Children's Home run by Trafford Borough Council in Trafford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 1 SC032496 Registered provider: Trafford Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2017.

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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: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Three compliance notices were served on 15 June 2022 in relation to regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) and regulation 14 (the care planning standard). All compliance notices were met when reviewed at a monitoring visit on 19 July 2022. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2022 Full Inadequate 20/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 3

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improvement to be good

Children are building positive relationships with staff. Children who have lived at the home before stay in touch with the staff. This means that the children value the relationships they have made.

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improvement to be good

The home environment is improving. Staff have considered children’s views when decorating and adding soft furnishings. Children’s bedrooms are also clean and personalised. However, locks on internal doors prevent children from accessing all areas of their home and make the home feel institutional.

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improvement to be good

Welcome packs help children to feel more comfortable when they arrive. Children receive information about the home in a child-friendly guide. However, the guide has not been updated in line with changes to the current model of care being used. This may lead to children feeling confused about who will be caring for them.

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improvement to be good

Staff have supported children to prepare for their return to school after the summer holidays. The manager has escalated concerns and advocated for children. However, there is still not an agreed plan for one child, and education plans lack structure. This means that the child is missing out on learning, which will impact on her future.

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improvement to be good

One child has not yet been supported to understand past trauma and the impact this has had on her relationships. This means that the child is left unsure of their future plans and why decisions have been made.

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improvement to be good

Children benefit from being able to spend time with family. However, staff have not always taken opportunities to promote and support children in developing and maintaining important relationships. This could have an impact on future plans for children.

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improvement to be good

Children have frequently been reported missing from care. Safety plans now provide clearer guidance for staff and children. However, staff are not consistent in taking appropriate steps to find children before reporting them missing to the police. This is frustrating for children and drains public resources.

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improvement to be good

Staff are curious about children’s friendships and children have been supported to learn about healthy relationships. Safety plans and agreements have been completed with children so that they are aware of the expectations and steps staff will take to ensure that children are safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 4 Children have built relationships with specialists from external services. Staff understand that children will only engage in meaningful learning with people who they trust. As a result, children are beginning to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children with any substance misuse concerns. Risk management plans now guide staff to seek medical advice on each occasion. Staff have also made relevant referrals to support services when necessary.

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improvement to be good

Multi-agency meetings take place regularly. Relevant information is shared with people working with each child. Plans on how to keep children safe are discussed as a group. As a result, complex safeguarding risks have reduced.

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good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. The manager has good oversight of the events that happen in the children’s lives and understands the importance of multi-agency support. As a result, children have access to support services which are relevant to their needs.

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good

The manager reviews any incidents when children are reported missing from care. However, she has not identified or addressed weaknesses in staff practice. As a result, staff have not consistently followed the protocols in place.

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good

The manager does not always use systems in place to monitor the service effectively. For example, action plans are not always included or reviewed after meetings and health and safety checks. This makes it difficult for the manager to monitor the progress made and how staff are meeting the needs of the children.

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good

The manager is a good advocate for the children, which has resulted in positive outcomes. For example, one child, who no longer lives at the home, has been able to stay in the local area to maintain relationships with their family. This means that children feel listened to and valued.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision and say that they feel supported. The staff are appropriately trained to meet the specific needs of the children. Staff also have access to additional development opportunities to further enhance their skills and knowledge. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 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

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to removing internal locks on the doors of communal areas. 28 October 2022

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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

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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(b)) 28 October 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 6 This specifically relates to staff following the steps identified in the missing-from-care protocol before reporting children as missing to the police, unless an immediate risk is known or suspected.

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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

a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare.

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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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that action plans are regularly reviewed and updated after meetings, auditing and health and safety checks. 28 October 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that evaluation of incidents, including missing-from-home incidents, is undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)  The registered person should ensure that children who are not attending full-time education are engaged in suitable structured activities which are relevant to their individual needs and interests. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should help children to develop and maintain a positive relationship with their family. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.6)  The registered person should ensure that staff play a full role in life-story work.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is reflective of the current model of care and provides clear and current information to children about who will care for them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.23) Inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 7

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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: SC032496 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Trafford Council, Town Hall, Talbot Road, Manchester, Trafford M32 0TH

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Inspectors

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Kerri Lynch-Mahoney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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