Children's Home run by North Lakes Children’s Service Limited in Cumbria

Unique reference number SC356907 Inspection date 18/12/2013 Inspector Gillian Walters Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/02/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home is operated by a private provider, who has three other children's homes in the locality. It provides a service to nine young males, between the ages of 10 and 15 years. The home cares for young people who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. The organisation also operates a school, registered with the Department for Education, providing fully-integrated programmes of care and education.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are extremely settled in this home and are making tremendous progress in their placements. Young people share excellent relationships with staff and feel highly valued and supported by them. Staff are proactive and consistent in the support they provide promoting certainty and stability in the lives of the young people placed.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say they feel safe and happy in this home, knowing that staff care and wish them to achieve their full potential. Young people’s individual needs are thoroughly assessed and regularly reviewed to ensure that plans remain relevant and focused on achieving excellent outcomes. Young people are fully engaged in their care planning and are supported by staff to effectively contribute to the review process. Young people understand that their ideas and views are valued and feel that they are appropriately taken into account and influence the high quality of care they receive.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is effectively and efficiently managed by a permanent Registered Manager who is committed to providing a highly nurturing and inclusive environment. High professional standards are maintained to ensure that all young people living in this home have a positive care experience that enables them to achieve excellent outcomes. Placing authorities and family members speak highly of the care provided to young people and express considerable confidence in the ability and commitment of the staff team. A social worker commented, ‘His progress is down to absolutely skilful management. They really care for their children.’ Another social worker commented, ‘The work staff have done here is excellent. An amazing transformation, they have done wonders with him.’

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Overall effectiveness

As a result of this inspection one recommendation is made to further improve the quality of the home’s six-monthly reporting of regular monitoring activity.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that in relation to Regulation 34, a copy of the monitoring report is completed at six monthly intervals, sent to Ofsted within 28 days of its completion and identifies any trends and issues of concern arising from monitoring of matters set out in Schedule 6. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.14)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from the stability of a consistent staff team. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and familiar with their individual needs and committed to providing a high standard of care. As a result young people have significant opportunities to build strong, trusting and meaningful relationships with staff and enjoy a high quality of care that effectively promotes their safety, health and personal development. A parent commented, ‘The home provides excellent care, staff are pleasant and friendly and they always keep us well informed. It is a relaxed environment. I know that he has made progress; he has become a lot calmer. Staff know how to deal with him.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have achieved considerable stability in their lives since their placement in this home. They understand and respond positively to the clear and consistent boundaries that are provided and as such rarely engage in risk taking behaviours that may cause them harm or increase their vulnerability. An Independent Reviewing Officer commented of one young person, ‘He has had a very difficult time but now has a sense of optimism and is very settled. There is maturity in his thinking. He has made remarkable progress.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people value and enjoy the time they spend with staff and especially their keyworkers. They are fully supported to have a clear understanding of the reason for their care, their life experiences and the issues that have challenged them. As a result young people have developed greater emotional resilience and confidence in their own personal abilities. Young people feel valued and cared for and demonstrate good self-esteem. One young person commented, ‘I have free-time and just need to tell staff if I am going out. I got my free-time because I built up trust with staff. It has boosted my confidence that staff trust me.’ Another young person said, ‘All the staff are funny. They are happy to help me. My keyworker is great, he helped me progress my contact with my family. I have some overnight stays now.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people benefit from regular and appropriate contact with their family and friends. This enables them to effectively maintain and develop relationships with the people that are important in their lives. Young people appreciate the efforts of staff in organising and facilitating contact. This includes staff often travelling some distance with young people to support home visits or alternatively making arrangements that enable family members to stay locally and visit them in their home environment. An Independent Reviewing Officer noted, ’Staff have allowed this young person to develop contact and build his relationships with his siblings and wider family. Consequently, he has developed very meaningful personal relationships.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are healthy and benefit from the support and encouragement they are given to follow healthy lifestyles. Young people participate in a wide range of sporting and leisure activities that provides excellent opportunities for socialising, exercise and fun. Young people are enthusiastic about the range of activities they enjoy, appreciating that at times they have been provided with opportunities that they may not ordinarily have experienced. A young person said, ‘Staff took us to Euro Disney in France. It was brilliant. I never thought that I would ever go there.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are fully engaged with their education; their attendance at school is excellent and they are making significant progress in relation to their starting points. Young people are encouraged to recognise and take pride in their achievements; significantly increasing their confidence and self-esteem. The majority of young people continue to attend a school operated by the provider. However, some are now successfully accessing or have plans to access a local mainstream secondary school. This flexibility shown in meeting young people’s educational need has had a positive impact on strengthening young people’s involvement in their local community and provided additional opportunities for promoting independence and young people’s aspirations.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy positive and constructive relationships with staff. They greatly value the significant support and guidance that staff provide and appreciate the time that they spend with them. As a result young people feel settled and happy to be living in this home. One young person commented, ‘The placement that I am in is good and I would like to stay here for as much time as I can so they can teach more things about growing up and getting along with everyone I meet.’ A parent said, ‘My son gets on well with staff. He tells me how much he likes them.’ Young people attribute their progress to the substantial support they receive from staff, in particular the support provided by keyworkers in spending time with them talking through problems and issues that worry them. Young people say they feel very well cared for and know that staff are genuinely interested in them and what they do. Young people feel encouraged by staff to succeed and know that they want

