Children's Home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Tameside

Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 1 Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Four children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2023 but has been absent from the home for several months.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

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

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/05/2023 Full Inadequate 02/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/05/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 3

p.2

inadequate

Significant shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home have left children being exposed to harm. Consequently, children’s progress is limited and their experiences are not always positive.

p.3

inadequate

Children say they like living at the home. They are supported to develop positive relationships with the core staff team. However, staffing shortages are regularly covered by bank staff and staff from the local authority’s other homes. This means that children receive inconsistent care and are not always cared for by staff who know them or the home well. This is something that the Interim Head of Service is taking action to address.

p.3

inadequate

Children’s moves into and out of the home are not well planned. Decisions made by senior leaders for children to move into the home when their needs could not be safely met alongside the needs of other children living in the home have negatively impacted on the experiences of all children. Leaders and managers have not ensured that children are listened to or that their views are considered in decisions about their care. This does not enable children to feel included or cared for.

p.3

inadequate

Children’s attendance in education is varied. Three children currently living in the home are supported by staff to attend school on a regular basis. However, another child and children who previously lived at the home have not had adequate education plans in place and plans for them to access learning in the home have been unclear. This does not support children to achieve their educational potential and limits their opportunities for the future.

p.3

inadequate

Staff support and encourage family time between children, family members and carers. This helps children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them.

p.3

inadequate

Ongoing repairs and decoration to some areas of the home mean that it is now maintained to a good standard. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their interests. Further work is planned to improve the decor in all communal areas of the home.

p.3

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

Shortfalls in safeguarding practices have left children and staff exposed to harm. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that all staff, including casual staff, understand their responsibilities to keep children safe and that they are adequately trained to meet children’s needs. Consequently, staff have not responded appropriately to children’s behaviours. This has resulted in children being exposed to and experiencing harm, significant damage being caused to the home and children’s Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 4 access to communal areas being restricted. Concerns regarding children’s behaviours have also resulted in decisions for children to move out of the home quickly. This does not provide children with positive or safe experiences.

p.3

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are not well understood or responded to appropriately. Risk management strategies used in the home have been ineffective in keeping children safe. Dynamics between children have not been well managed. Consequently, some children witnessed extreme behaviours from other children and have been subjected to harm. Strategies used in response to one child’s behaviours have impacted on all children living in the home.

p.4

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

Bedroom doors are fitted with alarms that alert staff when children leave their bedroom at night. These are used for all children, not only when there are identified risks. The use of alarms is not included in children’s risk plans and children’s placing authority social workers have not given agreement for their use. This limits children’s privacy in the home. When safeguarding concerns have been identified, shortfalls in staff practice have led to door alarms not being used effectively to identify significant safeguarding concerns in relations between children. A requirement in relation to this was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

p.4

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

Leaders and managers do not have adequate oversight of incidents when staff need to hold children to keep them safe. Records lack detail about the holds used and debriefs with the child have been carried out by the staff involved in the intervention. This reduces oversight of the intervention by someone who was not involved and limits opportunities for managers to review and evaluate practice effectively.

p.4

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

Significant recording shortfalls have resulted in a lack of information about children’s experiences and incidents in the home. Leaders and managers were unable to find relevant information about an allegation and other incidents in the home and were unable to identify if appropriate action had been taken to address concerns. This significantly reduces opportunities to ensure that children are cared for safely or to identify any patterns or learning to improve practice in the home. A requirement regarding recording shortfalls was made at the last inspection and has been restated.

p.4

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

Serious incidents have not been notified to Ofsted as required by regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of practice in the home to ensure that children are safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Inadequate leadership and management arrangements in the home have had a detrimental impact on the quality of the care provided to children. There have been a number of management changes since the last inspection. The manager and deputy manager are currently not in work, the responsible individual has recently left the authority and there have been changes to the senior leadership team. These changes have led to inconsistency and a lack of oversight of practice in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 5 This is something that the Interim Head of Service is taking proactive action to address.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Internal and external monitoring systems are ineffective. Shortfalls around staff practice and poor-quality recording do not promote consistent practice and have left children and staff at risk of harm. In addition, the quality of care report has not been completed or sent to the regulator. This reduces opportunities to review and develop practice in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of supervision arrangements for staff is varied. Senior residential staff are carrying out supervision sessions with some of the care staff and records viewed were good, however, records for other staff could not be found. This reduces opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and identify any learning opportunities. Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.6

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(d)) 16 June 2024

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 16 June 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 7 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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received and

p.7

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)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

that, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children only move into the home when their needs can be met safely alongside the needs of other children living in the home and that all children are supported to have positive experiences of moving into and on from the home. 16 June 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 8 The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.8

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;

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.8

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

p.8

Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and 28 June 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 9 that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s daily routines encourage and promote their engagement in education.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure the use of surveillance is regularly reviewed in the home for all children. Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that systems in place are fit for purpose and that the home does not operate a blanket approach for all children.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and has been restated. 16 June 2024

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.9

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that all children have up-to-date plans and that each child’s records are completed and maintained to a good standard.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and has been restated. 28 June 2024

p.9

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— 28 June 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 10 the name of the child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

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;

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

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;

p.10

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")—

p.10

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.10

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)(iv))

p.10

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.

p.10

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—

p.10

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; 28 June 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 11 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

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").

p.11

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

p.11

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.

p.11

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))

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b))

p.11

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to develop and maintain positive relationships with each other and with all staff working in the home. 28 June 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 12 The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.11

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.12

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. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.12

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure children’s views, especially about moving into or out of the home, are listened to. 28 June 2024

p.12

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.12

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.12

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.12

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

p.12

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive supervision in line with the organisation’s supervision policy. 28 June 2024

p.12

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.12

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: 1263766 13

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

p.13

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6BH

p.13

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Tammy Sutherland

p.13

Inspector

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1263766 14 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.

p.13

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.14

Inspector

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

p.14

Inspector

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

p.14