Children's home run by 3S Adolescent Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 1 Registered provider: 3S Adolescent Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately operated home. It is registered to care for up to four children who may be experiencing social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2022; however, they are currently absent.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 2

p.1

Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 3

p.2

improvement to be good

There is currently one child living in the home. The child has made limited progress from their initial starting point. Staff offer support and guidance to the child and try to engage them in positive activities. However, staff do not help the child effectively to understand their emotions and become socially aware. The child is not being taught positive ways to resolve conflicts. This hinders the child’s relationships in the home and the community.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child has been supported by staff to engage with home education while an education provision is sought. However, staff are not clear about the academic goals the child is working towards. This limits any evaluation of the progress that the child makes.

p.3

improvement to be good

There is inconsistency in the quality of recording in the child’s records. Some documents represent a helpful contribution to the child’s life story. However, the language used in other records would not be easy for the child to understand. This prevents children from understanding and feeling included in their own care planning.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child benefits from living in a large, warm and modern home environment. The home is decorated to a high standard. Staff support the child to cook and further develop their independence skills. The child’s bedroom is personalised to reflect their individuality.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff make efforts to keep children’s families well informed. One parent reported to be happy with the level of communication from staff but raised concerns about staff’s ability to reduce risk.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff stay in touch with the child when they are missing from home. At the time of the inspection, the child was missing from home. Inspectors spoke to the child on the phone. The child reported feeling cared for and understood that staff are worried about their welfare. Due to the significant amount of time spent away from the home, the child’s progress has been limited.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children have been reported missing from home. Staff know and follow the agreed missing-from-home protocol. This means that there is a quick and coordinated response from all professionals to keep children safe.

p.3

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers regularly review and update risk assessments. However, risk management plans do not always detail the actions for staff to take in the event of Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 4 an incident. As a result, children may not experience consistency in how they are kept safe.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff do not always read and sign important documents. As a result, staff may be unaware of significant changes that may affect how well they can keep children safe. The manager has not challenged staff or taken appropriate steps to make sure that there is a clear system of accountability.

p.4

improvement to be good

Communication with important professionals and family members is effective. However, notifications of serious incidents are not always sent to the regulator in a timely manner or with sufficient detail. This limits the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.

p.4

improvement to be good

A detailed and clear behaviour management plan is in place. This has been informed by guidance from psychotherapy services. However, staff do not all follow this plan. This means that the child experiences inconsistent care, rules and boundaries. The child reported that one member of staff ‘knows what to do’ to help them calm down, but that this was not the same for all staff caring for them.

p.4

good

The registered manager is currently absent and has resigned from her post. Although there is management presence in the home from the responsible individual, the absence of the manager has had an impact on staff morale and staff have not all received regular supervision.

p.4

good

Management oversight and evaluation of records are ineffective. Managers are not identifying errors or using oversight as an opportunity for learning and staff development. In particular, key-work sessions are sometimes difficult for children to understand. This could lead to confusion for children around their plans and inconsistency in the provision of care.

p.4

good

The manager gathers a lot of information about children’s needs and the risks children are facing before they move in. However, this information is not used effectively to ensure that the staff team can meet the child’s needs. This may have contributed to one child moving out in an unplanned way.

p.4

good

Leaders and managers do not challenge the placing local authority effectively when plans do not meet children’s needs. This means that staff continue to support the child using a plan that does not meet their needs. This has had an impact on the child’s safety and progress.

p.4

good

The home is visited by an independent person each month. They write a report with recommendations for improvements in the home. When the report provides suggestions for improvement, managers act on these promptly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 5 The leadership team uses a comprehensive training matrix to track staff training and progress. Staff are supported to access regular, useful training courses. Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 6

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.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.6

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.6

Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 2 December 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have clear information within children’s risk assessments of the actions to take if an incident was to occur. 2 December 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 7 The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that impact risk assessments include analysis of the information gathered and a rationale of how the child’s needs will be met. 2 December 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.7

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

p.7

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation (5)(a)(b)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must challenge the local authority plans when these do not meet the child’s needs and keep them safe. 2 December 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and 2 December 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 8 positive responses to other children and adults. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the child is receiving consistent care, rules and boundaries from all staff members.

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the leadership and management team must have good oversight of the day-to-day events and records. Also, supervision of staff must take place in accordance with the workforce development plan. 2 December 2022

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. In particular, ensure that the language used is child-friendly and that no blaming or negative language is used. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5).  The registered person should ensure that staff sign essential documentation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 9

p.8

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: 2672244 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: 3S Adolescent Care Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 9B Turner Business Centre, Greengate, Middleton, Manchester M24 1RU

p.10

Inspectors

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Rob Neild, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2672244 11 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.10

Inspectors

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.11

Inspectors

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

p.11

Inspectors

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

p.11