Children's Home run by XYP Childcare Limited in Tameside

Inspection report children's home: 2719899 1 Registered provider: XYP Childcare Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered as a multi-building children’s home in July 2023. The manager was registered as part of this registration.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties in up to three buildings under a single registration.

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Information about this children's home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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 inadequate

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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: 23 January 2024

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Due to serious and widespread concerns identified at the last full inspection, an immediate notice to suspend the registration of the home was served on 25 January 2024. Following a monitoring visit on 11 April 2024, a case review was held on 16 April 2024, and it was deemed that sufficient action had been taken for the suspension to be lifted. Inspection report children's home: 2719899 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report children's home: 2719899 3

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improvement to be good

There is one child living in the home. The child returned to the home following the period of suspension. Staff maintained a relationship with the child staff during the period of suspension with the agreement of the local authority. The child said that they are pleased to be back in their home.

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improvement to be good

The staff team are largely inexperienced, and most are new to the home. There has been an over reliance on agency staff. However, most staff spoken with, know the child well.

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improvement to be good

Staff provide the child with a homely environment which has been improved. However, the child’s bedroom still requires personalisation.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to attend routine health appointments and annual health reviews. Specialist services have been identified to support the child’s individual emotional and physical needs.

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improvement to be good

The child’s records are not consistently kept up to date. This means that the child does not have an accurate record of their journey through the home. Furthermore, children’s plans are not consistently reviewed to support effective care planning arrangements.

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improvement to be good

Education is promoted in the home. The child has one-to-one tutoring for four hours per week and is making some progress. Formal education has been identified to commence next term. The child has been supported to visit the provision in preparation.

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improvement to be good

Recreational activities are available to the child. They visit the local youth club regularly and are currently taking part in a 300,000-step challenge for charity. The child is encouraged to try new things as well as pursuing their hobbies and interests.

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improvement to be good

The child is helped to maintain relationships with their families in line with their relevant plans.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers understand the child’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. Risk management plans are available. However, not all known risks and incidents are included in these plans. This does not support staff in their day-to-day practice to consistently reduce the risk of harm to the child. Inspection report children's home: 2719899 4 Room searches have been carried out following concerns or incidents of self-injurious behaviour. Some records lack detail and clarity and managers have not evaluated the records to demonstrate if the measure is effective.

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improvement to be good

Positive behaviour is supported in the home. However, not all staff are clear about the boundaries and routines in place. This means that staff do not always help the child to understand their own behaviour about what is safe and acceptable.

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improvement to be good

The child is helped to develop their independence skills. They are supported to take age- appropriate risks by attending the local youth club with carefully considered supervision. This helps the child to develop their independence and participate in the wider community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Inspectors identified many examples of ineffective management oversight. The registered manager was unable to identify the homes strengths and weaknesses and has not taken appropriate action to meet the requirements identified at the previous inspection. Seven requirements are re-stated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not taken appropriate steps to review and update the suitability of the homes locations or gathered relevant feedback.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The homes statement of purpose does not accurately detail the care being provided or current staffing arrangements and qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not ensured that there is a record of the actual hours worked in the home or include the relevant details of all staff on shift. This means that the regulator is not provided with an accurate record of those who are caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager does not utilise external monitoring systems to improve the quality of care. This is a missed opportunity to review care practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not benefit from practice related supervision in line with the providers own policies. Shortfalls in practice have not been effectively reviewed or identified. Staff with limited experience and insufficient training have been leading care practices in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings have taken place. However, records do not demonstrate reflective practice or opportunities for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not provided with training that meets the child’s individual needs. The registered manager was unable to identify what training staff have attended or what is required. This includes training in restraint practice. Inspection report children's home: 2719899 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, 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)).

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Risk 14 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2719899 6 management plans must be kept up-to date and contain clear actions for staff to take in practice to reduce the risk of harm to children. 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;

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers are to ensure that there are sufficient review and monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care provided in the home and identify learning opportunities from practice. 14 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 14 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2719899 7 understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(ix)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that care is delivered in line with the child’s individual and relevant plans.

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The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience;

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive regular practice related supervision by an appropriately qualified person and ongoing training to meet the needs of the children. 14 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

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

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include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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are signed and dated by the author of each entry.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)). 14 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2719899 8 In particular, leaders and managers must ensure children's records are kept up to date and accurately detail the child's journey through the home.

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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

(Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)). 14 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children's home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they assess the risks for individual children within the home’s location. Furthermore, consultation should take place with relevant stakeholders. 14 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home's records (except for a child's case records, unless the child and the child's placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. 14 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2719899 9 The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person's report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)(b)(4)(a)(b)(5)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the independent person is supported to gather relevant information and identify any shortfalls in practice. Leaders and managers must ensure that action is taken to address any actions identified.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that there is an accurate record of the staff working in the home and the proposed and actual hours worked. 14 August 2024 Inspection report children's home: 2719899 10

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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 children's home: 2719899 11

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Children's home details

Registered provider: XYP Childcare Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 43 Stamford Road, Mossley, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL5 0BG

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Philip Hogan-Birse

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Inspectors

Nichola Croft, social care inspector Sarah Jackson, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2719899 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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