Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2560639 1

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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

The home is a privately run children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children, aged between 10 and 18 years. The home supports children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was working her final day at this home on the day of the visit. The home registered in November 2019 and has not yet had an inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions in place relating to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this monitoring visit was carried out off site. The visit was to investigate potential breaches of regulations, following information being shared with Ofsted in notifications that indicated a potential risk of harm to children. The visit included the review of documents, a virtual tour of the building, and discussions with children, staff and relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager oversees a second home, and she spends her time between both settings. The demands of leading two settings has impacted the registered manager’s day-to-day oversight of this home. Positively, this has already been identified by the provider and a new manager has been appointed. This will help to strengthen the management oversight of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff engage with children through regular key-work sessions. The children are generally honest about their wishes and feelings and share their concerns and worries. Staff respond in a supportive and proactive way that is timely and considerate to the needs of the children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2560639 2 Children living at the home said that they feel well cared for by staff. They have trusting relationships with the staff and have a sense of belonging. One child said, ‘It’s great here and I couldn’t think of anything that would make it better.’

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This monitoring visit

A professional said that communication with the home is good. They described the home as ‘brilliant’ and said that staff keep them informed through regular verbal and written updates. This level of communication provides better support for the children.

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This monitoring visit

The matching of children has been well considered by the registered manager. When assessing children’s compatibility to the home, the registered manager consults with placing social workers. This helps to ensure that potential risks are identified, and safety measures are put in place to mitigate the assessed risks.

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This monitoring visit

On occasions, the registered manager has not escalated her concerns with placing authorities to ensure that children’s needs are met. For example, the registered manager did not ensure there was appropriate and timely follow-up in relation to a child sexual exploitation incident. This lack of managerial challenge and escalation could result in the children being at risk of significant harm.

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This monitoring visit

Missing from home return interviews are currently undertaken by an identified person within the organisation. This is usually a manager from another home. However, there is no evidence in records to demonstrate that the registered manager has agreed this arrangement with the placing authorities responsible for children. This makes it difficult for the registered manager to challenge placing authorities of their statutory duties.

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This monitoring visit

Not all staff follow the agreed missing from home protocols in place for each child. In addition, risk assessments and support plans lack clarity and the quality is inconsistent. This lack of risk evaluation does not promote the safety of children.

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This monitoring visit

Some staff do not understand or recognise child sexual exploitation as a concern for children. While staff have had exploitation training, this is not consistently implemented in their practice. Furthermore, risk assessments are not up to date and they do not outline all the known risk factors. This means that staff are not always provided with clear guidance or know how to respond should children be at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

On at least one occasion, staff used physical intervention when there was no clear evidence of immediate risk to the child or staff. While the child was not placed at risk or harmed during the intervention, this is not effective behaviour management practice.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2560639 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, 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

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; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child

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Requirement Due date

effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 23 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing 28 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2560639 4 authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the

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Requirement Due date

registered person to— 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; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)) 28 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing— injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 28 May 2021

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Information about this inspection

This visit was carried out because the home is newly registered and met the criteria for a monitoring visit under the revised regulatory guidance, as a result of the COVID19 pandemic.

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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: 2560639 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: Meadows Care Ltd, Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 9EN

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Inspectors

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Brian Wood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2560639 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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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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