Children's Home run by New Horizons (Stockport) Limited in Manchester

Unique reference number SC472680 Inspector Ruth Loughridge Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person New Horizons (Stockport) Ltd Registered person address 5 Bramhall Park Road, Bramhall STOCKPORT Cheshire SK7 3DQ Responsible individual Bharati Parikh Registered manager Amie Rebeka Evans Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 9 Inspection date 24/07/2014

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Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

This was the first inspection of the home since it’s registration in January 2014. At the time of this inspection there were no young people in placement. Therefore, the inspection considered the records, kept at the home, for young people who were previously accommodated there.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people made good progress at the home. The independent reviewing officer for one young person commented, ‘Overall risks were reduced.’ This was in relation to risk taking behaviour such as substance misuse, missing from home and offending behaviour. Young people also made good educational progress and had some improved health outcomes during their time at this home.

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Overall effectiveness

The home has good systems in place which promoted the full engagement of young people in the plans for their day to day care and supported their involvement in determining the overall plans for their care. Placement plans and risk assessments were reviewed regularly and were adjusted as staff got to know young people’s particular needs and characteristics.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people’s views were considered within the home’s development plan and systems are in place to facilitate young people’s direct contribution to the manager’s monitoring of the home. 3 of 9 Good behaviour was promoted through positive rewards and the use of sanctions was minimal. Physical intervention was used appropriately, however, the volume kept to record the use of physical intervention did not always provide sufficient detail. A requirement has been made in respect of this shortfall. A recommendation has also been made, which asks the provider to review the timescale within which new staff complete safeguarding training. 4 of 9

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children's home. It provides care and accommodation for up to 5 children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose of which shall include details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure (Regulation 17B (3) (b). 04/09/2014

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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 learning and development programme is evaluated for effectiveness at least annually and if necessary is updated, with particular reg to the timescale within which new staff undertake safeguarding training. (NMS 18.2) 5 of 9

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Overall, young people at the home made good progress from their starting points.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Where previously young people did not engage in any education provision, at this home they attended the education provided and worked toward accredited qualifications. Young people also engaged in other learning activities such as visiting the library. With the increased participation in education, alongside the various leisure activities provided, young people spent time constructively acquiring knowledge, developing social skills and having fun.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people did not consistently engage with health services, however, during placement at this home, small steps of progress were evident. Young people, who previously did not take any responsibility for their health needs, did attend some health appointments, they exercised, and, some young people became abstinent from illegal substances, which contributes to improved health.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s, previous patterns of offending behaviour reduced substantially during their placement at the home, and where relevant, young people engaged with youth offending workers. Young people were supported to consider, and they did recognise, the impact of their behaviour upon others. They resolved issues through apology and restorative activity. For example, when one young person had written graffiti on a shed door they later repaired the damage they had caused. This shows that young people were learning about socially unacceptable and acceptable behaviour.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people were supported to maintain contact with their families. The social worker for one young person stated, ‘Contact with the young person’s family is really important. This has been accepted and staff have been involved in meeting family away from the placement, and at the placement.’ This ongoing contact with their families, allows the young people to maintain their sense of family belonging and to develop an understanding of their backgrounds as they grow up.

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Quality of care good

Although there were no young people in placement during this inspection who could comment upon their relationships with staff and how they felt about living at the home, there was evidence in recorded one to one work which indicated that young people enjoyed good relationships with staff. Additionally young people’s positive attributes were identified and valued by staff, alongside recognition of more challenging attitudes and behaviour. 6 of 9 Creative and imaginative placement plans engaged young people in setting their own targets and reviewing their own progress. The system in place ensures there is a clear link between the placement plans and behaviour management plans so young people are able to measure their progress, and staff can evaluate the effectiveness of the plans.

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Quality of care good

Education was promoted in the home through the provider’s in house tutoring service. Programmes of education were tailored to young people’s individual needs and interests which supported their hugely increased participation in education. The staff ensured that activities also centred around young people’s interests and provided opportunity for exercise and fun.

