Children's home run by Pure Care Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2685250 1 Registered provider: Pure Care Homes Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. The provider’s statement of purpose states that staff provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there were three children living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2685250 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2685250 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Although children have made progress, there has been a period of instability in the home. Eleven new staff members have been recruited and nine staff members have left since the last inspection. This has impacted children’s overall experiences as they have not always received consistency and continuity of care.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children who have moved out have been provided with practical and emotional support. One social worker describes this as ‘carefully considered planning’ with ‘regular check ins’. Consideration is also given to how the staff can help children to settle when they move in.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children have access to health services to promote their health and well-being. Staff work with health agencies, such as the child and adolescent mental health services. Additionally, therapeutic input is available for children from the in-house therapy team. This has supported children to make progress in respect of their emotional well-being. One child said, ‘The [therapist] helps me talk in a safe space.’

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s educational attendance is sporadic. One child is currently not in education, employment or training. Staff have explored alternative provisions when mainstream education has not been in the best interest of the child. If children are not receiving education, staff actively work with the education provider to support reintegration.

p.3

improvement to be good

Positive experiences outside of the home are provided to children. Children are given the opportunity to engage in a range of activities. For example, one child has been on a holiday abroad with staff.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are supported to see their family and other important people in their lives. When appropriate, staff ensure that children’s parents remain involved in the decisions relating to their care. One parent said, ‘I have a great relationship with them [staff].’

p.3

improvement to be good

There is not yet a strong ethos of a safeguarding culture embedded in the staff team. However, the manager is working to develop this.

p.3

improvement to be good

There have been occasions where negative language has been used by staff. Although this has not always been directed at children, it does not provide children with appropriate role modelling Inspection report for children’s home: 2685250 4 There are detailed risk assessments in place for each child. There are individual child behaviour management plans, which detail clear de-escalation techniques for staff to utilise. However, these are not routinely being followed by staff.

p.3

improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are in place. However, there have been several referrals made to the local authority designated officer in relation to poor practice. There is appropriate management oversight of disclosures, incidents and allegations. The manager works with other professionals to ensure that the correct action is taken to safeguard children.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children have been supported through significant events in their lives. This has included detailed safety plans and the mapping of services available for them to access. When children have not felt able to access services, resources have been gathered for the staff team to carry out work with the child instead.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children have built some positive relationships with core staff members. However, there have been significant changes within the staff team. This has impacted children’s ability to create and sustain secure relationships. Furthermore, this limits their ability to identify someone who they can share any concerns with.

p.4

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

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is now supported by a deputy manager. The manager and deputy are transparent about current concerns and, together, are committed to improving children’s experiences.

p.4

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

The manager is therapeutic in nature and is keen for this to be embedded in staff practice. There is a detailed development plan that has been created to address staff practice issues. This includes working alongside the provider’s therapeutic team to deliver a tailored training programme to all staff. However, this work has not yet been completed.

p.4

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

Staff report that the operation of the home has improved since the manager has been in post. One staff member said, ‘Things are 1000 times better.’ Staff report that they feel supported by the management team. However, there continue to be ongoing difficulties with retaining staff. This impacts on the consistency and continuity of care for children.

p.4

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

The manager has introduced a new supervision and probation process. This incorporates children’s views of staff practice. Additionally, policies and procedures are discussed together, to improve staff’s understanding of safeguarding.

p.4

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

The manager ensures that she has appropriate monitoring systems in place to improve the quality of care for children. For example, the quality of care report identifies any shortfalls and details a clear plan to support staff development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685250 5

p.4

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.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that the staff team provides consistent and high-quality care.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Additionally, this relates to the registered person ensuring that there is continuity of care for children. 31 January 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)) 31 January 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2685250 6 This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that staff follow the child’s plans and risk assessments, so children are not placed at risk.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Additionally, this relates to staff being aware of their safeguarding responsibilities.

p.6

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: 2685250 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pure Care Homes Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3, 212 Washway Road, Sale, Greater Manchester M33 6RN

p.7

Inspectors

Kitty Wiper, Social Care Inspector Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2685250 8 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.

p.7

Inspectors

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

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8