Children's Home run by All Round Care Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 1 Registered provider: All Round Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for one child with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2021

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 13 September 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 3

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improvement to be good

There is one child living in the home. He told the inspector that he loves living in the home. Staff know the child well and have developed close relationships with him. The home is warm and welcoming. However, some areas of the home would benefit from some refurbishment.

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improvement to be good

The child is listened to. His wishes and feelings are at the forefront of decision- making in the home. He has access to an advocate with whom he is building a relationship. Recent changes to the staff team have been implemented according to the child’s wishes. This means that he is cared for by a staff team that he feels comfortable with and enjoys spending time with.

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improvement to be good

The child is supported well in relation to his health needs. Staff recognise the child’s previously unmet health needs. They have supported the child to access specialist assessments and support.

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improvement to be good

The child attends full-time education. He is making progress and has good attendance. Staff accompany the child on school trips to observe and monitor his interactions with peers and teaching staff. This helps staff to advocate on the child’s behalf to manage behaviour effectively. As a result, the child now receives more consistent care between home and school. However, there have been significant delays in obtaining an up-to-date personal education plan. His education, health and care plan has not been reviewed and is out of timescales. This means that staff do not have the most up-to-date information in respect of the child’s educational needs and targets.

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improvement to be good

Staff spend time with the child engaging in activities that they know he enjoys. The introduction of celebration days has helped the child to celebrate achievements with staff and family. He enjoys activities with children from other homes in the organisation. As a result, he has developed some positive relationships with them.

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improvement to be good

Staff have positive relationships with the child’s family. They support the child in spending time with family and friends safely. However, arrangements for this are not always accurately reflected in his records. This means that staff do not have access to up-to-date arrangements for him.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities well. They care for him with empathy and compassion.

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improvement to be good

As a result of strong relationships between the staff team and child, incidents of Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 4 challenging behaviour in the home are rare. When incidents do occur, staff support the child well. However, incidents are not reviewed independently when the manager is involved. When incidents occur outside of the home, staff work with professionals to understand the behaviour and implement strategies to reduce further risk. However, the child’s records do not always reflect incidents of violence and aggression that have occurred outside of the home. Furthermore, incidents have not been notified to Ofsted in line with regulation. This limits the regulator’s monitoring of the home to ensure that children are safe.

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improvement to be good

The child’s risk assessment and behaviour support plans are not consistently reviewed. They have not been updated following incidents and do not accurately reflect all known risks for the child. This means that there is no clear guidance or strategies for staff to follow in practice. As a result, work has not been undertaken with the child to address some areas of risk.

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improvement to be good

Staff promote positive behaviour using rewards and consequences. When consequences are used, they are fair and proportionate. Staff reflect on negative behaviour and seek the child’s views on consequences that have been imposed. However, staff have not undertaken work with the child to address discriminatory or prejudiced views. This means that staff have not consistently promoted socially acceptable behaviour.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the risks associated with the internet well. Staff support the child to access the internet safely. Appropriate restrictions have been installed on the child’s mobile phone. This ensures that he does not access inappropriate content.

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improvement to be good

There have been no incidents of staff physically holding the child. The child’s records include clear guidance on preferred holds and support following incidents if physical intervention is required.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practices have not been followed when new staff are recruited. Gaps in employment history are not identified, and there have been delays in obtaining references for one new member of staff.

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good

The home is managed by an experienced manager. She knows the child living in the home well and has a strong relationship with him. She spends time with the child, which he enjoys. She is a strong advocate for him to ensure that he receives the level of support that he requires. However, she has not escalated concerns or challenged professionals when delays arise in the review of the child’s educational needs or sharing of plans.

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good

The manager does not have sufficient oversight of the child’s records. This means that the information in records is not regularly reviewed or updated accordingly. This results in conflicting and confusing information and guidance for staff to follow. Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 5 The manager has not taken sufficient action to meet the requirements from the previous inspection, and some requirements are restated.

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good

There have been some recent changes to the staff team. The child’s wishes and preferences for who cares for him have been listened to. Staff who are familiar with the child have moved from other homes in the organisation to provide consistent care to him. However, the statement of purpose has not been reviewed or shared with Ofsted following changes to the staff team.

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good

Staff benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. They have attended training that is relevant to the child’s needs. The manager recognises models of care that will meet the child’s needs. However, the manager has not implemented development plans to identify strengths and areas of improvement needed in the home.

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good

Internal quality of care reviews have not been undertaken. Therefore, they are not submitted to Ofsted in line with regulation. External monitoring of the home is undertaken on a monthly basis. However, the independent visitor does not routinely obtain feedback. This limits the independent scrutiny of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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)(a)(i)(ii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, children’s records should be reviewed and maintained with up-to-date and relevant information and include all known risks for children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 12 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 12 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 7 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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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)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to support being provided to the child to address all known risks.

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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

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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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) (2)(a) (3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, safer recruitment procedures should be followed when recruiting new staff. 12 October 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— 12 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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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

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. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)) 12 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 9 Specifically, incidents should be reviewed by an independent person on occasions when the registered manager is involved.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 12 October 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)) 12 October 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— 12 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 10 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”).

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise 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 revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 12 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 11

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that the home is decorated and maintained to a good standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the independent visitor makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. This should include independent feedback. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2653207 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: All Round Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Renwick Square, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan WN4 9NF

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Inspector

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2653207 13 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 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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