Children's Home run by Active Ark Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC439956 Inspection date 03/02/2014 Inspector Anne Bannister Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 12/11/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately run children's home is registered to accommodate and care for one young person. Young people accommodated at the home experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is one of eight homes owned by the company, but the first sited in England. It accepts emergency placements and can offer care to young people on a short, medium or long-term basis.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

The last full inspection of the home was undertaken in November 2013 where the overall effectiveness of the home was judged to be good. The home has continued to progress and improve and outcomes for young people who have been accommodated since the last inspection. All young people have progressed from their starting point and some young people have surpassed expectations.

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Progress

The home has made good progress by meeting the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. Both the manager and deputy have recently undertaken supervision and appraisal training. Staff appraisals are currently being undertaken and will further inform the homes’ development plan. These processes will ensure that staff have, and develop and retain, the skills they need to meet the needs of the young people they are caring for.

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Progress

HMCI, Ofsted is notified of any changes to the homes’ statement of purpose, which accurately reflects current staffing arrangements. Monitoring of the service has improved and is now starting to evaluate how the home is operating and how care practice impacts on outcomes for young people. Risk assessments of the site ensure that young people's safety and welfare is promoted. All of these actions contribute to improving the quality of care in the home and driving forward further improvement.

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Progress

Young people are generally happy and describe the home as a good place to live. They are consulted and involved in their care-planning, which engages them in important decisions that affect their future wellbeing. The home has received positive feedback from professionals and placing social workers. This demonstrates young people are appropriately placed and their needs are being met.

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Progress

One shortfall is identified at this inspection. This relates to the admission of placements to the home at short notice. In the absence of the manager, deputising staff have failed to ensure sufficient detail was provided to adequately inform initial risk assessments. The manager was addressing this deficit during the course of the inspection and revising risk assessments in order to adequately promote the safety and welfare of staff and young people.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there; make proper provision for the care, education, supervision support and, where appropriate, treatment, of children accommodated there. Robust risk assessments must be in place for all young people with clear strategies for managing risks they present to themselves and others. (Regulation 11 (a)(b)) 17/03/2014

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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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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