Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Tameside

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 1 Registered provider: Your Chapter 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 owned and operated by a private provider. The provider is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 17 October 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 these inspections, 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: 2519592 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Children’s vulnerabilities and risks are not properly assessed.  Staff do not have clear strategies to follow in practice to safeguard children.  Leaders, managers and staff do not understand their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe from harm.  The day-to-day management arrangements are unclear. Staff spoken to do not know who they should approach regarding management decisions.  Leaders and managers have not taken sufficient action to meet the requirements identified at the last full inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection in October 2023, two children have left, and two children have moved in to the home. Two children were admitted into the home on the same day. Prior to the children moving in to the home, leaders and managers did not consider the individual needs of each child. The acting manager told the inspector that this resulted in a child spending time living in a caravan.

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Findings from the inspection

Children attend a school that is operated by the provider and is situated in the grounds of the home. However, children’s attendance at education has deteriorated. Staff do not have the necessary skills to help children to maintain consistent attendance at school. Also, children do not benefit from up-to-date education plans. This shortfall, compounded with a deterioration in attendance, has had a negative impact on children’s educational progress.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to attend routine medical appointments. However, children do not benefit from access to specialist services to meet their individual needs. Children do not access therapeutic support with the in-house clinical team. Health records are not up to date and do not consistently identify children’s individual health and well-being needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk management plans are not up to date, and children’s vulnerabilities are not properly assessed. This includes missing-from-care incidents and self-injurious behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans do not include clear strategies for staff to follow in practice to safeguard children. For example, when staff are concerned that children may be purchasing and misusing substances, staff do not take effective action to ensure that children are safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical intervention records do not provide an accurate account of incidents. Staff do not use approved methods of restraint to safely hold children. Leaders and managers do not consistently evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 3 measure used. This means that there is limited oversight of physical intervention practices in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders, managers, and staff do not take appropriate action when potential safeguarding concerns arise. For example, staff have found pocketknives and illegal substances in a child’s bedroom. This leaves children at risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

The day-to-day management arrangements are unclear. Staff spoken to did not know who they should approach regarding management decisions. In addition, the home’s statement of purpose is not up to date and does not include accurate information about the leadership and management at the setting.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, staff have received additional training to meet children’s individual needs. However, leaders and managers do not evaluate learning from training and how this is embedded into day-to-day practice. This does not help leaders and managers to identify any gaps in staff skills and knowledge to improve children’s care.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents in the home are not reliably recorded and evaluated. Staff are not provided with clear direction from managers on how to effectively manage or support children’s behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not taken sufficient action to meet the requirements made at the last full inspection. Therefore, these are restated. There are additional requirements stated as part of this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Due to the serious and widespread concerns identified, Ofsted imposed an urgent condition to vary the home’s conditions of registration to reduce the number of children living at the home from four to two. Compliance notices were also issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted will continue to monitor the provider’s compliance with these notices.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2023 Full Inadequate 21/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/11/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 4

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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

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

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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)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 10 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 27 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 5 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(x))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that children’s records include clear plans for supporting and promoting children’s engagement in education.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the care planning for children in the home includes the therapeutic support provided, and that safe systems are in place for children to access records.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 27 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 6 The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children are consulted in the development of their care plans and records.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 27 March 2024

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; 10 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 7 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must ensure that the leadership and management arrangements for the home are clear, and HMCI is notified of leadership and management appointments. 27 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 8 The registered person must ensure that—

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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 the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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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 name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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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

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that restraint records are accurate and contain details of the measure used and any steps to avoid the measure. The measure should be evaluated as to the effectiveness. 27 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that the statement of purpose accurately details staffing and management arrangements in the home, and the home provides care that is consistent with the statement of purpose. 27 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Your Chapter Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hobart House, 3 Oakwater Avenue, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle SK8 3SR

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Inspector

Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2519592 11 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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Inspector

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