Children's home run by Oldham Children’s Social Care in Oldham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 1 SC035339

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Registered provider: Oldham 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 home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who may have social or emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: SC035339 2

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last full inspection, four children have moved out of the home. Three of these moves have been part of the children’s plans. However, one child moved due to the staff not being able to meet their needs. The manager has reflected well on this and lessons have been learned that will reduce the risk of children needing to move in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

None of the four children that live at the home attend education provision consistently. While the manager supports children with their individual barriers to attendance and has arranged for a tutor to attend the home weekly, the children are not receiving an appropriate level of education.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, children’s views, wishes and feelings are considered more and they are consulted with on their care regularly. At the time of the visit, all children were going on a two-night trip to London, which they had all been looking forward to.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is large but homely. There are plenty of games, books and technology for the children to choose from. The rooms are nicely furnished and have photos of the children on the walls. However, all children’s bedrooms were untidy and required attention.

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Findings from the inspection

Although there are still staff vacancies, these are now managed better and include the use of consistent agency staff, who now receive supervision sessions. As a result, children are supported by familiar staff they can build relationships with. Additionally, there are now appropriate staffing levels in place.

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Findings from the inspection

Allegations and complaints made by children are appropriately investigated and shared with the relevant professionals. This ensures that children feel listened to and that their worries are taken seriously.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff now understand children’s risks and act appropriately. For example, when children leave the home and do not return on time, the staff actively search for and work with others to bring children home safely. The staff are now guided by robust plans that are regularly reviewed.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a reduction in incidents of children being anxious or distressed since the last inspection. However, when there has been the use of restraint or restrictive practice, this has not always been recorded in line with legislation. This makes it difficult to assess whether the measure was necessary and proportionate.

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Findings from the inspection

There is now a manager in post who has submitted their application to register with Ofsted. As a result, management oversight of children’s records, including significant incidents and staff recruitment, has improved. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2022 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 4

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(viii)(x)) 4 April 2025

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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; 4 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 5 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

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s bedrooms are kept clean and tidy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Oldham Council, Civic Centre, Oldham OL1 1UT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Whitbread

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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