Children's Home run by Homes for Support in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 1 Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a short-stay service and provides care on a short-term basis for up to eight children aged between 8 and 17. The provider’s statement of purpose states that the staff care for children with EBD (emotional and social difficulties).

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCIIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCIFF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first full inspection. The manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2021.

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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: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This is the home’s first inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 3

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improvement to be good

This home was registered with Ofsted in September 2021. The home is clean, tidy, and spacious. The service is registered to provide accommodation on a short-term basis. Short-term may be up to 12 weeks, and this can be extended based on the individual needs of the child.

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improvement to be good

One child successfully transitioned back to foster care. This child had a positive experience during his time in the home. He maintained his education and all his health needs were met. His new foster carers reported positive communication between themselves and the staff to ensure a smooth transition.

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improvement to be good

Children who display more challenging and complex behaviour have had fewer positive experiences and placements have ended abruptly. The staff team is new, and some staff have not had direct experience of how to manage children with challenging behaviour.

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Children are forming positive attachments with staff. Children’s views were varied. Overall, children were happy with the quality of care they received. However, children require a confident team that can challenge the placing authority on their behalf. This is relevant for those children who are confused about their future care plans.

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improvement to be good

Education plans require improvement to ensure that children are engaged in meaningful education. Neither child was proactively engaged in education. One child did not have a clear education plan at the start of his placement. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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improvement to be good

Children have access to local primary healthcare services. Health assessments are completed by the specialist nurse designated to children in care. Not all children are compliant to allow the nurse to see them to complete the assessment. The home is required to ensure that children have updated health plans. Children were openly using vapes in the home during the inspector’s visit; this is an indication that smoking cessation programmes are not effective.

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improvement to be good

Children are engaged in a wide variety of activities to support their emotional, social and physical well-being. This also ensures that children are engaged in the wider community. Current staffing arrangements are one to one. The inspector was reassured that this is not an infringement of children’s liberty, but a staffing decision to ensure that sufficient staff are on hand to support children.

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improvement to be good

Key-work sessions completed with children ensure that they have a wide range of discussions with staff to capture their wishes and feelings, and that they know how to keep safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 4 Partnership working with parents and professionals is good. The home is using the knowledge and expertise of one parent to best manage risks and behaviours shown by her child.

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improvement to be good

Risk management plans are detailed documents that are well written. However, they do not work in practice as staff do not routinely implement the behaviour management strategies to manage the risks.

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improvement to be good

One incident involving two children carried on all night and into the following morning. The behaviour management plan was ineffective, and staff did not follow the management strategies to manage the incident. For one child, medication to help regulate emotions was missed. Staff were unable to encourage the child to take his medication. Evening routines did not encourage settling-in time and caused disruption for both children.

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improvement to be good

During a heightened episode, a child was given a screwdriver to remove a broken mirror from his bedroom wall. Bedroom mirrors are fixed, and staff are unable to remove these immediately for safety. A recommendation has been made to address this matter.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management plans for children with emotional and/or social difficulties are not effective for children who present with complex behaviours linked to autism spectrum disorder.

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention strategies are used as a last resort. One incident involved members of the public to help with the incident. This was a challenging incident that required managing to ensure that the child was safe. However, only staff who are trained to apply physical restraint measures should use this strategy. A recommendation has been made to address this matter.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour plans to manage smoking and/or vaping are not effective. Children were openly vaping in their bedrooms and in front of the inspector. Contracts of expectations of phone use do not have any effect as children do not routinely hand in their phones to staff for checking. Effective monitoring is important for those children who are at risk of exploitation and may go missing from care.

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improvement to be good

Staff actively search for children when they are missing. This may include searching for children in other cities. Detailed reports are completed for missing incidents. A child was missing for three nights and Ofsted was not notified until the child returned. This is a serious incident, and a requirement is made to address this matter. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 5 A model of care requires further development to ensure that effectively planned care avoids drift and delay in developing plans for children moving out of the home.

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improvement to be good

Children who have not been in the care system before need assurances and a clear understanding of their care plans. In this instance, children would benefit from an advocate.

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good

The registered manager and her staff are a new team with varied skill sets which are still developing. The manager is required to be familiar with the home’s statement of purpose. The signing-in book is not compliant with general data protection regulations. Some documents, such as individual behaviour support plans, are not routinely updated.

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good

Staff do not routinely inform visitors of the fire exit routes and this is not covered in supervision notes. This is particularly relevant due to the size and design of the building. A requirement is made to address this matter.

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good

CCTV surveillance is used around the external boundaries of the home. Internal surveillance is used in the staff office. The home’s surveillance policy does not give a plausible reason why the internal CCTV monitoring is required. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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good

The home has a designated area for staff smoking on the grounds. The registered manager and staff should lead by example by refraining from smoking on the home’s premises or in the surrounding area and set high expectations for children, for example, through positive role modelling for children who may be encouraged to participate in smoking cessation. A recommendation has been made to address this matter.

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good

Regular team meetings and supervision take place to ensure that staff are supported and feel confident in their roles. Expertise within the team is varied and some staff do not have skills in managing behaviours associated with emotional and/or social difficulties. Where possible, the visibility of the manager to support staff during this development phase is important to ensure that the team meets the expectations of the manager.

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good

Training is offered to all staff. Training to match the specific needs of children that staff care for is required to fully understand and help children. The manager has used the knowledge of a parent to help inform practice.

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good

External monitoring of the home is completed by an independent visitor. Thorough scrutiny is necessary to ensure that the home meets the requirements and recommendations where improvement is required. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 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, 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 7 that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e))

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 8 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 31 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that visitors to the home are aware of the means of escape in the event of a fire. 31 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 9 support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b)) Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 10

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support, and where possible, this should be provided by a person that the child chooses. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene, etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. With reference to suitable mirrors in children’s bedrooms and the use of CCTV in the office. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should only accept placements for children when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and when they have fully considered the

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Recommendations

impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensuring confidentiality of names in children’s records. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should consider that any use of restraint carries risks. These include causing physical injury, psychological trauma or emotional disturbance. When considering whether restraint is warranted, staff in children’s homes need to consider staff training and supervision of practice. Only staff trained in physical intervention techniques should be involved in physical

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Recommendations

interventions. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 49, paragraph 9.55)  The registered person should ensure that each child’s day-to-day health and well- being needs are met and that health assessments are completed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 33, paragraph 7.3)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home complies with relevant health and safety legislations and that staff do not smoke within proximity of the home. This is to ensure positive role modelling for children and setting a good standard for the home in the residential community. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 11

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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: 2647770 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes for Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1st Floor, Cloister House, Riverside, New Bailey Street, Manchester M3 5FS

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Inspector

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2647770 13 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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