Children's Home run by Rochdale Borough Council in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034851 1 SC034851

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority and is registered to provide care for up to five children. The home’s statement of purpose states that care is provided for children between the ages of 11 and 17 years and that most will present with varying degrees of emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in April 2021.

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This monitoring visit

Following the previous inspection, which took place on 7 and 8 June 2022, a notice was served to restrict the number of children that could live at the home. Since that inspection, no additional children have moved in to the home. This means that the provider has adhered to the terms of the notice.

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This monitoring visit

Also, following the previous inspection, three compliance notices were served. One notice, which related to regulation 12, was considered to have been met following a monitoring visit on 19 July 2022. The purpose of this visit was to gather evidence that demonstrates the provider’s actions in response to two notices, which relate regulation 11 and regulation 13.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, two children have successfully moved from the home into new homes. One child is currently living at the home, but has plans that will shortly conclude in another well-planned move to a new home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has continued provide additional support to the manager and staff team to develop better-quality care and improve oversight and monitoring. This is having a positive effect in the home. The provider’s plan to empower the staff team to improve practice is now active. This will involve a period of time appraising staff’s learning and monitoring improvements in practice so that they can be sustained when children begin to live at the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034851 2 Staff have received training that has expanded their knowledge and skills to meet the needs of children with complex behaviours and varying levels of risk. In addition, new tools help staff to identify how they can support children better. Staff are supported to do this with input from the provider’s clinical psychologist and speech and language therapist. The provider has appointed two new clinical psychologists,

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This monitoring visit

who will continue to support children across all of their homes.

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This monitoring visit

The change in focus from key work to direct work with children continues to be positive. There is now a shared responsibility for children’s care, while still maintaining identified staff who children can recognise as their key worker. This has developed much stronger relationships with children across the whole staff team. As a result, the quality of children’s experiences has improved and risks have reduced as children have wanted to spend more time in the home and with staff. Activities have also been improved experiences, as children and staff have enjoyed taking part.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risks are identified and understood by staff. Each child has a plan that informs staff about children’s behaviours. The plan includes positive behaviours, praise points and potential strengths. Plans also identify behaviours that need to be well managed, with clear strategies to use and known triggers to avoid. Incidents are recorded and reviewed by managers to evaluate whether the actions were appropriate or if children could have been supported in a different way.

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This monitoring visit

The managerial oversight in the home, and of individual incidents, has improved. Documents now include an opportunity for evaluation and challenge relating to staff’s practice, including identifying good practice. Some systems need to become embedded in practice and others require further review to become more effective monitoring tools.

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This monitoring visit

Following the visit, a case review was held. The provider has met the steps in the compliance notices. The risks that led to issuing the notice restricting accommodation have reduced. The notice restricting accommodation at the home has been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the last inspection will be considered at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034851 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/06/2022 Full Inadequate 21/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/07/2019 Full Good 03/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034851 4

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 7 August 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

that staff— 7 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034851 5 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child 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. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c)) 7 August 2022

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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: SC034851 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Mark Broomhead, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034851 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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