Care home staff shut in office as child went on rampage
CHILDREN’S home staff shut themselves in an office as a youngster ran amok in the premises. They called for additional support but this took 90 minutes to arrive, while the unsupervised child continued to cause ‘extensive damage’. The disturbing incident has been reported by Ofsted following an inspection of the Rochdale home. l● FULL story on page seven
CHILDREN’S home staff shut themselves in an office as a youngster ran amok in the premises.
They called for additional support but this took 90 minutes to arrive, while the unsupervised child continued to cause ‘extensive damage’.
The disturbing incident has been reported by Ofsted following an inspection of the Rochdale home.
The facility, which cannot be named for safeguarding reasons, is run by a private firm.
It provides care and accommodation for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Ofsted found that ‘poor practice’ had resulted in a child being admitted without staff having ‘full knowledge’ of the risk they posed and their previous behaviour.
This had a ‘ significant and negative effect on children’s safety and welfare’.
The report states: “Risks of violence towards others and using weapons were not considered at the time of admission.
“As a result, decisionmaking about whether staff could safely meet the needs of the child was not well informed, and the effect on other children and staff at the home had not been considered.”
It notes that staff have frequently been the target of assaults, verbal abuse and intimidation - including the incident where employees ‘ remained in the office for a period of time because of the levels of intimidation shown by a child’.
The report adds: “This left the child unsupervised and ongoing damage to the home unchecked.”
Staffing levels were not adequate to support the needs of the child, Ofsted said.
However, during last month’s visit, the provider took ‘immediate steps’ to increase staffing ratios at the home.
Inspectors also found that risk management plans regarding the use and storage of hazardous materials were weak.
In one example, a child was able to get into an unlocked shed where paints were stored - these were then used to damage the home.
Ofsted said the environment was of ‘poor quality’, ‘unclean’ and in significant need of repair and refurbishment.
‘Continual incidents’ had resulted in damage to carpets, walls, fixtures and furniture’ officials said.
There is currently only one child living at the home. Ofsted has stopped it from taking on any more youngsters until staffing and care arrangements for them are stabilised.
The report adds: “Any further placements would place children at risk of harm.”
Significant improvements to the home environment must also be made.
A spokesperson for the home has responded to the findings.
They said: “We are naturally disappointed with Ofsted’s findings of our good rated home as we factually disagree with many points in the report which we have raised with them. We appreciate that Ofsted’s role is to safeguard young people which is aligned with the ethos of [the provider].
“Ofsted’s action to temporarily pause any additional admissions in this home, mirrored the action already taken by [the provider].
‘Risks of violence towards others were not considered’
PLANNING applications lodged with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending March 19 include: ●● AN application has been submitted for a singlestorey rear extension, at 26 Camberley Drive, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for the erection of a three-storey building comprising of 15 apartments, at land adjacent to Trub Road, Castleton. ●● AN application has been submitted for the erection of three two-storey dwelling houses, at land at 4 Gipsy Lane, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a two-storey side extension and part single-storey/part two-storey rear extension with rear dormer, including removal of the chimney and existing single-storey rear extension, at 24 Lynton Avenue, Rochdale. ●● DETAILS have been submitted to comply with conditions involving CMP, SI, surface water drainage, and foundation engineering measures, in relation to a previously submitted application at Higher Stakehill Farm, Stakehill Lane, Middleton. ●● AN application has been submitted for a two-storey rear extension, at 4 Gipsy Lane, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a singlestorey front, side and rear extension, following the demolition of the existing porch, car port and conservatory, including an extension of the existing front and rear dormers, at 1 Bowden Close, Rochdale.
●● AN application has been submitted for a certificate of lawfulness for a proposed rear dormer extension, at 20 Copenhagen Street, Rochdale. ●● DETAILS have been submitted to comply with a condition involving landscaping, in relation to a previously submitted application at 7 Falinge Fold, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a first floor extension above the existing detached garage to provide additional living accommodation, at Syke Farm, Ringlows Lane, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a certificate of lawfulness for the proposed use of the premises as supported living accommodation for four adults with learning difficulties, and two non-residential carers, at 4 Kingsway, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a singlestorey rear and side extension, following the demolition of the existing single-storey rear extension, at 23 Dale View, Littleborough. ●● AN application has been submitted for an outdoor seating area with the installation of a powder coated aluminium veranda structure with a glazed roof, and one internally illuminated fascia sign to depict ‘Crust Local Pizza’ brand, at 21A Rochdale Riverside, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a certificate of lawfulness for a front porch, at 18 Arundel Street, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a two-storey side extension following the demolition of the outbuilding, at 37 Sycamore Avenue, Milnrow. ●● AN application has been submitted for tree works, involving the crown thinning of a horse chestnut tree, at 8 Bentgate Close, Milnrow. ●● AN application has been submitted for an extension to the existing agricultural building, at Higher White Slack Farm, Huddersfield Road, Milnrow. ●● AN application has been submitted for prior approval for a singlestorey extension measuring 5.5m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 3.98m and a height to the eaves of 2.45m, at 36 Woodlands Road, Milnrow. ●● AN application has been submitted for a singlestorey rear extension, providing a link through to the existing outbuilding, front and rear dormer extension, following the demolition of the existing front and rear dormer extensions, at 50 Woodlands Road, Milnrow. ●● AN application has been submitted for two side dormer extensions, at 23 Thames Road, Milnrow. ●● AN application has been submitted for tree works, involving the crown thinning of a horse chestnut tree, at Paradise House, Eden Cottage, Moor Hill, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for the erection of a 225sqm building for storage of agricultural machinery, at the existing agricultural yard located on 3 hectare agricultural holding to the west of Over Town Lane, Norden. ●● AN application has been submitted for the erection of a new detached dwelling, following the demolition of the existing dwelling, at Higher Moorgate Farm, Gristlehurst Lane, Heywood. ●● AN application has been submitted for prior notification for the change of use from agricultural into flexible use, at Castle Hill Farm, Castle Hill Road, Heywood. ●● AN application has been submitted for a first floor side extension, singlestorey rear extension, and the conversion of the garage into additional living accommodation, including alteration to the front elevation, at 35 Woodhouse Lane, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for prior notification for a singlestorey extension measuring 6.75m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 4m, and a height to the eaves of 2.57m, at 39 Weythorne Drive, Heywood. ●● AN application has been submitted for a rear dormer extension, and the installation of rooflights on the front elevation, at 55 Elm Park Gate, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a proposed roof conversion, including a dormer to the rear of the property, and rooflights to the front elevations, at 31 Holmes Street, Sparthbottoms & College Bank, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for prior notification for a singlestorey rear extension, measuring 5m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 3.8m and a height to the eaves of 2.7m, at 14 Verdun Crescent, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for the erection of a new storage building, at the site of HSS Hire Group Plc, Tell Street, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a replacement dormer extension and part first floor/part two-storey side extension, along with alterations to the front porch and fenestration on the rear elevation, at 44 Laburnum Way, Littleborough.