Children's Home run by XYP Childcare Limited in Tameside

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 1 Registered provider: XYP Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered as a multi-building children’s home in July 2023. The manager was registered as part of this registration.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties, in up to three buildings under a single registration.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors 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: 2719899 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious and/or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not manage children’s behaviour effectively. They did not take action to de- escalate one child’s behaviour when the child was distressed by the presence of inspectors in the home. As a result, the child’s distress increased.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not implement boundaries in the home to promote positive behaviour. They do not challenge children’s inappropriate behaviour, due to being fearful of children’s responses. Decisions on managing challenging behaviour are made to placate children, which leaves them at risk.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not follow children’s plans to safeguard them from the risk of self-injurious behaviours. On one occasion, a child was allowed to collect their own medication from the chemist resulting in them taking an excess dose. On a further occasion, a child was allowed unsupervised access to scissors, which led to an incident of self- harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments are not updated following incidents and do not reflect an accurate assessment of risk for all identified needs. Risk assessments are not updated to reflect strategies that are in place to reduce the risk of self-injurious behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Recording in the home is poor and lacks accountability. Records of incidents are unclear and fail to provide an accurate account of incidents. Incidents of challenging behaviour are not always detailed in children’s records. Serious incidents involving the theft of money, substance misuse or indicators of exploitation are not always recorded. This limits the opportunities for the manager to ensure that staff are providing appropriate care to children and that children’s needs are being met.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not provide staff with clear guidance on how to reduce the risk of harm to children. Staff are not professionally curious in their interactions with children and incidents are managed in isolation. As a result, staff do not recognise or identify concerns for children in respect of substance misuse or exploitation.

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Findings from the inspection

Management oversight of the home is poor and ineffective. Leaders and managers do not ensure that the quality of care provided to children is appropriately reviewed and evaluated. The oversight and review of safeguarding incidents are poor, lacking reflection and robust evaluation. Leaders and managers do not identify shortfalls in staff practice. They do not recognise poor responses by staff to managing children’s behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, several staff have left the organisation. The manager has not updated the home’s statement of purpose to reflect these changes. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 3 The manager does not always make the regulator aware of serious incidents in the home. This means that the regulator does not have full oversight of the safeguarding measures in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff have the necessary skills to support individual children’s complex needs. Some staff have not had training in supporting the specific needs of the children that they care for. For example, not all staff have had training in risks around exploitation, substance misuse and self-injurious behaviours, despite these being known risks for some children.

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Findings from the inspection

The external monitoring by the independent visitor is not robust. The reports are not consistently sent within the required timescales, and the visitor does not evaluate the quality of incident recording to help the manager and staff improve their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has been engaging in education, and they have recently been enjoying activities in the community. Another child has found employment and staff say he is enjoying his time there.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff said they like working in the home and feel well supported, and all staff are now receiving regular supervision.

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Findings from the inspection

Five of the nine requirements from the previous inspection are restated and a further two requirements have been made. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/01/2024 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 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, 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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Risk 11 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 6 management plans must be kept up to date and contain clear actions for staff to take to reduce the risk of harm to children.

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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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

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)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there are sufficient review and monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care provided in the home and identify learning opportunities from practice.

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Requirement Due date

This is restated. 11 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 7 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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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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

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that care is delivered in line with children’s individual and relevant plans.

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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

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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure children's records are kept up to date and accurately detail the child's journey through the home. 11 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 8 This is restated.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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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

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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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’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the independent person is supported to gather relevant information and identify any shortfalls in practice. Leaders and managers must ensure that action is taken to address any actions identified. 11 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 9 This is restated.

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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

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(ix)(x)(b)) 11 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 10 In particular, staff must ensure that children are helped to understand what acceptable behaviour is.

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that all serious incidents are notified to the regulator. 11 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: XYP Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 43 Stamford Road, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne OL5 0BG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Philip Hogan-Birse

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2719899 12 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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