Children's home run by Northridge Care Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 1 Registered provider: Northridge Care Group 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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2023. The registered manager left the organisation in February 2024. The new manager commenced his employment on 15 April 2024. He has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

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

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 13 February 2024

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Shortfalls in safeguarding practice and the leadership and management of the home have had an adverse impact on children’s safety, progress and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Managers and staff have not developed effective structures and routines for children. This has hindered children’s progress, experiences and school attendance. There are instances when the children are awake and unsettled during the night, leading to tiredness the following day. Children have then experienced difficulties in attending school on time or at all. Additionally, no planned educational activities are in place for one child who is not attending full-time education. This has impacted on their learning and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff’s approach and support for children engaging in activities is inconsistent. Some staff do not support or encourage children to participate in activities outside the home, compromising their social and emotional well-being. However, the new manager has plans in place to address this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

When children move into the home, they are welcomed with sensitivity and care. However, the child already living in the home felt unprepared for the arrival of new children. The child said, ‘They should have waited a bit. It was way too soon after [name of child] left and I was not ready.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children have varied experiences of living in the home. Two of the children, who are new to living in the home, have trusting relationships with the manager and staff. One child is struggling to adapt to the recent change in management and said that the new boundaries are ‘too harsh’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There are clear health plans in place for children, with guidance for staff. Staff support the children to attend routine and specialist health appointments as required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support and encourage the children to spend time with their families. Staff recognise and understand the importance of the children maintaining family links and spending quality time with their family and friends. This supports children’s identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

When damage is caused to the home during incidents, repairs are not completed in a timely manner. Repairs are required in children’s bedrooms. Additionally, staff do not support children to keep their bedrooms clean and tidy. Requests made by children to decorate their bedrooms have not been actioned.

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

Safeguarding practice is poor. Leaders, managers and staff do not respond appropriately when there is a risk of harm to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 4 An incident involving all three children in the home was poorly managed by staff. Staff did not intervene when tensions between the children increased. This incident escalated and a child suffered harm. Staff’s later attempts to de-escalate the situation were ineffective, and one child said that they found the incident frightening.

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

Staff are slow in identifying and responding to incidents of bullying. Although staff have held some individual sessions with the children to discuss bullying, these have not prevented bullying incidents occurring.

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

Children have gone missing from the home. When this happens, staff are not always proactive in their responses to locate the children and return them home safely. Staff do not always follow children’s individual safety plans. They lack professional curiosity, sometimes making assumptions or taking information at face value. For example, staff did not carry out welfare checks or seek medical attention for one child who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol when they returned home after an incident of going missing.

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

Door alarms on external doors and staff supervision of children are ineffective. On one occasion, staff were unaware that one child was missing after they had left the home during the night. Additionally, on at least one occasion, the property was left unlocked when the staff and children were sleeping. This poses a significant risk and compromises children’s safety.

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

Children’s individual risk assessments do not include details of all known risks and vulnerabilities and are not regularly reviewed and updated following incidents. This does not ensure that staff have relevant and important information to help them to minimise risks.

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

The consequences given by staff are not always fair and proportionate. In one example, staff made the decision to cancel a child’s birthday barbecue. This excessive and punitive action negatively impacted on the child’s emotional well-being.

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

The systems for storing children’s medication are ineffective. One child self-administers their medication and staff have not provided safe storage for the medication. Although this shortfall has not impacted on children, it poses a risk, as medication is not kept securely.

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

Staff discuss with the children how to make a complaint. Complaint forms and envelopes are readily accessible in the home. There is a QR code for children to use to provide feedback or make a complaint. However, when children make a complaint, they are not informed of the outcome or any agreed actions.

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

Staff recruitment procedures are effective. All staff are checked and vetted before starting work at the home. These checks ensure that only suitable adults are employed to work with children in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home are poor. This compromises safeguarding practices and the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The monitoring and review systems are ineffective. Leaders and managers have failed to identify shortfalls in the quality of records. This means that staff do not have the most up-to-date information when providing care for the children. Additionally, records are not readily accessible, which makes it difficult for leaders, managers and staff to find up-to- date information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Most staff say they are supported by leaders and the new manager. Senior leaders have plans in place to provide additional support to the new manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Before children move into the home, the manager completes an individualised assessment of staff’s experience and ability to meet the children’s needs. However, the manager does not seek the views of key professionals, such as the children’s social workers, when considering the potential risks of children living with each other. This means the potential impact of children living together is not thoroughly assessed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been several changes to the staff team as leaders and managers address the poor culture in the home. There is now a relatively new staff team in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is a range of training available to staff. However, not all staff have received specific training relevant to the children’s individual needs. As a result, not all staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to promote the children’s safety and welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended. However, the quality of the records of these meetings is poor. There is no evidence that staff have an opportunity to discuss children during these meetings or to identify any learning or development opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision. The new manager carries out single-subject supervisions with staff when shortfalls in practice are identified. These provide an opportunity for staff to reflect on incidents and identify areas for development. Staff say they benefit from supervision. Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

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

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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 premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; 15 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 7 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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff have the knowledge, skills and experience to identify and act on signs that a child is at risk of harm.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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;

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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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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. 15 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 8 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(d)) 18 August 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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter and;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that Ofsted is notified of all serious incidents without delay. 18 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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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 (1) (3) (5)) 18 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 9 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—

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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

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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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;

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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. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(iii)(v)(vi)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are structured boundaries and routines in place to enable children to fully engage in education. Additionally, when children are not in full-time education, they should be supported and encouraged to engage in educational activities. 18 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive and meets their basic day-to-day needs, including personalising their bedrooms and keeping them clean and tidy. In particular, damage to the property should be repaired in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff help children to prepare for any moves to or from the home. This includes supporting children to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope with new children moving into the home. (‘Guide to the Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 10 Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27).  The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside the home and are encouraged to participate in those

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Recommendations

activities. Staff should support children to take part in leisure activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)  The registered person should ensure that they make suitable arrangement to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. When children self-administer prescribed medication, the registered person should ensure the suitable storage of this medication, to protect other children living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them or the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality

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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: 2738398 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northridge Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Richard House, 9 Winckley Square, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3HP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Donaghey

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Inspectors

Leanne Carr, Social Care Inspector Lisa Mulcahy, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2738398 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 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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