Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC464809 Inspector Mandy Williams Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person ROC Northwest Limited Registered person address Heyes House, 41 Silverdale Road Arnside CARNFORTH Lancashire LA5 0AL Responsible individual Hilary Waterhouse Registered manager Marcus James Oates Date of last inspection 01/07/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 15/01/2015

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Previous inspection sustained effectiveness Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good home where young people make good progress across all areas of their development. Staff ensure that young people receive highly personalised care that effectively meets their needs. Young people benefit from good routines and consistent boundaries and engage in a wide range of recreational activities. They are able to follow their own interests, while also keeping healthy and improving their self-esteem. Young people's views play an important part in the decision making in the home and are actively sought.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff work hard to provide young people with positive experiences. The staff team is largely stable and they know each other and young people well. Young people are thriving in this supportive environment and enjoy positive and respectful relationships with staff. Living in the home is making a positive difference to the lives of young people. They say that they enjoy living in the home and feel safe here.

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Overall effectiveness

Communication between staff in the home ; other involved professionals; and young people's families is good. This ensures that everyone is working together effectively. The home is efficiently managed. The manager demonstrates an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and plans to develop the home are in place and regularly reviewed. 3 of 11 This inspection has resulted in one requirement in relation to the clarity of risk assessments and one recommendation relating to improvements in staff recruitment. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children's home provides care and accommodation for up to five children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/07/2014 Interim sustained effectiveness 09/01/2014 Full good

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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 the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there; specifically that risk assessments contain accurate and clear information. (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 16/02/2015

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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 staffing records demonstrate consistently that good recruitment practice has been followed. (NMS 16.2) 5 of 11 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people currently living in the home make good progress. They benefit from the receipt of stable and predictable care which they have often not experienced prior to placement in the home. As a result, young people have learnt to trust staff, believe in themselves and have grown in confidence. Young people are learning to manage their emotions and responses in this supportive environment. One social worker commented, 'My young person has been assisted by staff to develop his problem solving ability and redress some of his anger management difficulties.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Staff pro-actively address the health needs of young people. They are registered with a range of health practitioners and staff ensure that their medical needs receive attention. Likewise, staff ensure that young people have access to a range of information about healthy lifestyles. As a result, young people have an awareness of the risks of smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use because they are enabled to make informed choices. Young people also receive encouragement and support to be physically active. Young people engage well in a range of physical activities. Many attend regular groups such as rugby, swimming and horse riding. Such activities help keep young people fit; improve their self-esteem; and enable them to make friendships in the local community. Young people also understand about healthy eating and some are consciously trying to lose weight with support from staff and an understanding of nutrition. One social worker commented, 'Staff have worked

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Outcomes for children and young people good

wonders with X's physical health and getting him to be more proactive with exercising and understanding food health.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's attendance and engagement with education is good. All young people attend school or college regularly. When issues do arise within the school staff are pro-active in helping young people address the issues, so that any disruption to their education is minimal.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people receive support to enable them to keep in contact with family members who are significant to them. Staff demonstrate familiarity with the individual circumstances of the young people and pro-actively support and facilitate contact. All young people's social workers talk positively about the willingness of staff to facilitate contact flexibly. Young people also have access to the home telephone and have mobile telephones, if risk assessments support this. This ensures that young people are able to maintain these relationships over time.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people receive good quality preparation to help them move on to independence, dependent on their age and ability. Young people follow a more formalised independent living skills plan when they are approaching the time of transition. This includes managing their own budget. Staff try to ensure that young people are equipped with the skills that they will require to make this sensitive 7 of 11 transition smoothly.

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Quality of care outstanding

On the whole, young people enjoy positive and respectful relationships with staff and with each other. Staff work hard to build positive relationships with young people and provide them with a good quality of care in a homely and nurturing environment. One young person commented, 'I really like the staff, they are really nice and I like those that I live with most of the time.' Similarly, social workers were very positive about staff in the home. One commented, 'I feel my young person is provided with both emotional and practical support. Staff have developed a good understanding of his needs. He is encouraged and supported to learn and achieve.' The staff group is very stable and they know the young people well. They demonstrate a very real desire for young people to achieve and encourage them to make the most of the opportunities available to them while they live here.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit from individualised care plans that are tailored to their needs and circumstances. Staff are familiar with young people's plans, ensuring a consistency of care. Young people also benefit from regular meetings with their nominated keyworkers. Relationships are good and young people are investing in these individuals. This enables staff to work with them to address any pertinent issues and plan positively for their future.

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Quality of care outstanding

Social workers report that communication between the home and themselves is excellent. They express confidence in staff passing on details of any incidents of concern in a timely manner. Staff also provide very good quality monthly update reports for social workers, which clearly outline the progress that the young person has made over this period. Social workers appreciate these helpful reports. Staff are also in regular communication with young people's schools so that any difficulties can be quickly addressed. Likewise, staff demonstrate an appreciation of the significance of education in the long term. Young people's achievements in education and within the home environment are acknowledged and celebrated. Young people receive small rewards to celebrate their success. This helps to motivate them; reinforcing the significance of their achievements.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people say that they know what to do if they are unhappy or wish to make a complaint. The process is also outlined in the young people's guide to the home. Contact details for a range of individuals are on display on the notice board in the home. Young people also have access to an advocate who visits the home on a regular basis. They are familiar with her and are aware that they can approach her to raise issues on their behalf. This ensures that young people have an opportunity to discuss any worries that they may have. 8 of 11 A good medication management system ensures the safe administration of medication. Clear records are maintained by the home and medication is securely stored. The required medical consents are in place.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff regularly seek the views of young people. Good staffing levels allow for personal discussions on a daily basis. Weekly young people's meetings also allow young people the opportunity to express their views about the running of the home. Staff use this venue to consult with young people and to pass on information. For example, at a meeting held during the inspection young people were informed about a forthcoming television programme on cyber bullying. Likewise, young people regularly contribute to menu planning, changes to the décor of the home and to planning their activities. For example, young people are able to personalise their own bedrooms and photographs of young people and their art work are on display in the home. This helps to ensure that young people feel part of the home and believe that their views are important.

