Children's home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Inspection report children’s home: SC065067 1 SC065067 Registered provider: Salford City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home. The provider states in their statement of purpose that they provide care for four children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The manager has been in post since November 2020 but has not yet submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, Ofsted suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Ofsted previously visited this setting on 03 November 2020 to carry out a monitoring visit and on 15 September 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The reports are published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and children, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: Two compliance notices were served on 23 September 2020 in relation to regulation 6, the quality and purpose of care standard, and regulation 12, the protection of children standard. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/10/2018 Full Good 05/12/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 3

p.2

inadequate

Children do not feel safe in this home and, as a result, they are not making progress. Staff do not have the skills and knowledge to care for children with specific needs including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiance disorder (ODD). This means that staff have been unsuccessful in putting appropriate boundaries in place and are unable to engage children with their plans.

p.3

inadequate

Professionals from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have expressed concerns about one child’s increase in self-harming behaviour since moving into the home. Children have been supported to attend health appointments with the mental and sexual health teams, but staff have not re-arranged all health appointments that were cancelled due to COVID-19. Because of this, one child’s health needs are not fully understood.

p.3

inadequate

Staff do not have the ability to manage and minimise the risks between the children. This has had a direct impact on care planning as some relationships between children and their families have become strained.

p.3

inadequate

Children go to school more now than they did before moving in. This does not always lead to increased engagement though, as unsettled times in the home are having a negative impact in school. Incentive plans and rewards to help children engage have not been used consistently and so do not have a lasting effect.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The manager’s decisions about which children can safely live together, have led to an increase in bullying, self-harm and exploitation. Risk management plans do not reflect the current risks or provide staff with strategies to keep children safe. As a result, children do not feel safe and staff are inconsistent in their approach to risk management.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staffing difficulties and limited access to a vehicle have meant that children have been left in situations where they are vulnerable. Staff report children as missing from their home, but do not take appropriate steps to find them and bring them home safely.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The language used by staff and throughout children’s records is inappropriate. It places blame on the children, rather than evidencing an understanding of the risks to them, their needs and their vulnerabilities. This lack of understanding has led to poor relationships between children and staff. It also has the potential to affect the children’s self-esteem when viewing their records. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 4 Restraint records are of poor quality and raise concerns about staff practice. These records do not include children’s comments or further actions that are required. When the manager has been involved in an incident of physical restraint, there has not been independent evaluation of the incident to ensure that all the actions taken were proportionate. This reduces the opportunity for reflection and learning, which is important to ensure that children are safe.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

A number of significant incidents have not been reported to Ofsted. This reduces the regulator’s oversight and ability to confirm that steps are being taken to keep children safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The current manager has not yet applied to register with Ofsted. There has not been a registered manager since August 2019. Ofsted have issued letters to remind the manager and responsible individual of this, with no response. This means that suitability checks of the manager’s skills and experience have not been conducted.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Due to staffing difficulties, the full staffing structure is not in place. In order to maintain consistency for children, the manager has been caring for them directly. As a result, management oversight has been reduced. This has led to unnecessary delays for children in health appointments and safety planning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have not kept accurate records of mandatory and other training staff have undertaken, or their training needs. The manager has not had training in a number of areas and has also not identified or addressed the staff’s training needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff sickness levels are high. Recruitment is currently on going, however, managers have not been proactive in starting this process. Steps taken by staff to engage children are limited due to exhaustion.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent visitor to the home does not regularly seek feedback from children, their parents or professionals involved in the children’s lives. This means they do not get a true picture of what it is like for children living in the home. The visitor does not then come to a clear conclusion of whether children are safeguarded effectively and if their well-being is promoted. This means that a number of areas for development have not been captured at an early enough stage to prevent the escalation of issues.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Compliance notices have been served as a result of this inspection. Steps were taken by the provider to ensure that the children were immediately safe. Ofsted will continue to monitor to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to meet the compliance notices and requirements. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 20 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 6 This relates specifically to managers ensuring that risk management plans provide clear direction of the steps staff are to take to keep children safe. This also relates to managers ensuring that agreed strategies are used by staff to prevent children being at risk. Where managers are involved in incidents or physical intervention, records need to be reviewed by senior managers.

p.5

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.6

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager ensuring that staff have training to equip them with the skills and knowledge to keep children safe and meet their needs; specifically, ADHD, self-harm, and preventing exploitation and bullying. 20 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 7 This also relates to managers having clear oversight of the events in the children’s lives to ensure that all relevant agencies are supporting them.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(f))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to managers fully assessing whether staff have the skills to meet a child’s needs and keep them safe, before accepting that they can move in.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This also relates to the children’s plans being used as working documents that are accessible to the children.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers ensuring that children access their health appointments and assessments in line with their plans and appointments are rearranged if necessary.

p.7

Requirement Due date

. 20 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 8 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if —

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to informing Ofsted, placing authorities and additional external services of information relating to exploitation, disclosures and allegations. 20 August 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the manager submitting an application to register with Ofsted. 20 August 2021

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

that staff— 20 August 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 9 de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.8

Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(xi)(xiii)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to staff protecting children from being bullied in the home and through social media.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This also relates to staff reviewing the effectiveness of incentive plans and consulting with children.

p.9

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.9

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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—

p.9

Requirement Due date

and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 20 August 2021

p.9

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.9

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 10 the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 11

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 5DA

p.11

Inspector

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 12 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.

p.11

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspector

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

p.12