Children's Home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 1 Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. The provider’s statement of purpose states that the staff provide care for up to four children with mild to severe learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2022.

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 requires improvement to be 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: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a clean, warm and comfortable home. They benefit from good relationships with staff who care for them. Staff take care to consider each child’s needs and personal preferences. As a result, all children can enjoy spending time with people who they trust in a homely environment.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide care for children with physical and/or learning disabilities. Children have access to necessary equipment to support any physical health needs. Staff work with external professionals, including a speech and language therapist. As a result, children are happy and making significant improvements in how they communicate.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are attending education and making progress from their individual starting points. Staff are in the process of seeking additional support and services through the local offer. This means that children will be able to access more services that further enhance their life experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with their families and people who are important to them. Staff have also helped to enhance children’s relationships with their family by supporting life-story work, building memory books and displaying photos in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have been supported when moving into the home. Considerate multi- agency planning has meant that the current group of children enjoy living together. They also have clear plans that include short- and long-term goals. This means that children are able to celebrate all of their achievements and make continual progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from other professionals is very positive. One social worker said, ‘Communication is great. I am really pleased with the care provided to [name of child].’ Another child’s social worker wrote, ‘This has been a fab placement for [name of child] so far and he has continued to thrive.’

p.3

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

Children are safe. Staff have a good understanding of each child’s needs and risks that may be present. Staff understand and follow detailed risk management plans. Relevant health professionals who support staff to keep each child safe are involved in each child’s care.

p.3

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

Staff support children in the community. They understand and use strategies so that all children can experience a range of activities. Regular discussions take place between staff, who are keen to give children support but also opportunities to be more independent. Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 4 Physical intervention is only used as a last resort. Managers have reviewed the records but have not always identified weaknesses in recording or taken steps to ensure that children have received a debrief. This has improved and staff are now using creative methods so that children are given the opportunity to express their views.

p.3

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

Staff regularly meet with specialists trained in an evidence-based approach that underpins how they care for children with learning disabilities. Staff use the strategies advised, and children’s plans are updated with all relevant information. As a result, children are more settled and learning new ways to communicate.

p.4

good

The manager is currently on maternity leave and an interim manager is in post. Records have been reviewed; however, managers have not noted or addressed weaknesses in recording. This has not had an impact on the children but is a missed opportunity for reflection and learning.

p.4

good

Managers welcome complaints and use them as an opportunity to improve. Leaders and managers have created a culture that actively promotes tolerance, equality and diversity. Staff support children to spend time in the community. When there are difficulties, staff respond effectively and adapt.

p.4

good

Managers have been actively recruiting. Staff who are employed have been recruited safely. Due to a number of changes in staffing, leaders have focused on limiting any impact on children. However, staff have not always had regular opportunities to meet as a team. This has affected staff morale at times.

p.4

good

Staff receive regular supervision and training. However, not all staff have completed the mandatory training allocated to them. As staff have previous experience and training, this has not had a direct impact on the children, but it does have the potential to do so.

p.4

good

The independent person visits the home once a month and writes a report. Reports meet regulation and provide scrutiny and recommendations to help the provider to improve. Managers have also carried out an internal review of the quality of care. Child-focused actions have been identified and positive changes made as a result. Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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.

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 aspire to 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 staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

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)(b)(c)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers having clear oversight of records and identifying any weaknesses in the care provided or the recording and taking steps to improve.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This also relates to managers ensuring that staff meet regularly as a team.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This also relates to staff completing mandatory training within an appropriate time frame. 30 November

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. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 6 In particular, managers must ensure that all records are clear and show the steps that staff have taken when caring for children who are injured.

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are thoroughly reviewed to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that any child who has been restrained is given the opportunity express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)

p.6

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: 2664826 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Family Care Associates Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Family Care Associates Limited, Business Centre, 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire PR5 6QE

p.7

Inspector

Sylvia Eboigbe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2664826 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8