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Quality of care outstanding

The home is located in a quiet residential area. It is indistinguishable from other properties in the locality. Young people live in a comfortable and homely environment that is warm and welcoming. It is well furnished and maintained.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say that they feel safe in this home. Staff receive safeguarding training as part of their induction to the home. This ensures that they are confident in the procedure to follow should any concerns arise. The organisation has a number of policies and procedures designed to safeguard young people and these receive regular review. This includes the recent formulation of a safe area risk assessment.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Behaviour management plans are individual to each young person. They outline the issues pertinent to each of them and also the most appropriate way for staff to manage these behaviours. Staff are also trained in the safe use of physical restraint, in case this is required. Although incidents do occur, they are infrequent, as staff manage successfully to de-escalate the majority of young people's challenging behaviours. Young people confirm that the rules of restraint are followed and that they feel safe. One young person said, 'I have only been restrained once. I was okay. Staff told me why they needed to restrain me and I understood. I don't think I will need restraining again.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff prefer to promote the positive behaviour of young people in the home by the use of incentives, these are identified specifically for each young person and serve to motivate them to achieve. Poor behaviour is also sanctioned occasionally. Young people say that sanctions imposed are fair and although they may not like them they understand the reason for their implementation. One young person said, 'I feel this was fair, given what I did.' This related to a sanction of the supervision of spending 9 of 11 pocket money, after the young person has chosen to spend their money inappropriately the previous week. Young people are clear about the behaviour that staff expect of them and understand the rules and boundaries of the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

A range of personalised risk assessments are also in place. These ensure that staff are alert to specific issues for each young person and suggest the most appropriate way to reduce the level of risk. However, some inconsistent information was noted within one of these, despite it being subject to a recent review. Hence, this could result in staff responding in an inconsistent fashion and social workers being misled about the stance that staff are taking.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff comply with locally agreed protocols for young people that go missing from the home. Incidents initiating from the home are rare. However, there have been a number of incidents where young people have gone missing from education earlier in the day. Detailed records are kept of all incidents, with staff continuing to look for young people at the end of the school day. These periods of absence are closely monitored so that a meeting with other involved professionals can be instigated if required. Staff also complete work with young people about the risks that they may be placing themselves in. As a result, staff are pro-active in considering solutions and alternative strategies.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff recruitment processes are largely sound. A range of checks are undertaken and good records are maintained. Managers seek references from previous employers and make verification calls. However, it is not always clear if further exploration has taken place with potential employees or previous employers when there is a discrepancy in dates of employment between the two parties.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are cared for in a physically safe environment. They benefit from the completion of regular health and safety checks on the building; as well as environmental risk assessments. Regular fire drills, including in night-time conditions, ensure that young people and staff know how to evacuate the building safely if required to do so.

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Leadership and management good

There is an appropriately experienced and registered manager in charge of the home. He has had management responsibility for this home for the last ten months and was formally registered by Ofsted in August 2014. A deputy manager is in place to support him.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has taken action to address the one requirement and one recommendation made at the last interim inspection of the home in July 2014. There is a suitably comprehensive Statement of Purpose in place that clearly outlines the aims and objectives of the home. A copy has been forwarded to Ofsted as required, 10 of 11 and it is also available to download from the organisation's website. This ensures that placing authorities and young people's families are able to access this information easily. Furthermore, no further incidents have occurred requiring staff to liaise with the police regarding the disposal of illegal substances. However, staff demonstrate an awareness of this good practice and a number of professionals comment on their good communication with staff in the home.

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Leadership and management good

There is a development plan in place, which is subject to regular update. This illustrates that the Registered Manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has a commitment to continuous improvement. Regular staff meetings also demonstrate good management oversight and a desire to use the individual strengths of the staff team. Staff meetings are utilised by the Registered Manager to provide training updates for staff as well as progress reports on young people. An effective system is in place to ensure that all staff are familiar with the discussion at these meetings. A clear action plan is formulated at the conclusion of the meeting and staff share responsibility for the tasks identified. These are subject to review at the following meeting, ensuring that they are completed in a timely way.

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Leadership and management good

The internal and external monitoring of the home takes place regularly and reports are forwarded to Ofsted as required. These include regular consultation with young people, their parents and social workers. It is evident that the views of stakeholders influence the development of the home and that managers are positive about working in partnership with them. Records are maintained that help illustrate the progress that young people have made since their admission to the home. These give a clear visual indication of the progress made. The organisation also has good systems in place to monitor and evaluate any incidents of concern, so that they can employ preventative strategies.

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Leadership and management good

The home is well resourced and staff feel that they have access to management support. Staffing rosters demonstrate good staffing levels and clear lines of accountability. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal. One staff member said, 'The management are approachable and the children here are settled and understand their boundaries. We are a good solid staff team that supports and works together to strive for constant improvements. Young people are at the centre of what we do.' This practice ensures that young people are cared for by staff who have the necessary skills and support to deliver a high standard of care. 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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