.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors were informed that a prospective new admission was currently being planned. The manager was able to demonstrate the importance of ensuring that a thorough impact risk assessment is completed. She has insight into the child’s needs and risks. She has consulted with all relevant agencies to collate all necessary information to inform the care plan and risk assessment. She is in the process of formulating a plan to ensure the effective transition of the child into the home. Parts of the premises, such as the bedroom area, have been refurbished to provide a homely, welcoming feel. The provider is, however, unable to demonstrate how effective the admission will be as no children are currently placed at the home. The notice under regulation 14 is, therefore, not met.

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This monitoring visit

Further notices under regulations 12, 13 and 14 have been served to allow the provider a further period of time for the provider to demonstrate compliance.

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Recent inspection history

No previous inspections Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2597738 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 is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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

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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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manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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

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are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(b)) 26 March 2021

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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— 26 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2597738 4 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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

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

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

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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; and

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use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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*The care planning standard is that children—

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receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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

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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;

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that arrangements are in place to— 26 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2597738 5 ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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manage and review the placement of each child in the home;

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that each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs.

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The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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

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protect and promote each child’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)) 26 March 2021

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The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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

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help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 26 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2597738 6 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority.

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(Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(vii))

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The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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positive responses to other children and adults.

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

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meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ix)(xi)(b)) 26 March 2021

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If the registered person considers it to be necessary for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of a child, the registered person may impose conditions, prohibitions or restrictions upon a child’s—

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contact with parents, friends or relatives; 26 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2597738 7 access to communications under paragraph (3)

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Subject to paragraph (6) , the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose.

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The health and well-being standard is that—

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the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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

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children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 26 March 2021

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The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (7)(a)) 26 March 2021

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*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the actions taken by the provider to meet the three compliance notices served under regulations 12, 13 and 14 following the last assurance visit that took place on 15 December 2020.

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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: 2597738 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services (Clayton) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Social Care Services Group, 31 Shaw Road, Stockport SK4 4AG

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Inspectors

Michael Charnley, Social Care Inspector Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2597738 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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