Children's Home run by Brooks & Brooks Recruitment Ltd in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 1 Registered provider: Brooks & Brooks Recruitment

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This private home provides care for one child. The home’s statement of purpose states that children living in this home may experience a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left their role in January 2024. A new manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024. She is registered to manage another one of the providers children’s homes. She was absent at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke with the child who was living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward to address specific health and safety concerns received by Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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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good

Date of last inspection: 21 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 2

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 20 February 2024, an assurance inspection was carried out in response to an increase in serious safeguarding notifications sent to Ofsted by the provider and a complaint from the child’s placing authority. The inspector identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at the inspection. One compliance notice was served under regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. On 5 March 2024 at a monitoring visit, the inspector found that the provider had taken action to meet the steps in the compliance notice served under regulation 13. Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 4

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improvement to be good

The house has recently been refurbished to make it homely and comfortable for the child. However, the child has not been provided with the personal necessities they required since moving into the home, such as enough suitable or appropriate clothing. The responsible individual requested that staff support the child to purchase some appropriate clothing during the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Care planning prior to children moving into the home has not always been effective. For one child, their specific needs and risks have not been carefully considered or accurately reflected in their planning and transition records. In addition, assessments do not include specific strategies to mitigate any known risks associated for children to determine if the staff team are able to meet the child’s individual needs. Consequently, one child’s placement came to an end abruptly and there has been no meaningful end or closure for the child.

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improvement to be good

For the child currently living in the home, following an unsettled beginning to their placement they have been supported to build positive relationships with the staff team. This has helped them to feel settled and secure. The child has accessed all routine health appointments and engages in weekly sessions with the providers own therapist with who they have developed a positive and trusting relationship. The child is being supported to work through past trauma and helped to understand risks, such as child sexual exploitation.

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improvement to be good

Staff supported the child to secure a college course in line with their aspirations and interests at a local college. Staff worked with the child to support them through the application process and to give them the confidence to apply after some time out of education.

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improvement to be good

The child is kept occupied through a range of recreational activities associated with the child’s interests. They are supported to engage in regular physical exercise. This includes a gym membership, countryside walks and swimming, which are built into the child’s weekly planners. Staff supports the child to develop their independence skills to help prepare them for adulthood.

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improvement to be good

The child said that they feel listened to, that their views, wishes and feelings are taken into account. Their voice is evidenced in their care and behaviour management plans. The child is consulted about family time, which is being taken at the child’s own pace and request. Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 5

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improvement to be good

There has been a fire at the home since the last inspection. The child and staff were required to move out the home for a few nights due to smoke damage. The child had not taken part in a fire safety evacuation prior to the fire. A previous child living in the home had also not engaged in a fire drill while living in the home. The home’s fire policy and statement of purpose also provides conflicting guidance about the frequency a fire drill should be undertaken.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers identified that staff had failed to undertake an inventory of belongings when the child moved into the home to account for and remove any prohibited belongings, such as lighters. This was addressed during a subject specific supervision with staff and to identify action that could have been taken to reduce the risk of the fire.

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improvement to be good

Following the incident, focused work has been undertaken with the child to educate them on fire safety, including a visit from the local fire service. The child’s risk assessments have also been updated to reflect the incident and the home’s annual fire safety inspection has been brought forward.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and manager’s oversight of children’s risk assessments is not effective. Risk assessments and behaviour support plans do not include consistent information in relation to the child’s Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) transition plan and the plans agreed by the placing authority to gradually reduce the child’s level of supervision. This means that staff are not provided with clear guidance in relation to strategies to be implemented to keep the child safe as they transition to more independent time in the community.

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improvement to be good

Direct work identified in the child’s risk assessments as a strategy to help minimise specific risk behaviour is not always carried out or evidenced by the staff team. This specifically relates to direct work to educate the child about personal safety in the community, e-safety and preparation for independence.

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improvement to be good

The child told the inspectors that they felt safe in the home. Their social worker also reported that the child is being supported in a safe space where staff understand their complexities and this allows them to explore their trauma related past. The staff team works closely with the placing authority to promote positive multi-agency working and to meet the child’s emotional health needs.

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improvement to be good

Children have not been reported as missing from the home since the last inspection. The staff team understands the child’s circumstances and details associated with their DoLS order. Staff use their positive relationships with children to help them calm and to de-escalate effectively any risk behaviour. The use of restraint is minimal. Incentives are used to encourage children to invest in their daily plans. Children do not receive consequences. Instead, they are supported to talk through their behaviour with staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 6

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good

Senior managers and a manager from another home are currently overseeing the home and supporting the staff team during the manager’s absence.

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good

Although it has reduced since the last inspection, there continues to still be a high number of agency staff being used in the home. This brings some uncertainty to the child in relation to who is caring for them. Leaders and managers ensure that agency staff work with core staff. New staff have been recruited for the home and will join the team once they have completed the recruitment checks.

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good

Children rarely complain. One the occasions that they do, complaints are dealt with and investigated by an appropriate person. However, there is no formal written response provided to the child to acknowledge their complaint or to confirm the outcome of any action taken.

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good

The manager’s review of the suitability of the location of the home document has not been updated to reflect the current child living in the home. It equally does not include information that would be key to safeguard the child as they prepare to take independence time in the community. This is a missed opportunity for proactive safety planning prior to the child taking age-appropriate time in the community and to educate them about local areas of concern.

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good

Staff feel supported in their roles. New staff said that their induction to the role was detailed and inclusive. Training is monitored well to ensure that staff have training to meet children’s needs and to understand their role. Staff benefit from additional in- house workshops with the therapist to support the work they do with children. However, practice related supervisions are not consistently undertaken with all staff in a timely manner in line with the home’s supervision policy. This was a requirement at the last inspection and so it has been restated.

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good

The manager’s review of the quality-of-care report does not clearly evaluate the impact of the service on the children’s experiences. It does not provide a plan of action to make improvements to the quality of care.

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good

The independent visitor provides a detailed monthly evaluation of the quality of care provided to children and they set appropriate recommendations to support improvement and development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 7

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire.

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(30) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(d) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, fire safety evacuations should be carried out with children within the timescales set out in the providers own fire safety policy.

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Requirement Due date

The homes fire policy and statement of purpose should provide consistent guidance about the frequency of fire drills. 12 September

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe; 12 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 8 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, direct work should be carried out with children and evidenced as stated in their risk assessments to support risk reduction.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the 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, asset out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Requirement 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, children’s specific needs and risks should be carefully considered and accurately reflected in their planning and transition records. In addition, impact risk assessments should include specific strategies to mitigate risks associated with children’s behaviour to determine their suitability to live in the home. 12 September

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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—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; 12 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 9 ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, children should be provided with the personal necessities they require when they move into the home, such as enough suitable or appropriate clothing.

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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)) 12 September

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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

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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person should ensure that children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans include consistent information in relation to their current plans. 12 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, staff should receive regular practice-related supervision in line with the providers own policy. 12 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 10 In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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”). (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(c) (3)) 12 September

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that under regulation 46, they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least on a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. Specifically, th review should be updated to reflect the current child living in the home and any information that would be key to safeguard the child as they prepare to take independence time in the community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: 2713287 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brooks & Brooks Recruitment

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hilton Jones Ltd, Hollinwood Business Centre, Albert Street, Oldham OL8 3QL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Junior Brandford

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Inspectors

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Rebekah Tucker, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2713287 12 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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