Children's Home run by Care 4 Every Child Limited in Tameside

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2641768 1 Registered provider: Care 4 Every Child Limited

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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 run by a private organisation and is registered to care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were four children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 13 September 2023

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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. The inspector has 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: 2641768 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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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. This was a planned move, and the child was supported by staff to visit their new home before they left the home. The child’s time at the home was celebrated and they were given farewell gifts. This demonstrated to the child that they were highly regarded amongst staff and other residents. Since leaving the home, the child has returned to visit the staff and other children living there.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are given the opportunity to build meaningful and trusting relationships with staff. A child who recently left the home was supported by staff to visit on Christmas day, so they could spend time with staff and the other children. This showed the child that they are valued by leaders, managers and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Where it is safe to do so, children are supported to maintain positive relationships with people who are important to them. Staff develop relationships with those people and work together to keep children safe. For example, where one child is concerned, staff contact the family of the home where the child will be spending the night to ensure that they know the child’s whereabouts.

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Findings from the inspection

The religious and cultural beliefs of children continue to be respected and promoted by staff. Children have access to material that enables them to practise their faith. A child who has moved into the home since the last inspection said that staff take them to the shops to purchase food in line with their culture, something that they felt was important to them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff generally are ambitious for children to attend school or access alternative education provision. When children refuse to attend or take part in education at home, staff provide incentives as encouragement. However, leaders and managers have not been able to demonstrate for one child that they have provided a plan of at-home educational activities for them.

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Findings from the inspection

Children know how to make a complaint. There have not been any complaints since the last inspection. However, the manager discussed her intention to investigate all complaints and make children aware of the outcome.

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Findings from the inspection

In addition, the manager has made changes to the complaints process to ensure that children can make a complaint confidentially to the manager. This process is accessible for all children and lets them know that their views are important. For example, complaint forms have been translated into Pashto, the first language of one of the children living in the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2641768 3 The home is beautifully decorated and personalised with photographs of children around the home. There have been significant improvements since the last inspection. Children’s bedrooms are well maintained, there is no damage to the walls, and light fittings have been repaired.

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Findings from the inspection

Plans focused on children’s safety and welfare reflect children’s current risks and vulnerabilities. They are detailed and provide clear guidance to staff on what to do when a child is at risk. This means staff can respond quickly and effectively to reduce children experiencing harm.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been one missing-from-home incident since the last inspection. The records show that the response to this was well co-ordinated, and staff follow the relevant protocols when children go missing so that they are not missing for long.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers ensure that mandatory training for all staff is up to date. Gaps in staff learning are identified and addressed by the manager. For example, following a medication error, the staff involved had to complete further training before they could administer medication to children in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the management arrangements. The registered manager post is vacant, and the deputy manager has been promoted to the home’s manager. She has been in the role of manager since 13 November 2023. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced, and is taking steps to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. A staff member spoken to said they feel well supported by the manager.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been improvements to management oversight in the home. However, there remain some improvements to be made in this area. For example, during the inspection, it was identified that the manager did not know that staff are failing to consistently sign documentation, to verify that the safety plan for a child sleeping out of the home has been followed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2641768 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/04/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2641768 5

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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, 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.

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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

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)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that all relevant plans are read, understood and followed by those who care for children.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, leaders and managers must ensure that procedures around safety plans for children are consistently followed. 1 March 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that where children placed in the home are not accessing an academic provision, leaders, managers and staff work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, leaders, managers and staff should have a clear education plan setting out education activities for children to follow in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2641768 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care 4 Every Child Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Library Chambers, 48 Union Street Hyde SK14 1ND

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Angela Hodgkinson

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2641768 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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