Children's home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 1 SC1263766

p.1

Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides care for up to four children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties and may have learning difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A notice of restriction of accommodation was served by Ofsted on 6 June 2023 to 28 August 2023. This means that no children can move into the home during this period without the notice being lifted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of this monitoring visit.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since January 2021. A new permanent manager has been appointed. He has not yet applied for registration with Ofsted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

One child has moved out of the home since the last inspection. The manager felt the home was unable to meet the child’s individual needs or keep them safe, and the child moved in an unplanned way. The manager has failed to reflect on this or evidence lessons learned to support children moving into the home and living together successfully in the future.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager has made some progress in addressing the quality of children’s risk plans. These have been reviewed and updated to provide information for staff to follow to reduce the risks to children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Two team meetings have taken place since the last inspection. The manager has discussed incidents and risks with staff alongside the changes to children’s plans. This means that leaders and managers can be assured that children are being cared Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 2 for by staff who know and understand the individual plans in place to safeguard children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff have taken appropriate action when children have gone missing from the home. This includes actively looking for children, contacting friends and family and maintaining regular phone contact with them. The approach to children returning to the home has changed. Staff will now collect children instead of them returning alone on public transport. Missing-from-home episodes are followed up with an independent return home interview.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have ensured that children have been supported to manage conflict and repair relationships. Since the last inspection, the manager has provided children with the opportunity to speak with independent advocates. Children are now encouraged to communicate their views and wishes about all aspects of their care, both with the staff team and professionals independent of the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager and staff have been committed to their learning and development and acknowledged the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Staff have completed a number of training programmes to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to support children, and they have implemented this learning into the home’s practice. The manager has not yet ensured that all staff have completed missing-from-home training.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home is visited each month by an independent person to monitor the progress and experiences of children. Leaders and managers have challenged the quality of this service and raised their concerns with senior managers for a change in service.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager was able to demonstrate some improvement in their monitoring and oversight of the home to support them in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The condition of the home has begun to improve. The manager and staff have added personal touches, such as photos of children and new soft furnishings. Further work is needed, such as replacing carpets and repainting fencing to improve the standard of conditions for children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2023 Full Inadequate 02/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/05/2022 Full Inadequate 01/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.4

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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))

p.4

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that there is managerial oversight of staff practice and the daily care being provided to children. Additionally, all staff should have the relevant knowledge and skills to meet the children’s needs, and an independent person should be appointed to undertake independent visits. 17 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 5 The health and well-being standard is that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.5

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iv))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that support is provided to children in respect of substance misuse issues. 17 July 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed; 17 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 6 that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(e)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that plans for children moving into the home include an assessment of how children’s needs can be met, that care is planned and provided to meet children’s identified needs and that action is taken to review the care provided to children when they cannot be safeguarded or when their needs cannot be met.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.6

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.6

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 17 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 7 understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix)(xi) (xii)(xiii)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that children are supported to develop positive relationships within the home. They should ensure that there are strategies in place to safeguard children from violent behaviour within the home and that children are supported when there are incidents of bullying in the home. They should ensure that there are clear boundaries and expectations to promote positive behaviour within the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(ii)(iv)(v)) 17 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 8 Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that direct work is undertaken with children to address their personal and individual risks and needs.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.8

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.8

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

p.8

Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.8

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

p.8

Requirement Due date

If the independent person becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest (whether under regulation 43(3) or otherwise) after a visit to the home, the independent person must include in the independent person’s report—

p.8

Requirement Due date

details of the conflict of interest; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the reasons why the independent person did not notify the registered provider of the conflict of interest before the visit. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5) (6)(a)(b)) 17 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 9 Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that visits are undertaken monthly by an independent person, that the duration of visits is sufficient to obtain thorough scrutiny of the home and that reports include feedback from children, staff and relatives.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.9

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.9

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

p.9

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 17 July 2023

p.9

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.9

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

p.10

Children’s home details

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

p.10

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Tammy Sutherland

p.10

Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1263766 11 regulates and 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.10

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.11

Inspector

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

p.11

Inspector

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

p.11