Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Oldham

Unique reference number SC356817 Inspector Ruth Loughridge Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Lifetime Opportunities Ltd Registered person address 4 Shanter Close Shawforth ROCHDALE Lancashire OL12 8HB Responsible individual Shona Patricia Wands Alderson Registered manager Emma Louise Thomas Date of last inspection 18/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 24/09/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

Young people live in an environment which is safe, caring and supportive. They benefit from positive relationships with staff and this enables them to develop confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people actively engage in making plans for their day to day care and they are supported to contribute to the overall plans for their care. A strong emphasis upon promoting positive behaviour means that young people’s previously challenging behaviour settles. As a result young people are able to fully participate in education and a range of social activities.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people’s identity, in relation to their age and stage of development, their cultural and religious needs and the importance of their family identity, is understood and positively promoted by staff.

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Overall effectiveness

The recently appointed interim manager knows the home and the young people very well. Already she has identified areas for development and she has made timely application to the regulator to become the Registered Manager of the home.

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Overall effectiveness

One requirement has been made. This relates to the need to update the missing from home policy in line with statutory guidance and local policy. Young people do 3 of 10 not go missing from this home; therefore, this does not have an immediate impact upon the young people placed. To further enhance care at this home, four recommendations have been made which relate to staff supervision and training, and the need to ensure that young people have a pathway plan. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately operated and registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2014 Interim good progress 13/11/2013 Full good 13/03/2013 Interim good progress 21/11/2012 Full outstanding

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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 before implementing or making an amendment to the missing child policy, the registered person shall (i) consult, and take into account the views of, such local persons or bodies as the registered person considers appropriate; and (ii) have regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children (Regulation 16 (5)). 31/10/2014

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take 5 of 10 account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure staff preparation and training cover health and safety issues. This is with particular reference to all staff completing fire safety awareness training (NMS 10.7)  ensure that all 'eligible' young people have a pathway plan. (NMS 12.2 and Volume 5, statutory guidance paragraph 2.135  ensure staff have received sufficient training on first aid (NMS 6.7)  ensure staff have access to support and advice, and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff (NMS 19.4). 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people enjoy activities and develop their interests. Through encouragement from staff, young people broaden the range of activities in which they take part, which provides opportunity for them to create friendships and develop social skills. The social worker for one young person stated, ‘He wouldn’t have gone to youth club voluntarily. The youth club has opened him up. He is fixated on DVDs but with doing other activities he has reduced his anxieties. I have seen him at youth club. He now knows he has to wait his turn and he calls out to people and he has friends there now. Hopefully he will carry some of these friendships through to adulthood.’

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people enjoy good health and, with care and support from staff, health outcomes are improved. For example, young people have a good diet and so reach and maintain a healthy weight. Having a stable long term placement with a consistent approach to behaviour management has contributed to one young person managing well, without a previously prescribed medication. As reflected through the range of activities they experience, young people develop social skills and friendships. This builds their self-esteem and provides young people with confidence and networks that will support them as they reach independence and beyond. Consequently young people’s emotional wellbeing increases.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people make excellent progress in education. This is in respect of attendance, achievement and behaviour in college. The staff have worked well with young people and colleges to maximise attendance. For example one young person’s night time and morning routines have been changed so not only has attendance increased, they are now able to travel to college with other students.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people enjoy contact with their families. The social worker for one young person stated, ‘They have managed the contact between him and his brother extremely well. They have a lovely relationship which is well supported by staff. It is not a stale contact. Staff facilitate all the contact – they are very creative and the boys can make suggestions themselves. It is nice and how it would be between siblings. It is very important for him.’ The emphasis upon positive contact means that young people maintain their sense of family belonging and identity including their cultural identity.

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Quality of care good

Clear placement plans that are regularly reviewed identify young people’s needs, set targets and link clearly to risk assessments and care protocols. One to one work with young people links to the targets. For example, sessions are undertaken around 7 of 10 healthy eating, personal hygiene and staying safe. Progress is monitored and targets are reviewed.

