Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC464809 Inspection date 09/01/2014 Inspector Mandy Williams Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 25/06/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately owned children's home provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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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 good .

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Overall effectiveness

This is the home's first full inspection since registration in June 2013. Young people have been living in the home since 28 June 2013. The home has made a very good start to its operation. All the young people living in the home are making pleasing progress. Although, it is too soon to conclusively evidence the successful implementation of many of the home's systems, so far the impact the home is having in relation to young people's outcomes is extremely promising.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from good routines with clear boundaries and consistency of care. The staff team has been stable since the home became operational. Young people enjoy positive, warm and respectful relationships with staff. Staff demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for young people and respect their individuality.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's views are central to the decision making in the home and their views are actively sought. Staff are highly successful at motivating young people and engaging them in purposeful activities. A wide range of recreational activities are well supported by staff.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is managed effectively. The Registered Manager provides strong leadership and she is enthusiastic about the development of the home. Communication with parents and other professionals is strong, ensuring that all those involved with the young person are working effectively together.

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Overall effectiveness

This inspection has resulted in one requirement in relation to the maintenance of staff rotas; and three recommendations for improvement. These relate to staff training; risk assessments and the verification of references.

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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) ensure that the records kept by the home under Schedule 4 contain full and accurate details and are kept up-to-date; this relates to keeping a copy of the actual duty roster worked. (Regulation 29(1)) 28/02/2014

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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 the home implements a proportionate approach to risk assessment; this is in relation to fully acknowledging new behaviours presented by young people (NMS 4.5)  ensure that telephone enquiries are pursued as well as obtaining written references when checking an applicants suitability to work in the home (NMS 16.1)  ensure that staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the young people living in the home; in particular training on attachment issues, sexualised behaviour and autism. (NMS 18.1)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people living in the home have made very pleasing progress across all areas of their development since moving to live here. Those resident in the home have often had difficult early life experiences that have adversely impacted on them. However, they have experienced a period of stability since moving to the home and present as being happy and settled here. Other professionals involved with young people report that they appear much calmer since settling into the routine of the home. All young people attend school and are making good progress with their education. For some, moving to the home has necessitated a change of school but young people have made the transition well as they have been supported by staff to do so.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are registered with a range of health care practitioners and personalised health care plans are in place. Staff offer support to young people to enable them to attend any appointments. Staff also provide information for young people on a range of health issues such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Staff have also accessed additional support from other health care professionals when they have required their expertise. This ensures that young people have the information they require to enable them to make informed decisions. One such professional commented, 'I believe that there is a good working partnership and this helps to provide better health care for children in placement'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive encouragement and support to maintain contact with those important to them. Social workers and young people's families report that staff are reliable and flexible in relation to contact arrangements, which is appreciated. Some young people have also made friendships in the community. Young people have access to the home telephone; as well as computer access. Young people are also permitted to have mobile telephones if risk assessments support this. These actions ensure that young people are able to maintain contact with those important to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people living in the home are engaged in activities in the local community. These are individual to the interests and talents of those in the home. Currently young people attend physical activities such as football, trampolining; horse riding and swimming. They also enjoy activities with staff such as going out for a meal or to the cinema. Some young people are also learning to look after their first pets as they have goldfish that they are responsible for feeding and cleaning. Young people benefit from weekly planners that remind them of their activities and commitments for the week ahead. Young people highlight the opportunities available to them as a particular strength of the home.

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Quality of care

Young people, their families and professionals involved with the home are all positive about the care provided by staff in the home. For example, one social worker commented, ‘All the young person's emotional and practical needs are met in the home.’ Staff have developed a really good understanding of the young person and they respond with consideration and empathy.' Staff provide young people with a consistency of care and act as positive role models for them.

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Quality of care

Individualised placement plans are in place for all young people. These are subject to regular review and are agreed by those with parental responsibility. Staff demonstrate that they are familiar with these and a process is in place to ensure that all those working with the young people are aware of any updates and so ensuring that young people receive a consistent response.

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Quality of care

Good communication is maintained between staff in the home and other professionals. Social workers report, 'Communication is excellent. I am always informed about any incidents and they always follow through with what they say they will do.' Positive working relationships have also been formed with young people's families. One parent commented, 'Staff are always welcoming and they keep me informed about any issues as they arise', and another commented in feedback to the home, 'Thank you for caring so much'. They also commented on the warm and relaxed atmosphere in the home.

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Quality of care

Young people's views influence the running of the home. Weekly young people's meetings present a forum for young people to raise ideas and any issues that they may have. Good records are maintained of these and both young people and staff are tasked with following through issues raised. The Registered Manager also provides clear feedback to young people. Additionally, an effective keyworker system in the home allows for more personal discussion and young people are actively involved in more informal discussion on a daily basis in relation to meal choices and activities. The conservatory area in the home has been changed into a space to relax in, at the request of the young people, and garden furniture has also been purchased for young people to use in the summer. The organisation has also recently introduced a children's forum so that young people have the opportunity to meet with senior managers and influence their decision making. Consequently, young

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Quality of care

people feel that their views are important and that they belong in the home.

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Quality of care

Young people are aware of the process for making a complaint and the process is clearly outlined in the young people's guide to the home that they receive on admission. In addition, information and contact details for a number of individuals are displayed on the notice board in the home. An independent advocate also visits the home on a regular basis. There has been one complaint made by a young person since the home was registered. The Registered Manager dealt with this promptly and effectively and the young person was satisfied with the response. Young people spoken to on the inspection were confident that staff in the home would deal with any concerns that they raised.

