Children's home run by Homes for Support

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 1

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to five children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that they provide care for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (social and emotional difficulties). The site consists of a main house and an annex.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 10 May 2022. Compliance notices were served under regulation 12, regulation 13 and regulation 14. A restriction notice was also issued. This means that no more children can move into the home.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was conducted on 21 June 2022 to review the progress in addressing the steps in the compliance notices. This visit concluded that insufficient steps had been taken to address the notices under regulation 12 and regulation 14. As a result, two compliance notices were issued in respect of these regulations and the restriction of accommodation remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

There are currently two children living in the home. There have been no new admissions since the last full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken steps to address the shortfalls in safeguarding knowledge and practice under regulation 12.

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This monitoring visit

Records of team meetings and staff supervision emphasise the deficits in the staff team’s knowledge and understanding and have provided a safe forum for this to be carefully explored. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 2 Extensive internal and external training sessions have been provided for staff. These sessions include a range of safeguarding scenarios, knowledge quizzes and practical guidance on the assessment and management of risk. As a result, staff’s awareness and understanding of managing risks have improved.

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This monitoring visit

Additional training, including the roles and responsibilities of a corporate parent, children’s development and children’s natural curiosity have assisted the staff to have a better understanding of the importance of their role in safeguarding children. This training has explored the concept of enabling children to take measured risks, against those risks which would require an escalated response.

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This monitoring visit

The new registered manager has taken steps to ensure that the online recording system identifies when updated documents, such as policies, placement plans and risk assessments, have not been reviewed by staff. This monitoring has resulted in necessary action. Taking this action reinforces the importance of a collective and consistent response to the protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

Guidance on creating, developing and managing risk assessments has been further developed. This has assisted the staff team to update risk assessments and include the specific action to take should a child be at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit on 21 June 2022, there have been no incidents of concern.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken steps to address the shortfalls in relation to care planning under regulation 14.

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This monitoring visit

The acting manager has successfully registered with Ofsted to become the home’s permanent registered manager. The manager has the experience and skills required to support the continued development of the team.

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This monitoring visit

Assessments that consider risks associated with children moving into the home have been developed across the organisation to create a uniformed approach to the matching process for new referrals. Managers and staff have been provided with guidance and training to enhance their skills and knowledge in assessing referrals to the home. This new guidance provides managers with practical scenarios to consider when assessing if the home can suitably meet the needs of the child.

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This monitoring visit

Children are cared for by staff with a variety of experience. Not all the staff are qualified. However, two staff have completed the diploma in children and young people’s workforce at level 5 and two staff are qualified at level 3. The remaining staff are undertaking this training and are near completion. This continued professional training is aimed to assist the staff in providing a good-quality care experience for children.

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This monitoring visit

Placement planning has improved. Each placement plan has been revised to include a review of the child’s individual needs and the actions to be taken to address them. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 3 Key-work sessions are developed in accordance with the targets of each child’s individual plan. As a result, managers and staff can quickly track each child’s individual progress towards their plan.

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This monitoring visit

Key-work sessions and weekly summaries are provided to the placing authority for review. However, feedback is not regularly received. This is because of inconsistencies in social worker allocation. This has resulted in two siblings having six social workers in a 12-month period. The registered manager has taken steps to escalate this concern in the authority.

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This monitoring visit

Pathway planning has improved. A clear and structured plan is in place to aid the move of one child to an identified foster placement in his home community. Evidence of regular key-work sessions provide a good insight into the awareness of the child making the move and the support being provided by staff. This move will enable the child to resume his studies at his preferred school and reconnect with teachers and friends.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case review, it is Ofsted’s view that the provider has successfully met the compliance notices. The notice restricting accommodation will not be renewed and will expire on 3 August 2022. Requirements set at the inspection will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection judgement 10/05/2022 Full Inadequate 01/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 5

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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 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; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii)(vii)(b)) 5 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and 5 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 6 to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality-of-care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 5 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 7 supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 8

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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

Maria McGranaghan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2592713 9 regulates and inspects 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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