Children's Home run by New Horizons (Stockport) Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 1 SC008600 Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2008.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/07/2022 Full Good 17/08/2021 Full Good 26/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 3

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inadequate

There have been a large number of children moving in and out of the home since the last inspection. The manager completes an assessment for each child who is new to the home. However, the assessment does not identify whether the skills, experience and training that staff have can meet the child’s needs effectively and how the child’s known risks may affect the risks of other children currently living in the home. As a result, the progress and experiences of some children have not been positive.

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inadequate

The manager and staff ensure that children’s health needs are met. Children are supported to attend routine appointments and to have access to necessary health services.

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inadequate

Children have trusting and positive relationships with staff. Children are treated with dignity and respect. Throughout the inspection, warm and nurturing relationships were observed between the children and staff. Placing authorities and parents speak positively about the home. However, a high use of agency staff reduces the consistency of care arrangements.

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inadequate

Staff ensure that children have good attendance in school. When one child has faced difficulties in relation to their education provider, the manager and staff have advocated on their behalf and ensured that their educational needs are being met while an alternative school is identified.

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inadequate

The manager and staff work with placing authorities and families to promote positive and meaningful family time in line with agreed plans. Children are also supported to spend time with friends. This means that children have age-appropriate social interactions and can build skills and strategies to form and maintain relationships and gain a sense of their own identity.

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inadequate

The overall judgement has been limited by the judgement given for ‘How well children and young people are helped and protected’.

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

Each child’s individual risks are detailed in their risk management plans. However, these are not robust documents and do not give clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow.

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

There have been shortfalls in staff responses when children have gone missing from the home. Staff practice is ineffective and inconsistent because they are not provided with a sufficiently clear plan with detailed strategies for them to follow. When a child is missing from the home, staff do not actively search areas where the Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 4 child is known to visit or go to addresses that are known to be a concern. Ineffective oversight from the manager has meant that staff practice is not reviewed and lessons to be learned are not identified following missing-from-home episodes. In addition to this, return home interviews are not always completed or recorded.

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

There have been incidents when children have been physically held. The manager has not evaluated each incident, and staff are not spoken to after the incident about the use of a hold. Children are given the opportunity for a debrief after a hold has taken place. However, these often focus on the child’s behaviour and do not ensure that the child understands the reason that a hold was necessary. When consequences are imposed, their effectiveness is not always evaluated.

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

There are some shortfalls in recruitment processes. A full employment history is not always obtained for all staff, and when issues are raised about a person’s references, there is no record of these issues being explored. Staff recruitment processes do not ensure that all staff are safe to work with children.

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

The children told the inspector that they like living in the home and that if they have a problem, they can talk to staff who will always help.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are gaps in the manager’s overall monitoring and review systems. This does not support the manager to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. This means that ineffective staff practice goes unchallenged and unchanged. The manager has identified that due to staffing shortfalls, her time has been used to work directly with the children rather than in her role as the manager of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has completed a quality of care review. However, this was not sent to Ofsted within the required time frame, and the report covered a nine-month period. The report is not evaluative and does not include direct feedback from children. This means that the report is ineffective as a tool for continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Significant events have occurred that are not always notified to Ofsted. This is required by regulation and inhibits external monitoring of children’s safety and welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is a core team of staff who are experienced and know the children well. Staff are trained in mandatory subjects. However, there are shortfalls in training specifically required to meet the children’s individual needs, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager and staff work proactively and positively with other agencies and professionals. They seek to build effective working relationships to secure positive outcomes for children. However, when children’s plans, such as care plans, health plans and education plans, are not sent by the placing authority, the manager is not Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 5 taking appropriate action to escalate these concerns to ensure that the home has all the relevant information to care for the children. When complaints have been raised, leaders and managers have responded swiftly and appropriately. They have ensured that thorough investigations have taken place in line with the company’s complaints policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Following the inspection, a case review was held that determined that two compliance notices would be issued as a result of failing to meet regulations. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 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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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff take effective action to search for children when they are missing from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In addition to this, the registered person must make sure there are clear missing-from-home procedures for staff to follow. These procedures must be individualised for each child. 30 June 2023

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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— 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 7 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children’s risk management plans are robust and contain clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow.

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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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they review and evaluate reports of incidents, physical interventions and episodes of missing from home. These reviews must be used to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge and how quality of care has improved. 30 June 2023

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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— 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 8 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that staff have training specifically for individual children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that when a child has been held, there is record kept showing that staff have been spoken to about the use of the measure and that children are supported to understand why a hold has been used.

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Requirement Due date

In addition to this, the use of the hold and of the imposed consequences must be evaluated for effectiveness. 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 9 The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revisit it; and

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Requirement Due date

Notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revisions. (Regulation 16 (1) (3))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring that the statement of purpose includes the details of the staff, including details of their experience and qualifications. 30 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is a full employment history for each staff member and an explanation for any gaps in employment.

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Requirement Due date

In addition to this, the registered person must evidence that any concerns raised on references have been explored. 30 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 (c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must challenge the placing authority if children’s plans, such as placing authority care 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 10 plans, health plans and education plans, are not received within an acceptable time frame following reviews.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 30 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report"). 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 11 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to compliance notices.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. The registered person should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. A record of the return home interview should be recorded in the missing-from-home record. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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: SC008600 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (Stockport) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 154-156 Buxton Road High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8EA

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Inspector

Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008600 13 inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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