Children's Home run by Social Care Services Limited in Salford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 1 Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider and is registered to care for up to two children who may have learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there was one child living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This was the first full inspection of the home since it was registered on 03 July 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is currently vacant, and an interim manager has been appointed.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered, two children have moved into the home and one child has moved out. The child living at the home is making good progress in all areas of their life. External professionals say that the child has made several significant achievements due to the care they are receiving from staff. Staff talk about the child with warmth and fondness, which is demonstrated in the care they provide.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of supporting the child to communicate. They worked with professionals to identify a method of communication that works best for the child. As a result, the child has begun to express their needs and preferences in the short time they have lived at the home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child is supported to attend education. They transport the child a considerable distance to and from their school each day. This enables the child to continue to attend the school they are familiar with. Staff have good communication links with educational professionals to ensure that important information is shared. This means that the child experiences a consistent approach to their care from all professionals.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to enjoy activities outside of the home. Staff provide opportunities for the child to have new experiences with a high level of support. Staff are attuned to the child and ensure that they are having fun, and they respond quickly if they show signs of distress. As a result, the child has begun to enjoy activities like swimming which supports their physical and emotional wellbeing.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff advocate for the child to help them to progress. The manager holds conversations with external professionals so that the child is provided with the relevant equipment that will support their development. This ensures that the child’s progress is not limited, and they can develop their independence skills.

p.2

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

Staff know how to keep the child safe. They work effectively as a team to communicate key information about the child. This ensures that the team is vigilant in identifying any safeguarding concerns.

p.2

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

Managers and staff maintain a strong multi-agency approach to the child’s care. They have an effective presence at meetings with other professionals and are proactive in reaching out for guidance and to share information. Consequently, there is a strong multi-agency approach to safeguarding the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 3 A number of new staff have joined the team since the home was registered. Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment processes to ensure that staff have the skills and experience to support disabled children.

p.2

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

Staff understand the individual vulnerabilities of the child. They ensure that the child’s personal care is carried out in a way that maintains the child’s dignity and ensures that they are safeguarded. However, staff practice in relation to personal care is not underpinned by clear guidance in written plans for them to follow. Although this has not impacted on the care of the child, this is a missed opportunity to identify any inconsistencies in staff practice.

p.3

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

Children are rarely restrained by staff. However, when children have been held to keep them safe, records lack the necessary detail, and managers have not consistently carried out staff debriefs and evaluation in line with regulation. This means that leaders and managers cannot establish if staff practice is safe and effective for the child.

p.3

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

When incidents have occurred, evaluation by managers is limited and lacks reflection and professional curiosity. This reduces opportunities for leaders and managers to identify any learning and develop staff practice in the home. Incidents have not been notified to Ofsted as required by regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of safeguarding practice in the home.

p.3

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

There have been management changes since the home was registered. The home is currently being managed by an interim manager. The interim manager is supported by the responsible individual. Staff say they feel well supported and valued by the management team. This means there is a positive environment for the child to thrive in.

p.3

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

Managers hold regular supervision sessions with staff. The manager is currently developing supervision to further encourage staff reflection and identify areas for development. This means there is a culture of improving the care of the child in the home.

p.3

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

Managers use team meetings as learning opportunities for staff. Information is shared that is specific to the needs of the child to help staff improve their practice. This ensures that staff are providing consistent and individualised care for the child.

p.3

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

Leaders and managers have not ensured that the independent person has submitted the required reports to Ofsted. The reports lack evaluation of the quality of care being provided by managers and staff for the child. This is a missed opportunity to identify areas for development for the service. Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 4

p.3

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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

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)(h))

p.4

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all incidents are evaluated thoroughly and areas for development in staff practice are identified and addressed. 30 December 2024

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 30 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 5 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”)—

p.4

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.5

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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)) 30 December 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b) (5)) 30 December 2024

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that children’s risk plans include clear guidance for staff to manage any assessed risks for the child on a daily basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 6

p.5

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: 2780921 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Social Care Services Group, 31 Shaw Road, Stockport SK4 4AG

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Annabella Foulkes

p.7

Inspector

Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2780921 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8