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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2591888 1

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New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children. The home specialises in caring for children who may have needs that relate to their learning disabilities and/or a sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager for this home.

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This monitoring visit

On 21 January 2021, a monitoring visit took place due to escalating concerns about children’s safety, arising from safeguarding notifications received by Ofsted. Three compliance notices were issued, under regulation 12, the protection of children standard; regulation 13, the leadership and management standard; and regulation 14, the care planning standard.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit took place on 12 March 2021. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to assess the progress made by the home regarding the three compliance notices, issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. At the time of this visit, three children were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the recording of children’s needs and risks. Behaviour management plans provide the staff with clearer guidance to inform their practice. Care plans better reflect children’s needs, and record their progress and outcomes. Risk assessments have been updated and include all current and known risks for children. There are effective strategies in place to minimise risk. All staff are aware of the risks for children and have read them as part of the process of improving the home. Furthermore, staff have signed documentation to demonstrate that they have read the assessments. Through discussions with staff, it was clear that they understand the risk management strategies and understand the actions required to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2591888 2 Impact assessment processes have been reviewed. Plans now fully consider the needs of children already living at the home, as well as the child being considered to

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This monitoring visit

move into the home. Consultation with wider services is evident. Since the last visit, a new child has moved into the home. The impact assessment was detailed and demonstrated that the needs and risks of the child had been carefully considered, along with the child’s compatibility with the existing group of children

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This monitoring visit

The staff have completed training to better understand expectations of their roles and responsibilities, and to improve practice in behaviour management. There have been training sessions, staff supervisions and team meetings to discuss roles and responsibilities, consistency and ensure that the staff team work together to improve the outcomes for children. All staff spoke positively about the support in place and the training and development opportunities they have now received.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager and her deputy have introduced new systems for monitoring children’s progress and staff practice. There is evidence of improved management oversight of incidents, and debriefs take place with children and staff following any physical intervention, to meet the regulation.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements set at the last monitoring visit were not considered at this visit and are therefore carried over.

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This monitoring visit

No further enforcement action is planned. However, a further inspection will take place in order to review how these improvements are being embedded to improve the quality of care provided.

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Recent inspection history

This is the first visit to the home Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2591888 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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

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—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2591888 4 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

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”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

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 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 18 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 18 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2591888 5 In particular, ensure that the records include a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, a record of the actual rotas worked and a record of any person who works at any time at the home, including the registered manager. The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 18 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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Post vacant Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2591888 6

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Inspectors

Elaine Allison, Social Care Inspection Manager Michelle Edge, Social Care Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2591888 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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