Children's Home run by Trafford Borough Council in Trafford

Inspection report for children's home: SC032496 1 SC032496 Registered provider: Trafford Borough Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is an adolescent support service provided by a local authority. The home provides short- and medium-term care for up to six children. The service provides intensive, time-limited support to children on the edge of care, through the No Wrong No Door model. At the time of the inspection, the service was actively working with 39 children and their families at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced manager who registered with Ofsted in April 2017.

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Inspection date: 20 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 20 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC032496 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. At the time of the inspection, the staff were supporting three children to move to other living arrangements, including moving to live at home and foster care. These arrangements are progressing well, although the manager recognises that it is ‘early days.’ Families and other professionals have commented positively on the plans and support the children are receiving.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children living at the home and in transition are making good progress. Two children are attending school full time and are supported by staff with homework and practical arrangements. Since the last inspection, one child has gained extremely good GCSE results and is attending college and considering her next steps in her education plan. This child had received a letter of congratulations from the Director of Children’s Services on her achievement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Plans were well advanced for a child who had come to live at the home more recently to restart education in the week following the inspection. This is impressive progress given that the child had been out of education for some time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has received no complaints and there has been no use of restraint. Incidents of missing from home have significantly reduced, as has the number of significant incidents requiring notification to Ofsted, which have been sent in a timely way.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager suffered two periods of sickness due to COVID-19 pandemic and recognises the impact that this has had on the smooth running of the home. Now that she has returned full time, the manager has been able to make good progress in many areas and this is reflected in the progress the children are making and the quality of record-keeping.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The local authority has appointed a new independent person to carry out visits under Regulation 44 of the Children’s Homes Regulations. The reports are detailed and clear and are received into Ofsted within appropriate timescales. The manager reported that she finds the recommendations helpful and supportive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager recognises that there is a need to improve the quality of her internal monitoring of the quality of care. She has plans in hand to address this by showing more evidence of how her consultation with children links to any changes she makes. Inspection report for children's home: SC032496 3 The local authority has introduced new internal monitoring arrangements led by senior managers, which also includes a meeting every quarter with the Corporate Director. The manager and responsible individual reported that this is a supportive, helpful and encouraging event, which is leading to further improvements within the home’s management arrangements and in the management of risk, which was very evident at the time of the inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home had a chronic shortage of staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic over the Christmas holiday, which meant that the home could not stay open. The staff supported children to have extended home leave and visited every day to ensure that children remained safe and were enjoying the Christmas festivities, and to provide practical support with food, presents and a Christmas tree.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to affect the stability of the staff team through sickness and absence. To provide continuity of staffing, the manager ensures that at least one member of staff from the core staff team who is known to the children remain on duty. Staff from across the authority have supported the home by carrying out shifts and sleep-in duty.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The authority launched the No Wrong Door project just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has slowed down the progress and the service is now subject to a formal consultation and there are plans to relaunch in the spring.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met all the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection, and none have been made following this inspection. Inspection report for children's home: SC032496 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/09/2019 Full Good 05/09/2018 Full Good 26/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC032496 5

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 for children's home: SC032496 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Trafford Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Trafford Council, Town Hall, Talbot Road, Manchester, Trafford M32 0TH

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Inspector

Helen Humphreys, Social Care HMI Inspection report for children's home: SC032496 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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