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

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an acting manager currently in post; however, she has not yet submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 24 August 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 were served on 12 July 2021 in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report children's home: SC065067 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/07/2021 Full Inadequate 31/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/10/2018 Full Good 05/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC065067 3

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improvement to be good

One child has been living in the home for a short time. After moving a number of times in the last year, the child is taking small steps to settle in. She has invested in her bedroom which has been personalised and decorated. Staff understand that they will need to build their relationships slowly. Staff are planning events to help the child trust that she will live at the home until ready to live independently.

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improvement to be good

The child is now attending school after a period of absence. Staff understand the importance of encouraging her to attend school. Incentive plans have been agreed with the child and linked with school attendance to support her building on this. The child has engaged with forming the incentive plan, increasing the likelihood of her engaging with it going forward. This meets a previous requirement.

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improvement to be good

The child is supported with her mental health. Links with previous mental health workers and outreach workers have been maintained. This regular time with familiar people allows the child to express her feelings and receive support from people she trusts. Clear plans have been given to staff to aid their understanding of the child’s mental health needs.

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improvement to be good

The child’s plans are written in a way that is sensitive and accessible to her. Plans are being used as working documents that are being added to as staff get to know the child more. Some staff have attended training to help them understand the importance of capturing the voice of the child. As a result, the child can read the plans now, and will be able to in the future, to aid her understanding of her lived experience in the home.

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improvement to be good

The home itself is clean, tidy and well maintained. Plans are in place to invest further in making the environment more homely and less institutional. The child’s views are being requested regularly about changes in the home. As a result, the child has become comfortable in giving ideas, further increasing the likelihood that she will become more settled.

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improvement to be good

Staff share appropriate information with families. When there are difficulties with relationships, staff support the child. Staff are taking steps to build a more nurturing approach. More time is needed for this to be fully embedded.

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improvement to be good

Currently, as only one child is living in the home, staff are able to concentrate on supporting her and making efforts to keep her safe. However, the manager does recognise that clear, thorough, multi-agency planning for any other children moving Inspection report children's home: SC065067 4 into the home will be essential to ensure that children do not become at increased risk when living together.

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improvement to be good

Staff are becoming more responsive when risks are presented. Staff efforts to be more curious about children’s friendship groups have allowed them to locate the child quickly when her whereabouts has been unknown. Records are more detailed and include evidence of staff searching local areas and reporting relevant information to the police.

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improvement to be good

As the child currently living in the home has far reaching peer links, there is an increased risk of exploitation. However, managers and staff are aware of the risks and are working with other agencies to ensure that the child is as safe as possible. Clear risk management plans have been written, that provide clear strategies and expectations for the staff. It is imperative that the team communicates on a daily basis to ensure that all staff are aware of the current plans, as they are evolving quickly.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child appropriately after any serious incidents. Professionals and parents have been informed and relevant referrals made in order to provide additional support when needed. Ofsted have also been notified.

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improvement to be good

The new team has been formed mainly from existing staff within the authority. There have also been newly recruited staff join the team. Attempts have not been made to contact all previous employers where staff have worked with children or vulnerable adults. This is important to ensure that any relevant information is known.

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good

The home had a period without any children living in it. This decision was made by senior managers to ensure that the necessary changes, identified in the previous full inspection, were implemented. A new team of experienced staff has been formed, including a new management team. The manager is going to submit an application to register; however, this remains as a repeat requirement, as it has not yet been completed.

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good

Staff appreciate the improved structure and direction from the management team. Team meetings have been more regular. This has been instigated by the manager to ensure that the new team becomes more consistent. The manager has recognised that team changes can be unsettling and wants to support this process.

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good

The manager has improved oversight and was able to access information for the purpose of the inspection. Improved multi-agency working is helping managers hold other professionals accountable in completing their tasks. However, when reviewing records in the home, the manager has not always reviewed the staff’s actions. This is a missed opportunity for reflection and learning. Inspection report children's home: SC065067 5 Staff are in the process of receiving a range of training. This will help them understand and meet the needs of the child who lives in the home and other children who will move in. Managers are researching the content of the training courses to review the quality and ensure that training will have a positive impact on the care of the children. As a result, staff are feeling supported by managers because they are investing in giving them the knowledge and tools they need

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good

All staff appreciate that there is more progress to be made. The management team are also reflective and enthusiastic about the developments moving forward. Supervisions are in the process of being completed to provide support and identify individual strengths and areas for development within the staff team.

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good

Visits from an independent person are taking place. Their reports now provide more scrutiny, include feedback and meet regulations. The actions identified are being used to improve the quality of care. Inspection report children's home: SC065067 6

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, if a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, references must be verified with the employer to clarify the reason why the employment or position ended. 30 November Inspection report children's home: SC065067 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that evaluation is undertaken for all incidents to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)

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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: SC065067 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC065067 9 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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