Children's Home run by Trafford Borough Council in Trafford

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 1 SC032496

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Registered provider: Trafford Borough Council

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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 experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, four children have moved into the home and three children have moved on from the home and had planned and successful transitions. The manager has reduced the impact of these moves on children through open communication, good matching processes and being present to support children’s moves.

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The care of children

All children are engaged in education in line with their individual plans.

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The care of children

Children’s time with family is encouraged. Staff work hard to build relationships and support families for the benefit of the children.

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The care of children

The home is well decorated and resourced to meet the children’s needs. Locks have been removed from internal doors. However, children are not always supported to keep their bedrooms clean.

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The care of children

Staff support children to engage in their care. For one child, who speaks English as an additional language, this has included the use of interpreters, technology and translation to ensure that their views, wishes and feelings are heard. However, room searches are not discussed with children and the reasons for these are not always clear.

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The safety of children

There has been a significant reduction in the number of episodes of children going missing from home. Staff have worked with children and other professionals successfully to reduce these episodes, and the manager’s oversight of records has improved.

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The safety of children

Children have clear, regularly updated safety plans that staff follow and understand. Incidents are rare and there has been no use of restraint. This shows that children have positive relationships with the staff team and that the staff use de-escalation techniques successfully.

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The safety of children

Safeguarding incidents have been appropriately managed, and managers have informed all relevant professionals. Staff are effective in using de-escalation techniques. This means that children are kept safe. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 3 The use of positive consequences and incentives outweighs the use of negative consequences. However, managers do not always review the effectiveness of the measures used.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is suitably experienced. Staff say that they feel supported. Supervision sessions are detailed and include clear action plans with timescales for completion. Staff have received training in missing-from-care procedures, and the manager has sourced life-story work training for the team which will take place over the coming months. This means that staff have the skills needed to support children’s individual needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager’s consistent use of systems to monitor the home has improved her oversight and planning. Previous requirements and recommendations have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/06/2022 Full Inadequate 20/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a child’s room is only searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or well-being. Entering a child’s room may also be necessary to allow it to be cleaned. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and that the principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Trafford Borough Council

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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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Inspector

Kerri Lynch-Mahoney, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC032496 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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