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Quality of care good

Young people influence their day to day care and decide upon matters such as the activities they do and their weekly menus. They are consulted about holiday plans and items to be purchased for the house. The social worker for one young person commented, ‘They have obviously done some work around the complaints procedure. He made a complaint to me. This was investigated. He knew and understood the process.’ The staff at the home prepare and support young people through their statutory review process enabling them to have their say about the overall plans for their care. A social worker referred to this saying, ‘If he has something to say he will say it. He has a good input into all areas.’ Inclusion in planning for their day to day care and their overall care plans helps to prepare young people for adulthood and shows them that their opinions count.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s good health is promoted by the staff. All young people are registered with primary health services such as general medical practitioners, dentists and opticians. Young people routinely access these services as well as specialist services when these are required. Robust practice in the administration of medication ensures that young people have medication as prescribed. In order that all staff know how deal with common first aid situations, they should receive appropriate training.

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Quality of care good

Staff at the home work well with other agencies. Social workers and teaching staff comment upon excellent communication with the home. One teacher explained how the college and home worked together to support a young person’s attendance. The joint approach provided consistent messages for the young person and enabled them to take responsibility for their actions. As a result the young person now engages very well with education.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s cultural identity is promoted through day to day practice at the home as well as through contact. Religious and cultural traditions are observed and festivals are celebrated.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from living in a safe, comfortable and homely environment which is maintained to a very good standard. The home is located in a residential area where young people can easily access public transport and so can be supported to learn to travel independently. Young people are supported and encouraged to personalise their own bedrooms.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

8 of 10 Young people are able to give examples of times when they didn’t feel safe and when staff have taken action to keep them safe. They indicate with their behaviour and demeanour that they feel comfortable and safe in the home. Social workers are confident that practice at the home ensures young people are safe. One to one work with young people, for example, around talking with people whom they do not know and their use of the complaints procedure, adds to young people’s sense of safety and increases their ability to keep themselves safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Individual risk assessments are in place that relate to young people’s behaviour and activities. Staff sign the documents to indicate that they have read the risk assessments and, in discussion, they showed knowledge and understanding of them. Staff are aware of young people’s vulnerabilities and so respond appropriately to anything that might suggest the potential for them to be exploited. Given young people’s particular characteristics, high staff ratios and an environment that is appropriately secure, young people do not go missing from home. The home’s policy on missing from home requires amendment to update it in line with current local authority and police protocols.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Social worker’s acknowledge the potential for young people to exhibit some very challenging behaviour and acknowledge that, over time, incidents of challenging behaviour have greatly reduced. Positive behaviour is promoted through the nurturing approach of staff and their understanding of the young people. Incentives and rewards are used which take into account the particular needs of each young person. The social worker for one young person commented, ‘He has become more settled and understands behaviour in different situations. They use positive rewards and some sanctions. Sometimes there are behavioural issues and staff respond appropriately. The behavioural support plan is in place. They use visual information. They de-escalate him and they listen to him and come up with solutions.’ Staff are trained in de-escalation techniques and in the use of physical intervention. Physical intervention is used infrequently and only as a last resort.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Risk assessments are in place for all areas of the home and staff undertake routine checks including fire safety checks. Not all staff have completed fire safety awareness training which would further enhance safety in the event of a fire.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff working in the home are carefully selected and vetted. This robust practice makes sure that only people with suitable skills and experience work at the home, and young people are protected.

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Leadership and management adequate

A qualified and experienced interim manager is currently undertaking management responsibility for the home. She is the Registered Manager of another of the provider’s homes and has previously been the Registered Manager for this home. As a result she knows and understands the young people very well. A timely application 9 of 10 has been made for her to become the Registered Manager.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff report that they receive good support and that advice is readily available when they need it. Although generally staff receive regular supervision, the support and guidance provided to a recently appointed member of staff was not clear.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home operates within its statement of purpose. The young people’s guide to the home is in an appropriately accessible pictorial format. The home also produces accessible guides and wall charts for young people that relate to other polices such as bullying, safeguarding and missing from home.

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Leadership and management adequate

The interim manager is aware of the home’s strengths, and areas for development. Independent visits to the home are undertaken in line with the requirements of Regulation 33. This, and the manager’s own monitoring of the home ensures that any issues are identified and addressed in a timely way.

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Leadership and management adequate

A recommendation of the previous inspection, in relation to ensuring that all 'eligible' young people have a pathway plan, has not been met. Although it is the responsibility of the social worker to ensure that the pathway plan is in place, there was no evidence that the manager or staff have taken action to chase up the outstanding documentation. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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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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