Children's home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 1 SC034012 Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

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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 home is owned and operated by a local authority. It is registered to care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There were no children living in the home at the time of inspection. The child who has recently moved on from the home spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living in the home via the telephone.

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Information about this children's home

There has been no registered manager in the home since November 2021. A new manager is currently in post. She has not submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the full inspection on 26 June 2024, the home was judged to be inadequate. Two compliance notices were served under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 2 These related to Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard and Regulation 14, the care planning standard. A monitoring visit took place on 20 August 2024, following which a case review was held on 22 August 2024. It was agreed that the two compliance notices above had been met. Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2024 Full Inadequate 30/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/05/2023 Full Inadequate 31/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 4

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improvement to be good

The home is clean and tidy and has sufficient space for the child who lived here. The home is generally well kept, however the decking in the garden is dangerously warped and slippery. This makes the garden un-usable during the wet months and does not allow children to make use of all areas of their home.

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improvement to be good

The child who lived in this home was not in education. Staff and managers did seek out education opportunities for the child, but the child was beyond compulsory school age and did not choose to remain in education. Staff successfully supported the child to secure part-time employment instead.

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improvement to be good

Staff supported the child to maintain their physical and emotional health and took the child to medical appointments when needed. However, the child continued to use cigarettes and vapes within the home. This has not been sufficiently challenged by staff or managers.

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improvement to be good

The child who was living in this home moved to live more independently. The child left this home in a planned way with ongoing visits from staff to ensure continued support. Staff worked diligently with the child in recent months to ensure the child had the skills they needed to live on their own.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensured that the child had positive experiences while living in this home and celebrated the child's achievements. Staff and managers worked well with other professionals and the child's family members to support the child's plans for their future.

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improvement to be good

The child who lived in this home said that they felt safe living here. Risk management plans in place provided staff with clear strategies to support the child when the child struggled. Staff responded quickly when the child went missing from the home and worked well with other professionals to ensure that the child was brought home safely.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a clear understanding of the child's needs and vulnerabilities and responded effectively to support the child in times of crisis. Staff have not had to hold the child to keep the child safe. Due to consistent staff support, the child's risks reduced in their time living in this home.

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improvement to be good

Recording of serious incidents has improved. However, the manager has not consistently recorded their oversight of these incidents. In addition, incidents that should have been notified to the regulator have not always been shared. This limits opportunities for improvement and does not provide sufficient scrutiny of practice. Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 5 There have been no complaints or allegations in this inspection period. The child confirmed that they were aware of how to make a complaint should they have needed to do so. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding processes and know who to speak to should they have concerns.

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

The manager of this home has relevant experience and is working towards the necessary qualifications. The manager has a clear understanding of the strengths and areas of development in the home and is developing more robust processes. However, these processes have not yet been embedded into practice.

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

Staff say that management support has improved. Staff are feeling more positive with a stable management team in place and feel well supported by the managers in the home. One member of staff said of their managers, 'Nothing's too much trouble for them, they're always happy to help. They want the staff team to have everything we need to support the children that we're looking after.'

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

Managers have implemented a strong training programme to ensure that the staff team has the knowledge and skills to meet the changing needs of children. However, the team has not received annual appraisals in the last two years and supervision has not been consistent. This does not provide staff with clear plans for their own development.

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

The manager makes good use of external oversight and has clear aspirations for the home and staff team. However, internal oversight is not yet consistent. This does not provide the manager with a clear understanding of practice in the home.

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

An assessment of the local area has been completed to consider potential risks to children. However, this assessment is superficial and does not provide an evaluation of what this means for children. Relevant professionals have not been consulted and strategies to mitigate local risks are not considered. This does not ensure that risks from the local area are considered prior to children moving in. Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 6

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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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 9 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child's health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child's health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child's age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child's well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)) 9 December 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 7 Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that children are provided with written guidance that details the home's approach to the use and storage of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and related equipment by children, and the resources available to children to support smoking cessation.

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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

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

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all areas of the home and garden are safely maintained to ensure children have a positive environment and access to all areas of their home. 9 December 2024

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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

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; 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they have oversight of all incidents and work being completed. Ensure relevant documents are accurately completed and evaluated to establish patterns and trends, and identify areas of learning in order to make continuous improvements. 9 December 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 8 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; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff receive regular, practice based supervision and that their performance is appraised annually. 9 December 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. (Regulation 46 (1)(2))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the location risk assessment is informed by information provided by relevant professionals and includes a clear evaluation of potential risks to children and mitigation for those risks. 9 December 2024

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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: SC034012 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-Under-Lyne OL6 6BH

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Inspector

Aislinn Cooper, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC034012 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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