Children's Home run by Choices Home for Children Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 1 Registered provider: Choices Home for Children Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 19 and 20 June 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, a case review was held and three compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 7, the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard, regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place to monitor the actions taken by the provider in relation to the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The two children living in the home say they like living there.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. Their experiences of moving on from the home differed significantly. One child had a planned move back to their family, but the other child was moved without any notice. This does not demonstrate child-centred practice and the provider was Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 2 unable to show how the move was considered to be in the best interests of the child.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has recently identified a new manager. The manager has supported children to share their views and begun taking action to implement some changes. Children have also been encouraged to engage with advocates and the manager has approached external services for their support.

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This monitoring visit

An allegation made by a child before the manager joined the home was not dealt with in line with allegations management processes, and the manager was not aware of it until it was highlighted by inspectors. The manager took immediate action to address this.

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This monitoring visit

The management team have not sufficient oversight of records. On two occasions, staff have not recorded the use of guides to support children, in line with the provider’s policy, and neither children nor staff have been spoken with about the measures used. These are missed opportunities to review staff practice and to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Important discussions do not consistently take place with children to ensure that they are supported and helped to learn following significant incidents. Leaders and managers failed to highlight that a direct-work session carried out with a child following a significant incident focused on a topic that was not relevant. This does not ensure that children are supported to stay safe or that their views are fully considered.

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This monitoring visit

Agency staff continue to work in the home and children are often cared for by staff who do not know them, or the home, well. This has negatively impacted on safety plans agreed with one child, as they do not always have positive relationships with staff to enable them to seek support.

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This monitoring visit

Some action has been taken to improve children’s risk management and support plans. However, guidance regarding the monitoring of devices is not clear for staff, despite this being a known risk for one child. It is also unclear if devices are consistently checked, as recording varies. This limits management oversight of practice in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The management team have failed to ensure that all staff receive the training they need to care effectively for children, despite the training being available through the provider. This includes training that is specific to children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Consequently, children are not always looked after by staff who adequately understand their needs or know how to support them effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Following the monitoring visit, it was agreed at a case review that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices in relation to regulation 7, the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard, and regulation 12, the protection of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 3 children standard. There has not been sufficient action to meet requirements relating to regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, and a compliance notice has been reissued.

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This monitoring visit

Requirements raised at the last inspection were not explored as part of this monitoring visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/06/2024 Full Inadequate 21/11/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that staff have completed all identified training to meet the individual needs of children 29 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 5 and that training identified to improve staff practice is completed in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that staff on duty in the home are consistent and known to children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that they review and evaluate all incidents to identify any learning and to support and develop practice in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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")— 18 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 6 has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that all instances of physical intervention are clearly recorded and evaluated as detailed in regulation, and that children and staff are spoken with about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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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;

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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

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

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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

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; 18 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 7 help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that there is sufficient professional challenge to support children to access suitable education provision.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that there are clear plans in place to support children with informal learning opportunities when they are not in education, and that staff are aware of and support children to attain their educational targets.

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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;

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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

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. 18 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 8 (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all areas of the home, including children’s bedrooms, are well maintained, clean and free from hazards. In addition, that repairs are completed in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider should ensure that children’s looked after plans and delegated authority are on file.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and has been restated. 18 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that both the manager and staff receive supervision in line with the organisation’s supervision policy.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and has been restated. 18 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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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. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 18 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 9 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. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 18 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Choices Home for Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 31 Wellington Road, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 7ED

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Inspectors

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Donna Ryan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2724171 11 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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