Children's home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 1 SC064858 Registered provider: Salford City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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. There is currently no registered manager in post.

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 2 June 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Two compliance notices served on 7 June 2021 in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/04/2021 Full Inadequate 21/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 3

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improvement to be good

Since the previous visit there is only one child living in the home. She is building positive relationships with staff. Her views have been sought regularly and have been central to her care planning. The child’s bedroom has been decorated and personalised with photos and soft furnishings. As a result, she is invested in her plans to live there on a long-term basis.

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improvement to be good

Staff have had discussions with local colleges in preparation for the child enrolling on a course in September. However, planning has not been proactive or thorough enough. This has the potential to mean that her transition is less successful.

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improvement to be good

The child is now enjoying taking part in regular activities. She has also been on holiday with staff and has secured a part-time job. Her life experiences and relationships appear to be improved, which has been recognised by both the child and her family. As a result, she now spends positive time with family on a regular basis.

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improvement to be good

Children’s records have vastly improved. They are more child-focused and use language that makes them more accessible to children. Children’s individual preferences and learning needs have been incorporated. Training has increased the staff’s understanding of how children’s records are an important part of their journey, both now and in later life.

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improvement to be good

When children need to move to another home, they do not always receive planned transitions with the people who have cared for them. This results in children not knowing who is going to support them emotionally through such a significant change in their lives.

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improvement to be good

Ongoing maintenance is taking place to make the home more comfortable. Careful consideration has been given to removing items that appear more institutional. As a result, the environment already feels more homely and more pleasant to be in.

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improvement to be good

Staff have increased their understanding of the potential risks and how to manage them. Staff are more confident that they can keep children safe. One child’s parent said, ‘I have seen a difference in the staff. [Name of child] feels safer now.’

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improvement to be good

Allegations and disclosures are reported appropriately. However, managers do not keep child protection issues at the forefront of their practice. Managers are unable to provide accurate updates to children or professionals. As a result, children are sometimes unclear of what is being done after significant events in their lives. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 4 The child living in the home is now safe. Risk management plans provide staff with clear strategies and expectations to keep the child safe. These plans are also accessible to the child and use sensitive language that is not offensive or stigmatising to them.

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improvement to be good

A review of the suitability of the location has been completed previously but has not been reviewed annually. Important information about relevant risks in the locality has not been considered in relation to the child currently living in the home.

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good

A manager and deputy manager have been recruited and are due to start in post. A wider focus of support and investment into the service and staff team has meant that the compliance notices have been met. It is now important that improvements made are embedded and sustained. Internal quality assurance processes in place now direct a clear vision of improvement.

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good

Staff have received a wide range of training. This has improved their knowledge of how to engage with the child and keep them safe. However, high levels of staff sickness have led to an increased use of bank staff. Bank staff have not received the necessary training, qualifications and supervision sessions to support them in their role. This leaves both the child and the staff vulnerable to poor practice.

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good

Effective multi-agency working has begun to make an impact on the child’s life. Managers have supported the child to express her views. This has resulted in significant changes. For example, staff requested that the child’s education plans are written in a way she can understand them. This inclusive working widens the child’s opportunities for the future.

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good

Staff have also become more reflective in their practice. They are passionate about making the changes needed. Supervisions and team meetings have taken place regularly for permanent staff. These have provided staff with opportunities for reflection and learning.

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good

The independent person visits the home monthly. Managers have used the independent person’s reports to improve the quality of care, but the reports have not been sent to Ofsted. This reduces the regulator’s oversight of events in the home and any progress made. Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 5

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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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development and receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to bank staff as well as the permanent staff team. 31 August 2021

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)) 31 August 2021

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children and use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation (6) (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers keeping a clear chronology of updates to ongoing child protection issues to provide to children and professionals. 31 August 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any moves from the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)  The registered person should ensure that planning around education is proactive, supportive and realistic with appropriate contingency planning in place. (‘Guide to Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 6 the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.12)  The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. Current risks in the area to children living in the home need to be considered. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external

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Recommendations

agency or bank staff, have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)

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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 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 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Salford City Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Carly Quinn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC064858 8 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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