Children's Home run by Brooks & Brooks Recruitment Ltd in Rochdale

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2713287 1 Registered provider: Brooks and Brooks Recruitment Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This private home provides care for one child who may experience a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in January 2023. The registered manager left in October 2024. There have been two interim managers since the last inspection. The current interim manager is overseeing the home until a new manager has been recruited.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector spoke with the child who was living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Inspection date: 19 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 19 February 2025

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. Inspectors have 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: 2713287 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

Senior leaders are in the process of recruiting a new manager for the home. They recognise that this is a priority as the changes to the management team have impacted on the stability of the staff team.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out the home to a semi-independence placement. The provider advocated on behalf of the child to ensure that their views and wishes were heard. They appropriately challenged the placing authority to ensure that the move was in the best interests of the child.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has moved into the home from another of the provider’s registered homes. An impact risk assessment shows consideration was given to the suitability of the child moving in and the staff team’s ability to meet the child’s needs. By remaining with the provider, the child has continued to receive the support of the manager and staff that they had already established relationships with.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s transition into the home was an urgent move. The child was informed of the plans at the last minute to keep them safe from potential risks. This was initially an uncertain time for the child. However, the child said they now feel positive about their new home. They like their bedroom, which they helped staff to decorate and personalise.

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Findings from the inspection

Following some time out of formal education, the child has a mainstream school placement agreed and arrangements were in place to meet with the school in the next few days to arrange the child’s transition. The child felt reassured that this would be done gradually and at their pace.

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Findings from the inspection

The interim manager understands the importance of engaging with external professionals to ensure that the child’s needs are met. She has confidently escalated requests for an up-to-date care plan and other required care planning documents from the child’s placing authority.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments include consistent information in relation to the child’s deprivation of liberty safeguards order, and strategies to mitigate risks and to safeguard the child. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to keep the child safe. Direct work is carried out with the child to support risk reduction and to address any emerging risks. Consequently, there have been no missing-from-home reports made to the police. Physical restraint is rarely used, and when it is, its use is proportionate.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have responded promptly to a safeguarding incident. The relevant professionals were notified and reflective practice carried out. However, leaders and managers have missed an opportunity to explore the incident with other Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2713287 3 staff who were present, in relation to their understanding of the concerns and when they should use the whistle-blowing policy. The lessons learned have been incorporated into the designated safeguarding lead’s training. All staff have now attended this training.

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Findings from the inspection

Complaints have been responded to appropriately. One child was given the opportunity to discuss their concerns with the staff team in a team meeting, with the interim manager’s support.

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Findings from the inspection

Some new staff have been recruited. Safer recruitment checks are currently being undertaken. Long-term agency staff and bank staff are being used to cover the current vacancies in the staff team. Although the child knows these staff, leaders and managers should ensure that a full staff team is in place to provide continuity of care and support to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all agency, bank and permanent staff have been provided with regular practice- related supervision in line with the provider’s policy. The interim manager has taken steps to rectify this, with supervisions scheduled to take place. Some agency and bank staff have yet to have training in allegation management. This was an action set by the manager to support safer working practice when the child now living in the home moved in.

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Findings from the inspection

A new bathroom has been installed and the back yard was being refenced during the inspection. However, some other areas of the home, such as the lounge, require redecoration to make them more homely. The kitchen surfaces have also been damaged and need to be repaired. There are plans in place to have the home decorated in the coming weeks.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager’s review of the quality of care report has improved. It now clearly evaluates the impact of the service on the child’s experiences. It provides a plan of action to make improvements to the quality of care and the child’s experience of living in the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/06/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2713287 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 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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should use lessons learned to explore the staff’s understanding of professional boundaries, raising concerns and the use of the whistle- blowing policy. They should ensure that once a full staff team is in place, it is stabilised to offer continuity of care and support to the child. Leaders and managers should ensure that agency staff and bank staff have training in allegation management. 3 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; 3 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2713287 5 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that permanent staff, bank staff and agency staff are provided with regular practice-related supervision in line with the provider’s policy.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children and is a homely, domestic environment. Specifically, the lounge, hallways and kitchen require redecoration to make them more homely and the kitchen surfaces need to be repaired. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2713287 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brooks and Brooks Recruitment Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hilton Jones, Hollinwood Business Center, Oldham, Lancashire OL8 4QQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Junior Brandford

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Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2713287 7 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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