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Quality of care

Very positive relationships are evident between staff and young people living in the home. The staff group has remained stable since the home opened. This consistency of care has enabled young people to develop relationships with those caring for them and to become confident in the responses that they receive from those around them. Young people talk very positively about the staff, saying 'Staff are always there for me'. One social worker commented, 'The staff are warm and nurturing but also firm but fair. They are very consistent and they do what they say. The young person knows this and has responded well to these boundaries.'

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Quality of care

Staff demonstrate a real commitment to the young people living in the home and want them to make the most of the opportunities available to them while they are living here. They put effort into making the home a good place to live. As well as supporting young people to engage in activities of their choice they try to make their time in the home interesting and enjoyable. Staff encourage young people to research topics of interest on the internet and celebrate a variety of cultural events by having a themed celebration. There are photographs of young people and staff enjoying themselves up on the walls in the home.

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Quality of care

The home is located in a quiet residential area. It is indistinguishable from other properties in the locality. It is decorated and furnished to a very high standard. Young people are able to personalise their bedrooms on admission which helps them feel that they belong here.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people confirm that they feel safe and settled living in the home. Staff complete safeguarding training as part of their induction to the home and they demonstrate that they are familiar with the procedure to follow in the event of any concerns.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Recruitment processes are generally sound. Staff recruitment records are good and individuals are vetted prior to starting work in the home. However, on one occasion the organisation had not successfully contacted a personal referee to verify their reference prior to the individual starting work in the home. It was not clear what attempts had been made to follow this through and no risk assessment was evident to support the decision to cease further enquiries.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from individualised behaviour management plans, which outline the most effective way to deal with their behaviours. Additionally, all staff are trained in the safe implementation of restraint. Clear records are maintained of any incidents that do occur and records receive good quality evaluation and monitoring by the Registered Manager.Young people confirm that safe procedures are followed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Impact risk assessments are completed prior to admitting new young people to the home. Social workers for existing young people in the home are also approached in relation to their views about the compatible needs of the young people. This practice helps to minimise the impact of a new admission on young people already settled in the home. A range of personal risk assessments are completed to ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place to promote the safety of young people. These are subject to regular review. However, on one occasion, the young person had demonstrated a new behaviour of concern. Although, this was acknowledged in the updated assessment it was not clearly identified as a current issue which required a heightened level of concern and vigilance.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The ethos of the home is to promote positive behaviour by the use of incentives; that are chosen specifically to motivate the young person. Young people have individualised targets that are regularly reviewed. Young people have responded well to this approach. On occasions staff also sanction poor behaviour. On these occasions records are maintained that are evaluated by the Registered Manager and young people say that they are generally fair. For example, when a young person was messing about in the car and distracting the driver, the young person was tasked with spending time to research road safety and driving while distracted. The young person completed this and was later remorseful for his behaviour. Young people are clear about the behaviour that is expected of them and the rules and boundaries of the home. Young people are developing socially acceptable behaviours as a result. Restorative practice has also been utilised between young people when

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Safeguarding children and young people

they have been struggling to get along together in the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a physically safe environment, as regular safety checks are undertaken on equipment in the home. A range of environmental risk assessments are also in place. Fire drills take place regularly, including in night-time conditions which ensures that all those in the home are familiar with the actions to take in the event of an emergency.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

This was the first inspection of the service since registration. Therefore, there were no outstanding requirements or recommendations to be monitored. The home has a very competent and suitably experienced Registered Manager that is well respected by staff, young people and professionals in contact with the home. There is a suitably comprehensive Statement of Purpose in place that clearly outlines the aims and objectives of the home.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager has successfully established and motivated the staff team to achieve good outcomes for young people since the home opened. She has set clear direction and provided strong leadership. The stability of the staff team is reflective of her success. She demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement. Specific areas of responsibility have been designated across the staff team. This ensures that; tasks are completed in a timely way, aids the development of the team; and makes good use of the skills of the team. Staff have taken ownership and helped to drive forward improvements in the home, in line with the home's development plan. Staff meetings take place weekly. Meetings are well attended and good records maintained. The Registered Manager also uses this opportunity for staff development by allocating some time to discuss how the staff feel they are meeting a specific national minimum standard. This helps staff focus on the needs of young

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Leadership and management

The home is well resourced and staffing ratios are good. Staff rotas are in place but they do not clearly indicate who has undertaken the sleep-in duties in the home. Currently a copy is not maintained of the actual duty rota worked. Staff feel well supported by the Registered Manager and receive regular supervision. Supervision has been used constructively to aid the development of staff particularly for those that are new to residential work with young people. The Registered Manager maintains a records of staff training and staff have completed a number of training courses since the home opened. However, staff have not yet had the opportunity to attend training in attachment issues; managing sexualised behaviour; or autism. These issues are pertinent to young people living in the home and may assist staff in gaining a better understanding of these behaviours.

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Leadership and management

The external monitoring of the home takes place as required and reports are forwarded to Ofsted as required. The Registered Manager is in the process of compiling the first six month summary of the internal monitoring, as the service has only just been operational for this length of time. She has however, already started to monitor the progress that young people are making by maintaining records of incidents in graph format. This gives a clear visual indication of the progress made.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager has actively sought feedback from young people; parents; and professionals involved with the service. She demonstrates a real enthusiasm to continue to develop the home and has made a very pleasing start to the operation of the home.

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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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