Children's Home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040733 1 SC040733

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by the local authority. The provider states in its statement of purpose that the home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in post.

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This monitoring visit

Since the inspection on the 3 May 2022, managers have taken steps to improve the care provided to children. An experienced manager is now in post with a clear vision of the ongoing improvements necessary. It is expected that she will apply to register with Ofsted. Staff who spoke to the inspector were positive about the changes made.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, several managers have completed audits of the records to form a clear action plan going forward. Managers are acting on any concerns or areas of weakness in staff practice. This means that children are more likely to be safe.

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This monitoring visit

Several improvements have been made to the home and garden. The fire exits are now accessible in case of an emergency. One child has moved out in line with his plans. Children who still live in the home do not smoke in the home. This has reduced the risk of fire and improved the environment that children live in. Staff have taken pride in improving the garden area, which children have been able to enjoy. Further work is planned to improve the home environment and continue to remove the more institutional aspects.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed a range of training since the last inspection. Managers are encouraging staff to reflect on their learning and use it to make a positive impact on the children’s lives. The training received is in line with the needs of the children Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040733 2 living in the home. Further therapeutic training is planned to help staff build more positive relationships with children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are taking action to ensure that staff follow procedures when children are at risk. Complaints and allegations have been reported to the relevant professionals and are now being investigated. Staff spoken to understand their role in reporting complaints. However, this will be reviewed again at the full inspection to ensure that practice is embedded across the team.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are also building on staff’s understanding of their role in protecting children when they are missing. Training, clearer risk management plans and improved management oversight means that staff are more likely to act consistently.

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This monitoring visit

The report from the independent person has been received, along with the updated statement of purpose. This gives the regulator clearer oversight of the events in the home. Senior managers have made the decision to reduce the conditions of the registration, offering care to three children.

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This monitoring visit

A case review was held on 21 June 2022. The compliance notices have been met. Some of the requirements made in the previous inspection will be reviewed at the next full inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/05/2022 Full Inadequate 01/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040733 3

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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 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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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; 10 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040733 4 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)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to managers ensuring that education is central to the culture and planning in the home, including structured plans for children who are not in education.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers using an escalation process when there are concerns that a child’s educational needs have not been assessed appropriately.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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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

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(v)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to staff understanding their role in implementing routines and boundaries effectively. 10 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 10 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040733 5 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to managers ensuring that the local authority plans are reflective of the child’s current plans that are used to form the basis of the care provided.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the environment is more homely and that damage is repaired quickly.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates specifically to removing internal locks from the doors of communal areas. 10 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. 10 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040733 6 (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (5))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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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Inspector

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040733 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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