Children's Home run by Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited in Stockport

Unique reference number SC394478 Inspector Maria McGranaghan Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person A Lowrie Care Services Limited Registered person address Houldsworth Mill Houldsworth Street STOCKPORT Cheshire SK5 6DA Responsible individual Alan Lowrie Registered manager Steven Greenall Date of last inspection 11/02/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 11/07/2014

p.1

Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection There is no enforcement action against this home.

p.2

Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe outstanding Leadership and management good

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Young people live in a relaxed and comfortable environment that is committed to generating positive opportunities and outcomes for them. Achievements are seen in education, health, a reduction in risk-taking behaviours and social integration. Young people are happy and settled in the home.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Relationships between young people and staff are firmly established. Good safeguarding systems, including detailed risk assessments and positive relationships with external safeguarding agencies, ensure that young people’s safety is consistently maintained both inside and outside the home.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Young people are looked after in accordance with their placement plans. Staff work together with external services to ensure that young people receive the necessary support and guidance in order to make significant positive changes in their lives.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

Staff receive appropriate training and supervision in order to meet the needs of young people resident in the home. Likewise, staff are qualified at National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level three, and this ensures they have the right skills and knowledge to work effectively with young people. 3 of 11 Consultation with young people is prioritised within the home. For example, consultation documents, young people’s meetings and individual key-work sessions provide young people with an opportunity to raise matters and to have their views heard. Young people are very much central to the home and this is evident in the positive feedback they have provided.

p.2

Overall effectiveness

The home is suitably managed by a Registered Manager. The manager’s monitoring systems are in place and serve to identify areas for growth and development while taking into account the weaknesses of the service. Likewise, regular external monitoring provides the home with an independent view of the service provision and serves to enhance the overall performance of the home.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Despite these strengths there is one area for development. Although it is clear that young people benefit from independence training developed by the home, this is not supported by up-to-date pathway planning by the placing authority. Consequently, some young people are unclear about how their independence plan is to be progressed. 4 of 11

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for no more than three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2014 Interim good progress 14/06/2013 Full good 20/12/2012 Interim good progress 08/10/2012 Full outstanding

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure the home contributes to the development of the pathway plan and wo collaboratively with the young person's social worker or personal advisor in or that this is kept up-to-date (NMS 12.2) 5 of 11

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress across all areas of their lives. This caring environment is supported by consistent boundaries and routines that enable young people to experience a safe and stable living environment in which to thrive and grow.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have excellent relationships with staff. A strong, committed and experienced staff team work hard to secure positive outcomes for young people. Young people also benefit from additional support from a range of external services. This multi-agency approach assists young people to understand their personal circumstances and make positive and productive changes in their lives. Consequently, young people achieve in areas such as education, health, a reduction in risk-taking behaviours and social integration. Young people are extremely happy in the home and one said: ‘I love it here. It is the best place I have ever lived. I know what is happening in my life and this makes me feel more relaxed and in control.’

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

From their initial starting point young people develop confidence in order to re- establish themselves within education. For example, young people with a significant history of non-engagement in education are enrolled on apprentice and college courses and undertake individualised learning in order to develop English and Mathematical skills. Importantly, young people want to learn and are enthusiastic about their future. A young person said: ‘I can’t believe I am going to train to be a mechanic. It is buzzing I feel great.’ Consequently, young people develop a positive view of themselves as achievers and of their future.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from better health as a result of living in the home. For example, specific programs are developed to assist young people who have developed habits that are harmful to their health such as smoking, drinking alcohol and having unprotected sexual relationships. Young people participate well with staff and are proud of their achievements. A young person said: ‘It’s great here. The staff spend time with us and we talk about everything. It’s not embarrassing and it makes me feel that I can ask them things. I couldn't do that before.’

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from planned and supported contact with family and friends. Contact is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is appropriate and serves to meet the needs of young people. Likewise, young people confirm they are happy with their contact arrangements and feel they are able to discuss any matters arising from contact with staff. A parent said, ‘The staff are great. They keep me informed and ask my opinion. My child is happy in the home.’