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Quality of care

them to achieve their full potential. A social worker commented, ‘The home is very child-centred, a positive environment of nurture and emotional support. He has good relationships with staff and an excellent relationship with the Registered Manager.’ Another social worker commented, ‘They have really turned this boy around. This is down to staff being firm and consistent with him. He now has boundaries. They have done a very good job with him. I don’t know what magic they have used but it has worked.’

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from highly personalised care planning that takes full account of the range of their individual needs, promoting both their personal identity and cultural background. Young people are actively encouraged to participate and contribute to their care planning and review. This means that young people are very familiar with their plans and can identify how they have been able to influence their care. Young people are confident of their rights and are encouraged to express their views and wishes in relation to all aspects of their care and support. Young people understand how to complain if they are unhappy about something and feel that they are well supported by staff to do so.

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Quality of care

Staff are consistent and proactive in supporting young people’s learning. There is shared understanding of young people’s individual education needs and their current level of achievement. Staff liaise closely with education colleagues to ensure that they can provide young people with the individual support and encouragement they require to advance progress in their learning programme. Young people’s achievements are always recognised and celebrated by staff, encourage young people to feel pride in their achievements.

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Quality of care

Young people’s health care needs are effectively promoted. Their needs are carefully assessed and arrangements monitored to ensure both routine and specific health care matters are addressed. One young person noted, ‘Staff are really good, if I have a health problem they will make appointments for me and take me there.’ The home employs a health care professional to provide advice and monitor the quality of health care planning and arrangements. Young people are encouraged to understand the importance of healthy lifestyles, including the benefits of good nutrition, healthy eating and regular exercise. Young people are also fully supported to develop an understanding and awareness of other activities, such as smoking, that are likely to impact negatively on their health. This ensures that young people have sufficient information to enable them to make the choices that will promote their long-term good health.

