Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Rochdale

Unique reference number SC456419 Inspector Louise Redfern Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Cambian Childcare Limited Registered person address Pinnacle House 2 Oakwood Square, Cheadle Royal Business Park CHEADLE Cheshire SK8 3SB Responsible individual Michael Ore Registered manager Nicola Jane Davenport Date of last inspection 13/02/2014 2 of 8 Inspection date 02/10/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress 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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Information about this children’s home

This service is a privately run children's home. The home provides care and accommodation for one young person with behavioural and/or emotional difficulties. The home is also registered as a school with the Department for Education.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 15/08/2013 Full good

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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 all staff are familiar with and have practiced the escape plan so that they know what to do in an emergency. (NMS 10.9) 4 of 8

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people currently living at the home have only been here for a short period of time but have already established positive daily routines. Staff use their knowledge and experience of working with young people to quickly build effective relationships with the young people. They communicate well with the young people and avoid escalation of poor behaviour by following individualised behaviour management plans, discussion and good humour.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Staff are committed to promoting young people's school attendance and have plans and incentives in place to support attendance. The young people are tutored at the home. As a result they have made good progress in educational attendance and attainment since being in placement. Their individualised educational plans means young people benefit from support which promotes their development and engagement in education.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have a strong sense of identity which is supported and promoted through contact with family members. Young people benefit from staff who understand the importance of maintaining strong family links and ensure contact is facilitated and well supported, within the bounds of individual contact arrangements. Young people enjoy healthy lifestyles by engaging in positive activities, such as swimming and indoor climbing in the local community.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's health care needs are well met. Young people attend regular routine health care appointments. They access external support agencies with regard to anti- smoking and drug and alcohol awareness. Young people’s emotional well-being is assessed and reviewed through the in-house child adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). As a result, young people's known and emerging physical, emotional and psychological needs are effectively managed.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Preparation for independence is managed at a pace suited to young people's needs, age and understanding. This includes helping young people to think about the impact of their choices and decisions as well as gaining practical skills, such as cooking, planning menus and activities.

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Quality of care good

Young people are developing positive relationships with the staff team. They say they like most of the staff. Some staff changes have resulted from a young person requesting more males on the staff team. Interactions between young people and 5 of 8 staff were observed as warm and relaxed.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from individualised care planning and high staffing levels. Young people’s progress is well documented in their internal care plans and individual incentive plans. These plans are routinely monitored and reviewed to ensure they accurately reflect the young people's current needs, development and progress. Young people are regularly consulted about their care and have a good understanding of their plans. Staff recognise young people as individuals with different backgrounds, interests and needs. As a result, young people receive support from staff, specifically designed to meet their personal needs and identity.

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Quality of care good

Staff provide lots of opportunities for daily one-to-one discussions, individual work sessions and young people’s meetings. They provide good support to young people, enabling them to contribute to planning meetings, formal reviews and staff team meetings. This ensures young people are actively involved in making decisions about their lives and contribute to the daily running of the home.

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Quality of care good

Education is tailored to the individual needs of the young people. Young people are educated in the home by a number of different tutors who are employed by the organisation. The staff team are aware of young people's educational progress each day through regular discussion with tutors.

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Quality of care good

Although no complaints have been received from young people, the home has a comprehensive complaints procedure in place. The procedure is clearly explained to young people on admission. As a result, the young people feel they would be listened to and confident concerns would be addressed.

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Quality of care good

The home is appropriately located, designed and maintained to a reasonably good standard. The Registered Manager and staff monitors both the interior and exterior of the home to ensure young people live in a well-maintained environment and this has resulted in some improvement to the exterior of the building since the last inspection.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say that they feel safe in the home and that staff are there to look after them. This view is supported by parents and placing authorities. High staffing ratios, clear behaviour management plans and risk assessments ensure young people are given the supervision and support they need to keep themselves safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff are well trained in safeguarding and the home has extensive policies and procedures in place, which underpin effective practice. There have been no allegations or suspicions of harm. Staff are very clear about their responsibilities and place the safety and well-being of the young people at the forefront of their practice. 6 of 8 Currently there are no known concerns that young people living at the home are at risk of child sexual exploitation. However, staff are well trained and have links with external specialised agencies, including the police, who they can access if the need arises.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Robust systems are in place for managing young people's absence. Staff respond immediately, should a young person go missing and follow specific, individualised risk management plans. Staff are proactive in attempting to retrieve young people quickly and as a result there has been a significant reduction in the number of missing from home episodes Young people report they are cared for appropriately on their return, allowing staff and other relevant professionals to explore reasons why they absent themselves from the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are encouraged to behave positively in the home, through the clear and consistent boundaries that are set. As a result, there have been no incidents of physical restraint. On the rare occasions they engage in negative behaviour, measures of control are imposed and young people are encouraged to reflect on their behaviour. The Registered Manager comments on the effectiveness of the sanctions, in order to evaluate if the consequence remains appropriate.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

New staff have been recruited since the last inspection. They have been checked and vetted through the organisation's thorough recruitment procedures. The Registered Manager takes an active role in recruitment, ensuring the safe recruitment of staff who are able to meet young people's needs. Young people and staff are regularly involved in fire drills to ensure they know how to safely evacuate the building in the event of a fire. However, staff new to the home had not undertaken a fire drill. This was rectified by the Registered Manager during the inspection. Staff undertake routine health and safety checks and fire equipment is regularly maintained. This ensures young people live in a physically safe environment that is free from hazards.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager achieved registration with Ofsted in 2009 and has been Registered Manager at this home since 2013. She successfully completed the Level five diploma in leadership 2011. Leadership focuses on ensuring the staff team provide extremely nurturing and individualised care to young people in the home. The Registered Manager provides effective leadership and guidance for staff to ensure the service continues to develop and improve. They have an understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager effectively monitors all aspects of the service, including quality of care and outcomes for young people. Consultation with young people and stakeholders is part of the monitoring processes. 7 of 8 At the last inspection two requirements were raised, both have been fully addressed. The external and internal areas of the home have been re-decorated and the outhouse has been re-built. This has significantly improved the environment in which young people live in. Financial sanctions are now only imposed by way of reparation, which ensures regulations are being met and sanctions are imposed fairly. The staff team has recently been reviewed and changed to meet the needs of the young people living at the home. There is a good balance of experience within the team with all of the staff either holding a level three childcare qualification or working towards qualification. Rotas are well planned to ensure young people receive support

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Leadership and management good

to meet their individual needs. The staff team say they feel well supported by the management team in the home. Regular training, supervision, appraisals and team meetings ensures staff have the skills, knowledge and support to enable them to care effectively for the young people living at the home.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager and staff have good working relationships with key professionals in other agencies. External professionals comment positively on the frequent and good quality exchange and update of information. The home has strong links with the local neighbourhood policing team. Young people's written records are securely stored, managed confidentially and provide a comprehensive picture of young people's needs, development and progress. 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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