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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2713287 1 Registered provider: Brooks & 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

There is no registered manager in post. A manager has been recruited for the role. He has applied to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place following a significant incident involving a child living at the home and an increase in self-harm behaviours. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the actions taken by the provider following this significant incident and to ensure that there are suitable safety measures in place.

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This monitoring visit

There are detailed support and safety plans in place which are regularly reviewed and shared with staff. Changes to plans are proactive and reactive when needed, in response to emerging risks. Staff understand the strategies detailed in these plans and put them into practice.

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This monitoring visit

When there are periods of distress and episodes of self-harmful behaviours, staff take suitable action in response to these and the child’s welfare is a priority throughout. Staff work with relevant professionals such as the police and health providers to support the safety and wellbeing of the child.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has oversight of all incidents and when there are shortfalls identified in staff practice, the provider takes suitable action to investigate and address these.

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This monitoring visit

Following difficult situations, the child and staff are provided with supportive sessions to reflect on events and to explore their welfare. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2713287 2 There is additional management support in the home and managers have altered their working hours to provide support during evenings and weekends.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are working with external professionals such as the placing authority, mental health support workers and relevant health professionals to frequently review placements and safety plans in place.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised during the full inspection were not viewed as part of this inspection and will remain in place to be reviewed at the home’s next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2713287 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Good 29/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/06/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 3 July 2025

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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— 3 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2713287 5 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

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)(h))

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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 long term agency staff are provided with regular practice-related supervision in line with the provider’s policy. 3 July 2025

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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. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)) 3 July 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. Specifically, action must be taken to ensure that personal belongings that have been left behind at the child’s previous home should be returned to the child or arrangements made to replace these items. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2713287 6

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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: 2713287 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brooks & Brooks Recruitment Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hilton Jones Hollinwood Business Centre, Albert Street, Oldham OL8 3QL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Junior Brandford

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Inspector

Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2713287 8 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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