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Quality of care

The home is maintained to a high standard with décor and furnishings reflecting young people’s taste and choice. Young people are encouraged to personalise their own bedrooms to promote their comfort and achieve a sense of belonging. A young person commented, ‘We have respect for our property here, it is our home.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people living in this home say they feel safe and are confident that staff act to protect them and keep them safe. Young people do not perceive there to be any problems in this home with bullying and feel reassured that staff would intervene if any concerns were to be brought to their attention. Staff are aware of the potential for victimisation and feel confident that their vigilance and openness in discussing such matters with young people is successful in minimising opportunities for this to occur.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has robust child protection procedures that are staff are familiar with. These are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they reflect current good practice. Staff are trained and experienced in dealing with a range of child protection issues. They demonstrate considerable knowledge and understanding of young people’s vulnerabilities and the necessary action required to minimise risks. Young people’s care is effectively supported by comprehensive risk management planning that inspires confidence that staff are effectively prepared and know how to competently safeguard young people and promote their well-being.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people generally avoid situations that may put them at risk. They do not go missing or choose to absent themselves from the home without permission. However, staff are acutely aware that such situations can arise and are suitably prepared for such an event. They are confident with the local protocols and procedures to be followed and have developed positive links with the police to promote good working together practice.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour is well promoted and the use of physical intervention is rare. Staff are trained and experienced in using a range of approved de-escalation techniques to diffuse situations ensuring that physical intervention is only used as a last resort to promote safety. On the rare occasions when it is used a comprehensive record is made of the event and this is rigorously monitored and evaluated to ensure safe and appropriate practice exists. Young people’s behaviour is more usually and effectively promoted by the use of praise, encouragement and incentives. Young people understand the use of sanctions to address less desirable behaviour and view these as mostly very fair. Young people are often invited to consider their own sanction when deemed appropriate to promote fairness and understanding of why the sanction was given. All records relating to disciplinary measures are suitably monitored and evaluated to ensure sanctions are proportionate and fair. One young

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Safeguarding children and young people

person commented, ‘We do get sanctions and we understand why but if we behave we get rewards. We have targets so we can work up to things. I went to a rock concert because I had good behaviour.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety within the home is a recognised priority. A comprehensive range of risk assessments are regularly reviewed to ensure that all potential risks within the home are appropriately identified and addressed. Routine checks are made by staff to ensure the home remains a safe environment for young people, visitors and those working within the home. Staff and young people participate in regular fire evacuation drills to ensure they are familiar with what to do in the event of a real emergency. The home has robust recruitment and selection arrangements to ensure that only adults that are deemed suitable to work with children and young people are employed there. This means that the home takes care to ensure that young people are not made more vulnerable by being exposed to adults who may do them harm.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

The home is effectively and efficiently led and managed by a Registered Manager who is thoroughly committed to ensuring young people have a happy and positive experience of care that will enable them to successfully develop and fulfil their potential. She possesses extensive knowledge of the young people in her care and is passionate in wanting to support their progress. Staff share her vision and commitment and are highly motivated to provide a professional service that ensures young people receive an outstanding quality of care. Staff speak with pride about young people and create an environment of acceptance and genuine affection. One member of staff commented, ‘They are brilliant. I love it when people meet our kids.’

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Leadership and management

The staff team are well qualified and experienced with the majority having successfully achieved a relevant qualification in working with children and young people. Those that are not yet qualified are nearing completion of their award. Staff consistently show enthusiasm and commitment to furthering their professional development. They benefit from a wide range of training opportunities that enable them to improve and strengthen their knowledge and skill base. Staff recognise opportunities for regular formal supervision and consultation as being highly supportive and key in enabling them to carry out their roles. Staff value the annual appraisal process as a positive opportunity to evaluate their competency and identify areas for personal improvement that will support their continuous development. Young people are encouraged to contribute to this process and this is viewed positively by staff who value their feedback.

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Leadership and management

The home is well resourced and rigorous arrangements exist to monitor the quality of care and activity within the home. The Registered Manager routinely monitors her service and utilises the support of the provider’s independent monitoring arrangements to effectively develop and implement plans for further improvement. The Registered Manager has provided Ofsted with a comprehensive and highly detailed report that provides an overview of her monitoring activity during a six- month period. This report tends to offer more description and information than evaluation. This means that full use has not been made of this opportunity to demonstrate the impact and value that living at the home has had on young people.

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Leadership and management

There have not been any concerns or complaints made regarding this home since the last inspection. The home is successful in ensuring that Ofsted is notified of all significant events in accordance with the required schedule. This appropriately supports regulatory oversight between inspections.

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Leadership and management

Young people’s personal records are extremely well organised and maintained. This means that young people are assured of there being an accurate and comprehensive account of their life, their experiences and planning that can be accessed now or in the future. All young people’s records are stored securely, promoting young people’s rights to confidentiality and privacy.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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