Children's home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC034108 1 SC034108

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Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides long-term and short-break care for up to six children who may have physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children are living in the home long term. No children were accessing short breaks during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC034108 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. One child has recently experienced a planned move out of the home. The transition was well considered, and the child was supported to understand the changes through pictorial social stories.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has registered with Ofsted. She is passionate, experienced and committed to improving the care and support for children. Several staff, including the manager, have worked at the home for a number of years. Consequently, children have meaningful relationships with the staff team. New staff in the home have been supported to establish relationships with the children and have spent time getting to know them.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have begun to improve consultation with children using their preferred methods of communication. Children’s meetings and one-to-one time are personalised to their individual needs, and children now receive feedback to help them understand how their views have been considered.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to enjoy a variety of activities, which helps them to sustain their hobbies, improve their social skills and build their confidence. Children have recently enjoyed holidays to places that interest them.

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Findings from the inspection

Education is promoted well. All children are in full-time specialist education that meets their individual needs. There is good communication between leaders and managers to ensure that there is consistent support for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know children well. They recognise when children are unhappy or distressed and are familiar with the preferred communication needs of each child. Consequently, there have been no missing-from-home incidents, physical interventions or consequences since the last inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Accidents and injuries are managed well. However, on one occasion, the manager did not follow up with staff when they did not share with parents and professionals an occasion when a child arrived for their short-break stay with a bruise. This does not support staff practice and effective safeguarding. Leaders and managers took action to address this during the inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the administration of medication. Errors are addressed without delay, and managers have taken action to improve staff practice by providing supervision, support and additional training. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC034108 3 Leaders and managers are taking action to improve the recording of children’s plans. Children’s support plans are based on key documents, such as placing authority care plans and education and health care plans. While these documents are all up to date and available for staff to consult, they are not routinely reviewed, signed or dated.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s case records contain the necessary information from children’s social workers. However, the collation of children’s records, across paper and electronic systems, lacks organisation. Consequently, the most recent and up-to-date information for children is not always easily accessible. This does not help staff to understand how to support children or make them aware of any changes to children’s views and wishes.

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Findings from the inspection

Action has been taken since the last inspection to address the conflict of interest between the independent person and the local authority. Regular visits are now taking place by a newly appointed independent person.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have taken some action to improve the frequency of supervision. However not all staff, including the manager, are receiving regular practice-related supervision. This does not ensure that staff are supported to reflect and develop their practice. This was a requirement at the last inspection and has been restated.

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Findings from the inspection

Monitoring systems are not robust. Leaders and managers were not aware that not all records were being accurately completed or reviewed by staff. A rota is maintained. However, this does not contain the hours worked by leaders and managers. A requirement has been given in relation to this. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC034108 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/08/2023 Full Good 12/10/2022 Full Good 15/12/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC034108 5

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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

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; 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)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they have oversight of and evaluate practice in the home to establish patterns and trends and to identify areas of learning in order to make continuous improvements. 14 January 2025

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 14 January 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC034108 6 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 signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 14 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is a record of the hours worked in the home by both the registered and deputy manager. 14 January 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the following items, which may be kept in electronic form, are kept in an accessible manner—

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Requirement Due date

children’s case records. (Regulation 38 (i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 14 January 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC034108 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

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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

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC034108 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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