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Quality of care good

Young people were registered at primary health care services. Although their engagement with services was not consistent, the staff provided opportunities and encouragement for them to access healthcare. The staff responded to specific health needs by, for example, promoting healthy choices at mealtimes and referring young people to specialist services such as the local drugs service.

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Quality of care good

As stated, this was the first inspection of the home since it was registered. The home is decorated and furnished to a very high standard. Bedrooms provide a neutral backdrop which young people, new to the home, will be able to personalise as their own space.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Individual behaviour management plans promoted positive behaviour. The plans were regularly reviewed and refined as the staff got to know the young people’s particular characteristics and needs, and, they were developed and agreed with the young people. All staff have been trained in behaviour management, including physical intervention, which is only used as a last resort. Although the report of one physical intervention provided a full account of the incident, the volume kept to record physical intervention, lacked sufficient detail.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The staff have a good understanding of the home’s policy in relation to police involvement and recognise the benefits or working with negative behaviour, rather than criminalising young people. The home has therefore implemented a restorative approach to behaviours that could otherwise have been criminalised. This gives young people opportunity to reflect on behaviour, develop empathy and to recognise that the staff care about them.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

No instances of bullying were identified. The young person’s guide to the home makes a clear statement that bullying is not tolerated and it provides young people with organisations they can contact should they experience bullying.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Incidents of young people going missing from home reduced significantly when 7 of 9 young people were placed at this home. On the one occasion when a young person was missing, they returned quickly and staff took appropriate action.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people can safely access the internet and staff have a clear understanding of the measures that are in place to keep young people safe online. For example, the home’s computer is in a communal area, safeguarding software is installed which prevents access to inappropriate websites, access to social networking sites is agreed with placing authorities, and, the staff talk to young people about safety online.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Individual risk assessments consider known and likely behaviours, evaluate risks and set out protective strategies. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed. The identification and understanding of risks helps staff to safely plan activities. For example, one member of staff liaised with an activity centre and made suitable arrangements that helped to protect the young person, and others, from the potential consequences of the young person’s heightened enthusiasm for the event.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Health and safety checks are routinely carried out. There are regular fire drills, cleaning substances are safely stored and all areas of the home have been assessed to identify and minimise potential risks. This helps to ensure that young people live in an environment that is physically safe and secure.

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Leadership and management good

The home has a strong Registered Manager who has been in post since the home was registered in January 2014. She is suitably experienced and qualified to undertake the responsibilities of the post and holds the Level 5 Diploma.

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Leadership and management good

New staff employed at the home all have significant previous experience in health and care professions. The home’s policy requires that staff undertake safeguarding training within six months of commencing employment. This means that staff could potentially be lone working or in charge of shifts, before they have this important training, as the probationary period is three months. However, currently, all staff at the home have undertaken safeguarding training. The provider has agreed to review this policy.

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Leadership and management good

Staff feel well supported and they benefit from good quality supervision. One member of staff stated that there is an ‘open door’ policy so they can seek support from the Registered Manager at any time.

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Leadership and management good

Staffing ratios are agreed with placing authorities. Where concerns arise that indicate the need for increased staffing the Registered Manager negotiates with placing authorities to ensure appropriate levels of support to young people.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager ensures that young people are supported to express their views and to fully participate in their statutory reviews. This means that young 8 of 9 people are involved with the decisions about the future plans for their care.

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Leadership and management good

The home operates within the statement of purpose which has been updated in line with new regulatory requirements. The young person’s guide to the home includes information about routines, available resources and how to complain. This helps to ensure that young people know what to expect and what to do if they are unhappy about an aspect of their care.

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Leadership and management good

The home maintains detailed records of young people’s daily activities, meals, appointments and the work that has been undertaken with them. Records are stored securely to maintain young people’s confidentiality. The Registered Manager’s systems for monitoring the home, and the development plan, demonstrate her understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. These systems ensure that the views of young people are included. Regulation 33 monitoring visits to the home are routinely undertaken and newly established arrangements ensure the visitor is suitably independent.

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Leadership and management good

As this was the first inspection of the home there are no previous recommendations or requirements to consider. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

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

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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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.

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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.

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