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people participate in a range of activities ranging from fishing, swimming, golf and attending the cinema. Young people say: ‘I had not tried some of these things 6 of 11 and now I have I love it. I have lots of photos of the fish I caught and love showing them to people. I love golf, and I am actually good at it.’ This demonstrates that young people are provided with new experiences and opportunities to enrich their lives and promote personal achievement.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people live in a home where they establish good relationships with all staff. Because of this, young people have gained the confidence to express their views and opinions openly. Likewise, young people are provided with good opportunities to discuss matters as a group in the young people’s meetings and individually in consultation sessions. Consequently, young people feel valued and respected in the home and one said: 'It is great here I get included in everything, they don't just make decisions without talking to me.'

p.6

Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are provided with suitable opportunities to develop independence skills ready for adult life. Shopping, cooking meals, completing their own washing and helping with their ironing are examples of the skills they develop. One young person said: ‘I have just started and it is going ok. I am looking forward to cooking a meal for staff, but I am just learning the basics at the moment.’ However, the transition arrangements for some young people are not supported by an up-to-date pathway plan. As a result, some young people are unclear how their plan for independent living is to be progressed.

p.6

Quality of care good

Young people are happy, relaxed and comfortable in a home that provides a nurturing foundation for them to flourish. Staff are committed to providing care that promotes self-esteem and confidence in order that young people can take on the challenges in their lives.

p.6

Quality of care good

The manager and staff work effectively with external agencies to ensure young people’s individual needs are thoroughly assessed and the appropriate steps put into place to address them. Consequently, consistent key-work sessions work together with support from external agencies to provide young people with a range of tools in order to make sense of their lives and begin to move forward. This has proven successful, as young people make consistent progress in the home.

p.6

Quality of care good

Young people have a significant history of educational disruption and non- attendance. However, from this starting point young people make progress. Young people now want to achieve and express enthusiasm for and commitment to their educational plans. Likewise, staff are committed to ensuring young people’s journey back into education is completely supported. For example, relationships with educational providers are firmly established and this ensures any concerns are addressed quickly and effectively. As a result, young people develop personal aspirations and view their future with a sense of positive anticipation. 7 of 11 Young people know how to complain. Information is displayed in the home and is also available in the young people’s guide. One young person said: ‘If I needed to complain I would talk to the staff and if I couldn’t do that I would talk to my social worker. All the contact numbers for complaints are in our room so if I needed to I

p.6

Quality of care good

could ring someone. I have nothing to complain about, I love it here.’

p.7

Quality of care good

Consultation with young people is prioritised in the home. Young people’s meetings regularly take place and provide a forum for young people to discuss how the home can develop and what they feel would make things even better. Likewise, young people regularly complete the home’s consultation document and participate in individual meetings with their key-worker. This provides opportunities to discuss individual plans and for young people to say if they are happy with the care provided in the home. Consequently, young people’s views are central to the running of the home.

p.7

Quality of care good

Young people benefit from plans that clearly address individual heritage, identity, sexuality and faith. Young people are encouraged to pursue their individual beliefs and are offered a range of materiel to develop their understanding of individual choice and difference. For example, books, DVDs and discussions with counsellors and staff assist young people to develop a positive self-view and an understanding of what makes them a unique and special person.

p.7

Quality of care good

Young people enjoy good health and emotional well-being. A range of services work closely with the home including looked after children’s nurse, an in-house psychologist and counselling services. This multi-agency approach ensures that young people are afforded a high standard of professional help and support in order to lead healthy and active lives. Consequently, young people make informed choices in their lives.

p.7

Quality of care good

Staff make sure young people are provided with first-hand opportunities and experiences to enhance their lives. Regular trips to the beach, memberships of local groups and activity centres enable young people to develop essential social skills such as making friends in the community. Young people clearly thrive in a home that places their individual needs at the heart of the service provision.

p.7

Quality of care good

Young people live in a spacious, well maintained home that blends into the residential area. Young people are central to making the house into their home and proudly display photographs, drawings and comments around their home.

