Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Rochdale

Unique reference number SC456542 Inspector Angela Whiteley 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 Rachel Grima Date of last inspection 18/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 13/11/2014

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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 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

The home is privately run and is registered for up to one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2014 Interim good progress 12/09/2013 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

4 (2001) ensure the homes Statement of Purpose consists of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1. Also, ensure an up-to-date copy of the document is provided to Ofsted. (Regulation 4 (1) (2) & Schedule (8) (b) (20) (21)) 24/12/2014

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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 the home's approach to care minimises the need for police involvement to deal with challenging behaviour and avoids criminalising young people unnecessarily (NMS 3.22)  encourage young people to take appropriate risks as a normal part of 4 of 10 growing up (NMS 4.4 and Volume 5, statutory guidance paragraph 2.61)  ensure that the home's procedures are compatible with, and have regard to, Runaway and Missing from Home and Care protocols and procedures maintained and managed by the police or by the local authority for the area where the home is located; specifically that the home is familiar with the most up-to-date police protocol and a copy is kept in the home (NMS 5.6)  encourage and enable young people to make and sustain friendships with young people outside the home, which may involve friends visiting the home (NMS 7.6)  ensure the Children's Guide includes information about how a young

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Recommendations

person can contact the Independent Reviewing Officer (NMS 13.5)  ensure that all staff have access to appropriate training that keeps them up-to-date with professional, legal and practice developments, with particular regard to child sexual exploitation and e-safety (NMS 18.1)  ensure that written or electronic records detail the time, date and length of each supervision held for each member of staff and that records are signed by the member of staff and the supervisor, including the registered person. (NMS 19.5) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit enormously from the support of an experienced and knowledgeable staff team who have consistently high expectations of them. They enjoy the stability and permanence of long term placements, which allows them to settle and form positive attachments with some staff. Young people confirm they feel safe at the home and feel ready to move on to independence.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make some good progress from their starting point. They benefit from improved educational achievement and attendance and have appropriate work placements that will prepare them for future paid employment. Incidents of risk- taking behaviour are reducing, they rarely go missing from home and confrontation and challenge is lessening. Young people develop coping strategies with the support of staff, in-house therapy, specialist therapeutic intervention programmes and youth offending programmes delivered by experienced and qualified professionals. This helps young people manage particular crises and keeps them safe.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Despite fluctuations in behaviour, young people make some progress in most aspects of their lives. They enjoy relatively good physical and psychological health and are aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. They have weekly access to specialist professionals who provide comprehensive therapeutic assessments, alongside the in- house psychologists and therapists who visit the home frequently. Young people are registered with dentists, doctors and opticians and access specialist nurse services for specific health advice. This ensures individual health needs are assessed and met. Young people develop personal care skills with the support of staff but can be resistant in applying the skills they learn. They learn a broad range of practical life skills, which will be helpful to them in adult life. Staff work collaboratively with young people and other professionals to ensure young people experience a smooth

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people on independence training are encouraged to eat well-balanced healthy, nutritious meals, which they shop for and prepare themselves. This promotes their health and physical well-being. They receive good support and advice about sexual health and the risks of smoking. Young people in this placement do not smoke or drink alcohol.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have access to a range of physical and social activities, such as wall climbing, kayaking, biking going to the cinema and live shows. However, young people are unable to sustain their interest in some of these activities and do not want to try other hobbies or interests. Therefore, young people are not developing and sustaining local friendships, which may help to develop their self-esteem and confidence. Where appropriate young people benefit from safe contact arrangements with family. 6 of 10 Staff support contact arrangements that are agreed by the placing authority social worker. This helps young people maintain safe and positive relationship with those that are important to them. Staff help young people to build family relationships that can continue in their adult life.

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Quality of care good

Young people develop trusting relationships with some staff. Staff show respect and have a non-judgemental approach to young people in their care. Professionals are highly complimentary about staff and their work with young people. A placing social worker gave a glowing account of the care provided saying, ‘Staff put young people’s wellbeing at high importance and regularly review their needs. They help young people achieve their goals.’ There have been three complaints from young people, which have been resolved satisfactorily. This confirms young people know how to use the homes’ complaints process. Staff understand the diverse needs of young people. They consistently apply positive behaviour management strategies alongside specialist therapeutic interventions. This helps young people, learn to manage their own behaviours. They genuinely place the well-being of individual young people at the heart of what they do, irrespective of the

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Quality of care good

confrontations and challenges they face. Consequently, young people enjoy a high quality of care in a nurturing environment.

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Quality of care good

There is strong partnership working with placing authorities and other agencies. Staff work collaboratively with professionals from partner agencies, and young people to tailor and implement individual placement plans and clear risk assessments. Young people confirm that they are aware of their plans. They attend and contribute to their reviews. They feel that their views have impact on the running of the home, as they play a part in choosing outings, activities, furnishings and decoration for the home.

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Quality of care good

Staff are committed to improving young people’s life chances through education and employment. In order to help young people fulfil their potential, staff work closely with careers advisors and further education providers to secure opportunities for young people to succeed. For example, staff have supported a young person to access full time work experience, which enables new skills to be learnt to assist future employment. This helps develop confidence and self-esteem and promotes a strong work ethic.

