Children's Home run by Orchid Care Ltd in Bury

Inspection report for children’s home: 2741493 1 Registered provider: Orchid Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in October 2023 and is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in October 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children spent time talking to the inspector.

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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: 20 February 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2741493 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2741493 3

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improvement to be good

One child, who recently moved into the home, said that they are happy living at the home and enjoy spending time with staff and trying new activities. At the time of the inspection, one child was due to leave the home because their behaviours were becoming unsafe.

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improvement to be good

Outcomes for children vary. Since the home registered, one child left after a short time and another child is due to leave. This is due to the provider not being able to keep the children safe. The change of staff and managers has contributed to this.

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improvement to be good

Children do not all have access to a full-time education programme. On the first day of the inspection, neither child was engaging in any education or learning and there was a lack of structure or routine. One child spent long periods in their bedroom. Staff have put educational routines in place for one child, but these have not been effective and the child has not engaged with these plans.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children to spend quality time with family members and friends. One child enjoys a variety of activities and spending time with staff in the community. These activities are captured in a colourful memory book for children to keep.

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improvement to be good

The home is safe and well maintained. It is decorated and furnished to a good standard. Care has been taken to provide a calm, welcoming home with a family feel. This helps children to develop a sense of belonging in their home.

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improvement to be good

Children receive key-work sessions to help them learn about their environment and community. However, these vary in quality and do not cover all known key issues in children’s lives. This is a missed opportunity to support children and educate them further.

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improvement to be good

Individual risk assessments for children are in place but do not reflect all current behaviours and risks.

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improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, there has been an increase in one child being reported as missing from the home. Relevant authorities are notified without delay and the provider works well with the police. However, the incident reports lack oversight and evaluation from managers and leaders. This means that patterns and trends have been missed when this risk has escalated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2741493 4 When children move into the home, pre-placement planning is robust, and the transitions are well planned and child led. This helps children to feel welcome and helps to ease any anxieties.

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improvement to be good

Children are aware of the complaints procedure and say that they know how to make a complaint. One child has made a complaint. The child felt supported and was happy with the way the complaint was dealt with.

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improvement to be good

Restraint is rarely used. On the few occasions it has been used, it was necessary and proportionate. Children and staff involved in restraints receive debriefs to discuss and reflect on the incident.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practice is not sufficiently robust. The provider failed to consider concerns about a member of staff’s practice in a previous role with another provider. This demonstrate that the provider has assured themselves that all staff are suitable and safe to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the home registered, there have been three managers. The responsible individual left shortly after registration. The two assistant managers have also left. This lack of leadership and management has impacted on the oversight and running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, there was a new manager in post. They have not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management oversight is inconsistent and lacks analysis. Managers lack oversight of safeguarding incidents. This means that staff do not learn from incidents, which results in risks continuing. Inconsistencies in staff practice are not challenged and addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Agency staff are being used regularly to ensure that staffing levels are appropriate. Staff say that they feel supported and that the new team of staff work well together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

When a family member made a complaint, the investigation did not include a written response to the complainant. Therefore, it is unclear if the complainant was satisfied with the response.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular supervision, which has been carried out by the directors in the absence of a manager. Team meetings are held frequently and provide good opportunities for staff to share information and come together as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

When serious incidents have occurred, the provider has not always notified Ofsted in line with regulation.

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

Inspection report for children’s home: 2741493 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 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

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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, risk management and risk assessments must be robust and followed. Staff must understand when and how to take action to reduce the risk of harm to children.

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Requirement Due date

There must be a consistent team of staff team who are appropriately qualified and skilled to meet the needs of the children in their care. 4 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2741493 6 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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is effective oversight and evaluation of safeguarding incidents. 4 June 2024

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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

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d)) 4 June 2024

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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. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 4 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 4 June 2024

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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

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

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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)(c)(e)) 4 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2741493 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children who are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason are supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet children’s needs and that staff can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. Staffing structures should promote continuity of care for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15)

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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: 2741493 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Orchid Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 168 Seymour Grove, Manchester M16 9GR

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Inspector

Jessica Higginson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2741493 9 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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