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

The safety of young people is prioritised in the home. Excellent working relationships with external agencies combined with through risk management ensure that young people are provided with the correct levels of support to maintain their safety. A police liaison officer said: ‘This is a brilliant home. We are kept informed of 8 of 11 everything from young people moving in to potential warning signs such as a deterioration in behaviour. We build up excellent relationships with the young people and this helps them to engage with us on a positive level. The staff are very committed to making sure young people are safe.’

p.7

Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people live in a home where their safety and well-being is extremely well assessed. Staff receive appropriate training in order to recognise and respond to suspicions of harm and this is supported by detailed risk assessments. Likewise, young people with a risk of being missing are supported by an individual missing- from-home plan. This clearly sets out the actions to be taken by staff to minimise the risk of a young person becoming missing and to ensure the safe return of those who do. A missing-from-home co-ordinator said: ‘We are very happy with this home. They go the extra mile for the young people to make sure they are kept safe.’

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people are encouraged to demonstrate socially acceptable behaviour. Behaviour management plans are in place to identify strategies to manage and reduce unacceptable behaviour, including the use of sanctions and key-work sessions. Likewise, staff focus on de-escalation and redirection techniques in order to defuse situations between young people. This has proven successful as there is minimal use of physical intervention taking place in the home. Consequently, young people develop strategies to manage their own behaviour, which results in a reduction of challenging and inappropriate behaviours in the home.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people are supported to live together and respect each other as individuals with different life experiences, needs and opinions. Likewise, young people are enabled to learn about behaviours such as bullying, from both a victim’s and a perpetrator’s prospective. Key-work sessions and young people’s meetings take place regularly and this empowers young people to recognise the impact of bullying and take the appropriate action to make it stop. A young person said: ‘It’s good here, I feel safe.’

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

The home employs a robust recruitment procedure that ensures young people are looked after by staff who are appropriately checked in order to work in the home. Visitors are consistently vetted and this helps to make sure that young people are protected while in their home.

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

A detailed community risk assessment is developed and provides the home, parents and stakeholders with essential information about the area in which the home is located. The assessment informs risk management processes in the home while also highlighting community groups and activities that are available to young people. Staff say: ‘We involved different agencies in developing the assessment. The information we gained helps to inform our practice.'

p.8

Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Staff promote young people’s on-going protection by undertaking regular fire drills and service tests, making sure that all faults are suitably addressed. Good monitoring systems are in place and include the safe administration of prescribed medication. 9 of 11

p.8

Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post since May 2009, when the home opened. He brings to the role over fifteen years residential experience, including ten years at management level. He is suitably qualified to undertake his responsibilities having achieved NVQ Level 3 Children and Young People, NVQ Level 4 Leadership and Management, NVQ Level 5 Strategic Management and NVQ Level 7 Management. The manager also holds a Diploma in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and is a Chartered Fellow with the Chartered Management Institute.

p.9

Leadership and management good

Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose and young people, social workers and families are clear about the service the home provides.

p.9

Leadership and management good

Young people are looked after by a competent staff team with a wide range of skills and experience, well matched to the needs of the young people. Staff have all achieved NVQ level three and access a suitable training programme providing them with the opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge in their work with young people. Similarly, staff receive a high level of support and supervision in order to maintain the standards of care practice in the home.

p.9

Leadership and management good

The manager has a realistic understanding of the strengths of the service and areas for further progression, based on consistent auditing and monitoring practices. As a result, a detailed and transparent development plan is in place and serves to highlight areas for further improvement to enhance the service provided in the home. Likewise, external monitoring of the home is thorough. Evidence indicates clear lines of enquiry and focused reporting. The manager is effective in demonstrating efficient responses to areas for development. As a result, young people benefit from a consistent approach to their care including sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet their individual needs in the most suitable way.

p.9

Leadership and management good

The property is maintained to a good standard and is suitably equipped to meet the needs of young people resident. For example, young people live in a spacious home with modern amenities including gaming and computer facilities. Likewise, young people have individual bedrooms decorated in a style of their choice. The home provides clean, modern and comfortable accommodation for young people.

p.9

Leadership and management good

The manager and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to their work with young people and are consistent in their delivery of good child care practice tailored to meeting individual need. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the progress young people make.

p.9

Leadership and management good

The manager is aware of the procedure for notifying Ofsted of incidents under the appropriate regulations. This practice ensures that information is shared with the 10 of 11 regulatory agency in order that the actions and outcomes for young people can be suitably assessed. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.9

Leadership and management good

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.11

Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

p.11

Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

p.11

Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

p.11

Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

p.11

Information 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.

p.11

Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

p.11