Children's home run by Rochdale Borough Council in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 1237582 1 Registered provider: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by the local authority and is registered to provide care for up to four children. The home’s statement of purpose states it offers care to children on a short-term basis, alongside outreach support services under the ‘No Wrong Door’ model of care.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1237582 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2022 Full Good 11/03/2020 Full Good 20/08/2018 Full Good 18/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1237582 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care that meets their immediate needs during periods of crisis in their lives. Since the last inspection, several children have benefited from this short- term intervention. They were enabled to move on successfully to family members and foster care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who remain at the home on a longer-term basis enjoy individualised care that supports progress in many areas of their lives. This progress is underpinned by staff offering consistent and reliable care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer children time and attention that supports their confidence and emotional maturity. As a result, over time, one child has been supported to develop reflective skills and to respond in more socially acceptable ways.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff fully support children’s time spent with their families, in line with local authority plans. This support enables children to increase their abilities to develop and sustain positive relationships.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered regular activities and they are frequently consulted about their views and preferences. They are listened to, and staff understand the children well.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop age-appropriate independence skills that they will need later in life. However, one child does not have the benefit of a pathway plan or an up-to-date personal education plan.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Incidents of children going missing from home are infrequent. When incidents do occur, staff work hard to secure children’s safe return to the home.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is active liaison between staff and the police and plans are developed regarding any concerns that may emerge about children’s welfare. This minimises any risks that may pose a risk to children’s safety.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff spend time with children offering guidance and support, to help them develop their resilience and understanding of how to make safer choices.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Assessments relating to the risks children face are clear and understood well by the staff. When children are out of the home, staff keep in contact with them and assure themselves of their safety by going out to have physical sight of them.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff address unacceptable behaviour from children through clear and firm boundaries. Over time, children begin to respond to the consistency that staff offer and learn how to better manage their emotional responses. Inspection report for children’s home: 1237582 4 Allegations made about staff practice are responded to promptly by managers. Concerns are reported appropriately and investigations undertaken.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have not been any restraints since the last inspection. Staff use de-escalation techniques effectively to avoid incidents being prolonged or resulting in physical intervention.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the children and their plans well. He leads a dedicated staff team effectively and is committed to continuously improving the care children receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager actively collaborates with other professionals to support the work of the staff and inform any changes that may be necessary. Staff are supported in their care of children through advice from the home’s psychologist and the speech and language service.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers regularly review the plans for children and the care they receive. They are clear in their expectations of staff and use regular staff supervision and team meetings to improve children’s experiences.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers act as good advocates for children and work hard to ensure that they receive timely services. Although one child does not have an up-to-date personal education plan, managers have ensured that meetings have taken place to secure education provision for the coming term.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a range of training that informs their practice and care of children. Staff feel well supported by the management team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A requirement was made at the last inspection regarding reliance on non-permanent staff to cover rotas. Although recruitment is ongoing, there remains a reliance on non-core staff to deliver care. Managers are aware of this and are actively recruiting additional staff to ensure vacancies are filled. These efforts will take time to embed and therefore this requirement is restated. Inspection report for children’s home: 1237582 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children in this home are offered care from a stable team of core staff and that the provider minimises staff turnover. 31 October 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.5

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 30 September

p.5

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: 1237582 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU

p.6

Inspector

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1237582 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7