Children's home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC065067 1 SC065067 Registered provider: Salford City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home. The home is registered to provide care for three children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC065067 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2024 Full Good 16/05/2023 Full Good 19/04/2022 Full Good 19/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC065067 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to build positive relationships with staff. Staff treat children with dignity and respect. Staff spoken to during the inspection spoke fondly and with pride about the children they support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support and encourage children to engage in education. When challenges arise, the manager and staff work collaboratively with schools to identify and implement strategies that meet individual needs. This approach recently enabled one child to successfully sit their exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a wide range of recreational activities, including walks, bike rides, snooker and laser tag. In addition, staff promote participation in community- led initiatives, such as youth clubs and group activities, providing children with opportunities to form friendships and explore new interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff also recognise that, given their age, children often wish to spend time independently either with friends outside the home or engaging with devices and gaming consoles. This is facilitated with appropriate monitoring and boundaries to ensure children’s safety and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are regular direct-work sessions taking place with the children, both reactively and planned. Staff use their positive relationships with children to discuss topics that children may find difficult to talk about. This work is complemented by the work completed by external specialist professionals, such as the complex safeguarding team (Connect), county lines case workers (Catch-22) and the local authority mental health services for cared for children (STARLAC).

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children have moved out of the home, the manager and staff have worked with the child, their placing authority and their families to support them to move in a planned and sensitive way under their individual circumstances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has recently undergone a full refurbishment. Children were involved in plans for the redecoration of the home. The garden has a new addition of chickens and a vegetable patch. This has given the children a sense of shared responsibility.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff receive appropriate training in safeguarding, and the subject is consistently addressed as a standing item during supervision sessions. This ongoing focus helps to embed a strong safeguarding culture within the home. When children raise concerns, these are responded to promptly, with all relevant agencies informed in accordance with safeguarding procedures. The child’s welfare always remains the central priority. Inspection report for children’s home: SC065067 4 Support plans and risk assessments are comprehensive and outline individualised strategies to guide staff in delivering consistent care. These plans are implemented effectively in day-to-day practice, ensuring that each child’s unique needs are met.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When significant events arise in the home, staff take suitable action and follow de- escalation strategies detailed in children’s plans, along with their relationships with children, to support them during the incident. There have been no occasions when it has been necessary for staff to physically hold a child to keep them safe. Staff ensure that follow-up work takes place after events to help children and staff reflect. This helps children feel valued and encourages positive behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children are missing from the home, staff take suitable action to search for them and to support them to return as quickly and safely as possible. Staff work with external professionals, such as the missing-from-home team and the police, to support a safe return.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Achievements are suitably rewarded and celebrated to support and encourage children to develop good character. When it has been necessary to impose a consequence because of negative behaviour, this has been reasonable and proportionate. However, this is not always reviewed to ensure that the measure is effective.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children display self-harm behaviours, staff have suitable plans in place to support them with this and to ensure their safety. They provide emotional support and reassurance and seek support from external medical and well-being professionals when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a manager in place who is dedicated and inspirational. She is supported by a deputy manager who shares her ambitious vision for what children can achieve. Leaders and managers know the children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the home and feel valued and supported. There is a positive ethos within the home, and the staff team aspires to improve the lives of the children who live in the home. Staff have clear roles and responsibilities and have a shared sense of ownership and accountability. They work well as a team, and managers lead by example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and consistent team of staff. This means that children are supported by staff who know them well. Staff have completed a wide variety of training, including subjects to help them support children’s individual needs. However, some staff have not completed refresher training in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: SC065067 5 Leaders and managers have systems for the monitoring and oversight of the home. They use these systems effectively to highlight positive practice and to address any shortfalls and drive improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place regularly. These are practice related and are a supportive tool for staff. In addition to this, team meetings are held often, they are well attended and staff understand their value. They are used as an opportunity for staff to share information and reflect on the previous month and as a training and development opportunity. The STARLAC practitioner also attends these meetings to provide support for the team and to share strategies and guidance to help care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC065067 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint, including imposed consequences, are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the effectiveness is evaluated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, including ensuring that staff complete refresher training within a suitable timescale. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: SC065067 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Salford City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 5DA

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Inspector

Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC065067 8 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 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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