Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC390577 1 SC390577

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Meadows Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home is registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

During a monitoring visit on 9 February 2021, the inspector identified poor practice relating to care planning and risk management, and that the fabric of the property had been extensively damaged. This poor practice has a significant and negative effect on children’s safety and welfare.

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This monitoring visit

Poor practice relating to care planning had resulted in a child being admitted to the home without full knowledge of their known risks and behaviours. Risks of violence towards others and using weapons were not considered at the time of admission. As a result, decision-making about whether staff could safely meet the needs of the child was not well informed, and the effect on other children and staff at the home had not been considered.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have frequently been the target of assaults, verbal abuse and intimidation. Staffing levels have not been adequate to support the needs of the child. During one incident, staff remained in the office for a period of time because of the levels of intimidation shown by a child. This left the child unsupervised and ongoing damage to the home unchecked. Staff rang for additional staff to provide support; however, this support took one-and-a-half hours to arrive. During the visit, the provider took immediate steps to increase staffing ratios at the home. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC390577 2 Risk management plans regarding the use and storage of hazardous materials are weak. For example, a child was able to gain access to an unlocked shed where paints were stored. These were then used to damage the home.

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This monitoring visit

The environment is of poor quality and presents as unclean and in significant need of repair and refurbishment. Continual incidents in the home have resulted in carpets, walls, fixtures and furnishings being damaged. A bedroom that a child is using has a smashed window. Although the window is boarded up, the child had not been given the option of using either of the two vacant rooms. During the visit, the provider took some action and developed a plan to make improvements in the home.

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This monitoring visit

There is currently one child living in the home. A previous child was discharged one week prior to this visit taking place. This child had been successfully returned to live with her family and had made progress against the aims of her care plan.

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This monitoring visit

It is Ofsted’s view that staffing and care arrangements for the child must be stabilised, and the fabric of the home requires significant improvement. At this time, any further placements would place children at risk of harm. As a result, a restriction of accommodation has been imposed.

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This monitoring visit

A requirement made at the last full inspection regarding the induction of new staff at the home was not considered at this monitoring visit. This requirement will be considered at a subsequent visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/12/2019 Full Good 20/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/07/2018 Full Good 01/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC390577 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the induction of new staff includes an opportunity for them to spend time in the home getting to know the children and the home’s routines before having direct responsibility for children’s care. This is especially important for those staff who join the team without any previous experience of working in a children’s home. 19 March 2021

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the regulated person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to risk management plans regarding the use and storage of hazardous materials. 23 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meet children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 19 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC390577 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to refurbishment of the home to rectify existing damage and improve living conditions.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children 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)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to registered persons being in receipt of up-to- date assessments of risk and fully considering all known risks when considering admission. 30 April 2021

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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: SC390577 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 9EN

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Inspector

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC390577 6 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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