Children's Home run by Strive House Ltd in Rochdale

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 1 Registered provider: Strive House 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 three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

No children were living in the home at the time of the monitoring visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since July 2024.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 20 and 21 August 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection, Ofsted took action under section 20B of the Care Standards Act 2000, issuing a notice suspending the registration to operate the children’s home.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 4 November 2024. This was followed by a case review which concluded that the provider did not yet have a sufficient number of staff to care for children safely or to ensure that children would be looked after by a stable and experienced workforce. Consequently, Ofsted took action to issue a futher notice to suspended the provider’s registration to operate as a children’s home suspend the registration under section 14A of the Act. under section 20B of the Care Standards Act 2000.

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This monitoring visit

This latest monitoring visit took place to monitor the progress made by the provider and to ensure that the provider was adhering to the suspension notice. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 2 The same manager has led the home since the last monitoring visit and has now submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

A full staff team has been recruited, however, shortfalls in safer recruitment practices were identified at this visit. Leaders and managers were unable to demonstrate that references for some staff were from their previous employers or that professionals providing a reference on behalf of an organisation had permission to do so. Gaps in employment had not been explored for one staff member and references had not been verified, as is good practice to safeguard children. A requirement has been made in relation to this.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and staff team have completed training specific to the care delivered by the provider and have taken part in reflective discussions on how their learning will be implemented in practice.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has held weekly team meetings with the staff and has used this as an opportunity to support and develop the staff team’s knowledge and understanding of looked-after children. Leaders and managers have reviewed the statement of purpose. This now contains the correct details of staff who work at the home and has been shared with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the full inspection were not considered during this visit and will be reviewed at the home’s next full inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 3

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

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that staff have the skills and experience to understand their responsibilities to safeguard children. Additionally, ensure that children’s plans contain all known risks and vulnerabilities. They must be reviewed regularly and provide clear guidance for staff to follow to keep children safe. 4 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 4 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

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)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that staff have completed all identified training to safeguard children and meet their individual needs before they move into the home.

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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. 4 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 4 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that only children whose needs can be met move into the home.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix)) 4 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 6 Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that the children’s behaviour management plans detail specific steps for staff to take to support children should an incident occur. Additionally, children must be supported to explore and understand their emotions and use alternative effective strategies.

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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

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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(iv)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that work planned for children is proactive and individual to the child’s needs. In addition, children should have appropriate furniture and decor in their bedrooms. 4 October 2024

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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; 4 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 7 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")—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that consequences are restorative, written in accordance with regulation and evaluated for effectiveness.

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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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and 4 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 8 any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that Ofsted is made aware of significant incidents in the home and that the information shared is factually accurate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b) (4)(a)(b) (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that an independent person is appointed to visit the home at least once a month and that the reports are shared with Ofsted. 4 October 2024

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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

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c)) 4 October 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 9 Specifically, the registered provider must ensure that all records are signed and dated by the author. Additionally, all staff must be familiar with the home’s policies on record- keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure full and independent references are received for employees. 7 February 2025

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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: 2771409 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ashton Old Baths, Stamford Street West, Ashton- under-Lyne OL6 7FW

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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2771409 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 children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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