Midmeadows

Unique reference number SC457025 Inspector Dawn Bennett Type of inspection Interim 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 Sharon Michelle Edney Registered manager Philippa Carla Condliffe Date of last inspection 29/07/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 07/01/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

This home has improved effectiveness since judged as adequate at the last full inspection in July 2014.

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This inspection

All six requirements and one recommendation made at the full inspection have been met.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection there has been a change in the group of young people living with in the home. One young person has moved to a service which could better meet his needs. As a result of this move the home has stabilised.

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This inspection

Young people are safe and are making good progress. There has been no missing from home incidents since the end of August 2014 and no police involvement since the beginning of September 2014. On a visit to the home a local policing sergeant recorded: 'Historically at the home there have been numerous calls to the police. Over the past few months there has been a noticeable decrease in volume of calls. There has been a period of a few months where staff have not had the need to request police assistance. This visit's purpose was to acknowledge the work done by staff in order to achieve a positive outcome.'

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This inspection

Young people are responding to consistent routines in the home and are engaging well and making good progress in most areas of their lives. The staff team know the young people well and ensure their identified needs are met at all times. They work in line with the placing authorities care plans. They effectively promote and address aims and objectives with young people through daily activities and tasks, key worker sessions, group meetings and partnership work with other agencies. As a result, young people develop confidence and learn to communicate their needs more effectively. 3 of 6 Young people are developing and sustaining positive and meaningful relationships. Parents described experiencing positive contact visits as a result of young people's improved behaviours. Another young person has a long term girlfriend and an excellent long standing relationship with her family. Staff continue to promote

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This inspection

positive friendships and relationships. They have recently enhanced their knowledge and skills by attending training with the organisation's therapy team on sexual identity. They have researched materials such as DVDs which they have brought into the home for young people and staff to watch and discuss. This has stimulated discussions and challenged everyone's values.

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This inspection

Young people discuss their views, wishes and opinions on a day-to-day basis and in regular house meetings. A range of appropriate matters are discussed. Sometimes topics relate to young people developing their social skills and coping with communal living. These meetings are also used to consult with young people on the development of the home and service. This results in them having a sense of ownership of their home and environment.

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This inspection

Young people feel secure and are protected from harm. This is because staff are knowledgeable and clear about their roles and responsibilities. They encourage young people to improve their awareness and understanding about how to keep themselves safe. They ensure young people live in a safe environment. They also ensure young people have regular access to a variety of adults with whom they can raise concerns promptly.

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This inspection

Staff promote appropriate behaviour and discuss inappropriate behaviour and strategies for reducing it on a day-to-day basis and in key worker sessions. Consequences and restraint are rarely used in the home. Where it does occur, it is appropriately applied for the purposes of protecting young people from harm. All required details are recorded and young people are supported in discussing their views. Young people are encouraged to reflect and understand the impact that their behaviour has on others. This results in young people taking responsibility for their actions.

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This inspection

Staff understand and apply safeguarding procedures effectively in partnership with external agencies including the police. Staff receive regular safeguarding and behaviour management training that ensure that their competence is maintained. They act appropriately as corporate parents and ensure strategies used with young people are age appropriate.

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This inspection

The quality of care and practice in the home continues to be reviewed and developed. The home is regularly monitored by an independent visitor and there is evidence that the manager has responded to issues raised within their report. The manager has closely monitored outcomes and progress to improve the quality of care for young people. A completely new heating system has just been fitted in the home. This major piece of work has resulted in the need for most rooms to be redecorated and in some rooms new carpets to be fitted. Staff have effectively 4 of 6 managed this work so that its impact on young people has been minimal. Young people are now being actively involved in the personalisation and redecoration of the home. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to accommodate up to four young people. The service is owned by a private company. The home provides care and accommodation for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/07/2014 Full adequate 11/02/2014 Interim good progress 19/04/2013 Full adequate Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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