Children's home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report for children's home: SC034108 1 SC034108 Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides long-term and short-break care for up to six children who may have physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since July 2022. A temporary manager has been recruited.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 15 December 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC034108 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/12/2021 Full Good 14/11/2019 Full Good 09/05/2018 Full Outstanding 06/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC034108 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from high-quality, well-planned and highly personalised care that supports their growth and contributes to change and improvement in their lives. A social worker said: ‘[Name of home] achieves good outcomes for children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The needs of children are carefully assessed before children come to stay at the home. This ensures that children are suitably matched with each other. However, risk impact assessments do not routinely include evidence of the consultations held with children’s social workers, parents or other professionals to evidence the manager’s decision-making. As a result, a recommendation is made in respect of this issue.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop positive relationships with the families of children, schools, social workers and health professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met effectively. Staff support family time taking place, and this ensures that children sustain their close relationships with their loved ones. A social worker said: ‘I think the relationships staff have with parents is a strength and positive.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school on a regular basis with support and encouragement from staff. Staff work closely with teachers to promote the learning and educational achievements of children. Children recently attended their school prom, and staff helped the children celebrate this special event in style with new prom clothes and accessorised transport. A parent said: ‘I’m quite grateful as [name of child] has made really good progress.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from positive activities, such as movie nights, arts and crafts, sensory play, beach walking and visiting theme parks with staff. Children are provided with healthy and nutritious meals, and mealtimes are organised to be orderly and social occasions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children’s independence and the development of their life skills so that children learn to do things for themselves with improved self-confidence. Children’s achievements are always celebrated by staff. A social worker reported, ‘The outcomes achieved by children is testament to the nurturing care the children receive from staff attuned to their needs.’

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

The home has a strong safeguarding culture where the safety of children is prioritised effectively. Staff are vetted and recruited carefully to ensure that children are protected from unsuitable people. Inspection report for children's home: SC034108 4 Staff are trained in child protection and take their safeguarding roles and responsibilities very seriously. Staff are always alert and responsive to the risk of harm. Allegations of abuse are dealt with quickly and professionally by the manager and staff. Significant incidents are shared with the appropriate safeguarding professionals to promote the well-being and safety of children.

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

There has been no use of consequences, missing-from-home incidents or restraints since the last inspection. The behaviours of children are managed safely and effectively by staff. Staff ensure that children are supported and supervised effectively, both inside and outside of the home.

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

Staff are familiar with the communication needs of the children. They recognise when children are unhappy or distressed. Staff understand triggers for children’s behaviour and take prompt action to support children to prevent behaviours from escalating. A social worker reported, ‘Understanding a young person’s narrative and lived experience and providing trauma-informed practice has ensured that the young person achieves positive outcomes.’

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

Staff have a very good understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of children. Risks associated with children are managed safely by staff. Robust risk assessments are in place and staff use risk management plans to protect children and keep them safe from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager post has been vacant since July 2022. An interim manager is now in post.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager post has been advertised and interviews are due to take place on 31 October 2022. The successful candidate, once appointed, will need to make an application for registration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager is currently supported by the responsible individual for the home. The manager has high aspirations for the future of the service. They have high expectations of staff to deliver a high-quality service for children and their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some of the home’s part-time staff have been promoted to full-time positions. Additionally, vacant staff positions have been advertised and interviews are scheduled to take place this month. This will negate the need for the use of agency staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from well-trained, qualified, enthusiastic and experienced staff who know them well. Staff benefit from regular practice-related supervision and feel valued and supported in their roles. Staff are clinical-skills trained, so they have the right levels of experience to meet the specific needs of children. Team meetings take place regularly, and staff deliver care that meets the aims and objectives as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. Inspection report for children's home: SC034108 5 The performance of the home is monitored effectively. The manager makes positive use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to secure continuing improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has completed a quality of care review; however, the report does not consider the views of parents, social workers or other stakeholders, which is a missed opportunity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home provides children with a physically safe and appropriately secure environment. However, the home is not well designed for children with disabilities. A staff member said: ‘Our building is old and tired and no longer fit for purpose.’ A recommendation was also made at the last inspection about this issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

As part of the redesign of the service, there are plans now being formally considered for the relocation of the service. Funding for a new purpose-built property is now being considered for the future development of the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC034108 6

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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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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children. They will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. This is with reference to the provider implementing their proposed plans for the redesign and reallocation of the service to more suitable premises. (‘Guide to the Children s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 3.9, page 15)  The registered person should actively ascertain and consider the views of parents, social workers and other stakeholders as part of the home’s quality of care review. (‘Guide to the Children Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 10.24, page 55)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that consultations held with social workers, parents and schools are recorded and considered in the home’s risk impact assessments. (‘Guide to the Children Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 8.3, page 38)

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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: SC034108 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Market Street, Hyde, Tameside SK14 1AL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Tammy Sutherland

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC034108 8 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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