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Quality of care good

Staff value training and learning and demonstrate good understanding of safeguarding, risk management and relationship-building. They receive a broad range of training from their in-house therapeutic team. This means staff are able to relate to why young people behave as they do and gain an understanding of the whole picture for each young person. They understand how young people’s history impacts on their daily presentation. Staff have a genuine interest and desire to understand young people and make a positive difference. 7 of 10 The home is warm and welcoming and provides young people with a safe and secure environment. It is well-furnished and decorated and provides ample comfortable living space in a quiet residential area.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people feel safe, secure and well cared for in the home and in the community. They confirm they know who they can talk if they are unhappy or have any concerns about their care. They benefit from consistent daily routines and boundaries provided by a staff team who are fully trained in all aspects of safeguarding. Staff are knowledgeable and confident in implementing the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures. They take a highly proactive approach to ensure appropriate strategies are in place that protect young people from harm in the home and in the community. There are no issues of bullying, in part because young people receive high levels of support and supervision.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff recognise the potential risks relating to the complex needs of young people in their care. Interventions and strategies are agreed with other agency professionals and are underpinned by clear individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans. Some young people require high levels of supervision and support from staff, which is in line with the placing authority care plan and risk assessments. This means that some young people are not encouraged to take managed and considered risks in preparation for living independently.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The staff act in accordance with the placing authority care plan, risk assessments and the legal status of the placement. There are clear practices and agreements in place with the police that staff understand and are able to demonstrate good awareness of the local protocol. However, the home does not have the most up-to-date local police protocol for staff to refer to. Staff are proactive in communicating with placing authorities and specialist police services to highlight safeguarding issues and any incidents of risk-taking behaviour. As a result, young people rarely go missing from the home and where incidents do occur they return to the home quickly and safely.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has strong links with a range of specialist agencies in the host and placing authority, in respect of risk evaluation and support of young people. This helps to promote their safety and well-being. Positive behaviour is encouraged with clear and consistent boundaries to help young people understand the effects of their behaviour on themselves and others. Staff show perseverance when managing young people’s occasional confrontational and challenging behaviour. The Registered Manager confirms that the homes approach is to minimise the need for police support to manage young people’s challenging behaviour, but that a recent incident had occurred where police were called out unnecessarily. As a consequence of the interventions and strategies in place, incidents of harmful behaviour have reduced and young people begin to learn 8 of 10 appropriate boundaries. The use of physical intervention is not required and records

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Keeping children and young people safe good

in the home confirm there is minimal use of sanctions.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The Registered Manager has an established robust recruitment and selection process, which ensures that young people are cared for by adults who are safe and competent. Visitors to the home are checked and supervised as appropriate to deter unsuitable people having access to vulnerable young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people enjoy a safe and secure environment. There are effective health and safety systems in place. Regular practice evacuations ensure young people know how to exit the building safely and quickly in case of an emergency.

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Leadership and management good

Young people benefit from having a Registered Manager who is passionate about helping them achieve their potential. She is an effective manager who is suitably qualified and experienced. She has been a Registered Manager since December 2011 and is working towards a relevant leadership and management qualification. She also manages two other small homes within the same company, which are in close proximity. She divides her time well between the homes and maintains a regular presence and good oversight of them. The Registered Manager has strong support from a competent deputy and a committed staff team. Together they provide a high level of stability for young people and fully understand their needs. These management arrangements have not had an adverse impact on young people in placement.

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Leadership and management good

The home employs sufficient staff that have a broad range of experience and knowledge to meet the challenges of caring for young adults with complex needs. Staff confirm they are well supported through annual appraisals, regular supervision, and team meetings. This ensures they have frequent opportunity to reflect and develop their practice. However, a written or electronic record of supervision sessions containing a record of the time, date and duration, signed by the supervisor and supervisee is not kept at the home for all staff, in particular, for the Registered Manager.

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Leadership and management good

Staff routinely undertake a broad range of training. The Registered Manager identifies additional training in response to young people’s current and emerging needs. The company have invested in new on-line training, to meet the development needs of the staff. Staff confirm the benefits of the new programme and that face-to- face training is also available. Despite this, some staff have not yet completed training in child sexual exploitation and e-safety. The Registered Manager acknowledges this shortfall. The registered provider is exploring additional training opportunities to ensure staff have the skills required to meet the needs of the young people in placement. 9 of 10 The home has a comprehensive Statement of Purpose. However, it does not contain sufficient information in respect of the age range of the young people it provides care for, the experience of staff who work at the home and the experience and

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Leadership and management good

qualifications of those who provide services to young people. This means the document lacks sufficient information about what is provided. In addition, the children’s guide does not provide information on how to contact the independent reviewing officer. This means young people do not have all the choices they should have to ensure their views are known or to raise any concerns. The Registered Manager is addressing these administrative shortfalls.

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Leadership and management good

Young people live in a high quality environment, which is spacious, clean, tidy and homely. Their records are well structured, stored securely and recording is of a good standard. Young people are frequently engaged in discussions about their care and the home.

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Leadership and management good

Young people benefit from the Registered Manager and staff working collaboratively with a range of professionals, which provides a consistent approach to their care. A placing social worker confirms that there is regular sharing of information about young people’s care and speaks positively about the homes commitment to providing good quality safe care. A visiting psychologist comments, ‘Staff work together well with the team around young people and communicate effectively.’

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Leadership and management good

Effective monitoring systems are in place, which ensure young people enjoy a high standard of care and protection. The Registered Manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and promptly addresses areas where improvements can be made. She consults regularly with professionals about care in the home, and continues to look for ways to improve the service for young people. Monthly unannounced quality assurance visits, monthly audit checks and a comprehensive development plan help to drive forward further improvements. There are no outstanding requirements or recommendations from the previous inspection showing the Registered Manager is committed to improving the provision. 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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