Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC035049 Inspector Janine Shortman-Thomas Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Partners in Care Registered person address Rouse House, 2 Wyther Lane Kirkstall Leeds West Yorkshire LS5 3BT Responsible individual Luiz Miguel Guilherme Registered manager Michelle Wade Date of last inspection 18/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 28/01/2015

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action taken since the last inspection.

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Overall effectiveness outstanding

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

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Overall effectiveness

The children’s home is making a significant difference to young people’s lives. The consistent, motivated and dynamic staff team enrich young peoples' lives by encouraging, promoting and supporting them in addressing their individual needs. This is achieved through aspirational care planning and individualised care practice. As a result young people make good progress in developing their confidence, improving relationships, achieving educational success and preparation for independence.

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Overall effectiveness

A significant feature of the home is the warm, affectionate relationships that are apparent between staff and young people. Staff report, ‘It’s great working here, it is just like being at home but the kids talk to me!’ Young people share this view and state, ‘I love it here, the staff care for you and love you,’ and ‘We have a laugh here don’t we.’

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Overall effectiveness

Staff effectively safeguard young people and they report they feel safe. Young people report that there is at least one adult that they can confide in should they have any worries or concerns. Staff receive appropriate safeguarding training and have an excellent understanding of their role in promoting young people’s welfare. 3 of 10 The home is effectively and efficiently managed. The dedicated and hands on management team provide and advocate high standards of care for all the young people. The reliable and stable staff team are highly experienced and work closely with young people, their families and partner agencies to provide a supportive and consistent approach to meeting young people’s needs.

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Overall effectiveness

Further areas for the home’s continued development include ensuring that all staff undertake the required Level 3 National Vocational Qualification within the prescribed timeframe. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation operates this children's home. This service is registered for up to three young people aged between eight and 17 years of age. The home cares for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2014 Interim good progress 17/10/2013 Full outstanding 22/03/2013 Interim good progress 25/10/2012 Full outstanding

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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 undertake the required Level 3 National Vocational Qualification within the prescribed timeframe (NMS 18.4). 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people make excellent progress from their starting points in all areas, in particular with their social, emotional and academic development. Staff work closely with families, social workers, independent reviewing officers and education colleagues to ensure young people gain a full understanding of their life experiences and personal circumstances to allow them to move forward. These meaningful and trusting relationships mean young people become more resilient to the challenges they face in their lives, enabling them to plan more positively for their future.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people are supported fully in developing and reviewing their care plans and are actively involved in the decisions that affect the day to day running of the home. Staff proactively seek their wishes and views through a range of mediums. These include, fortnightly structured individual key work sessions, weekly residents meetings, and a number of formal consultation feedback systems which are systematically used, as well as informal discussions which take place over the dinner table. Staff provide excellent support for young people and enable them to attend and participate in all meetings that are pertinent to them. Through observation of a child care review staff demonstrated their ability to advocate and support one young person to make his request heard, which ensured his wishes and views were acted upon and reflected within his care plan.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Young people have exceptionally good attendance at school and are making good progress from their starting points. Staff work proactively with education providers, social workers and young people to ensure they receive educational provision that is best suited to their individual needs. This has resulted in all young people returning back into education and making good academic progress relative to their time in placement. Staff value the importance of contact for young people in understanding their heritage and identity, and facilitate and support this thoughtfully. Individual contact plans are in place to ensure contact with their families and friends is well planned, safe and as positive an experience possible for all involved. One family member stated, ‘The staff are great, they facilitate contact and they always make us feel welcome.’ This supportive approach has helped young people re-establish and

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

maintain regular quality contact with their families ensuring that they remain in touch with those significant to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Staff support young people to increase their independent living skills in line with their age, ability and level of understanding. Young people who are eligible have pathway plans in place. They have contributed to preparing these plans in a meaningful way, ensuring they are working documents. Young people are encouraged to develop their knowledge and life skills associated with running a home. Young people confirm this and say they are able to plan and prepare meals; budget; complete household chores 6 of 10 and use household appliances. Consequently young people are prepared with the basic skills in preparation for semi-independent living and adulthood.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people live in a healthy environment where their emotional, physical and social wellbeing is promoted. They engage in a number of social and physical activities, such as ice skating, swimming, bowling, going to the cinema and playing pool. All young people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and have access to a range of health care services to meet their individual needs. Staff support and encourage young people to engage with specialist provisions such as child and adolescent mental health services, however some young people continue to be reluctant to participate with this. The home has a varied and balanced menu which encourages opportunities for young people to plan their meals. They are encouraged to shop and prepare for these meals which helps develop an understanding of nutrition and health. Medication is stored safely and staff maintain the medication records appropriately. All staff receives suitable training to support health and

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Quality of care outstanding

wellbeing and this care practice contributes to young people maintaining good physical and emotional health.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff actively promote the value of education and levels of attendance are very high. Good links with schools and education professionals promote a collaborative approach to supporting young people to engage in the learning environment. Staff source education places quickly to ensure disruption to education is minimised. Young people view school and college positively and realise the importance of a good education. This has resulted in all young people returning back to education and making good academic progress compared to their respective starting points on admission, Young people flourish in a stable, nurturing, supportive and homely environment. Staff provide consistently high quality care and maintain clear boundaries and routines for young people in line with their individual placement plans, behaviour management plans and risk assessments. One independent reviewing officer noted, ‘I am very impressed with the way the home is managed and

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Quality of care outstanding

the quality of care the staff provide, the regime of the home is great and the progress that (Name) has made is fantastic, she has turned her life around.’ This individual and proactive care practice contributes to the excellent standards of care received by the children and young people.

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Quality of care outstanding

Family members and partner agencies are extremely complimentary about the staff team and the support they provide. They attribute the reduction in risk taking behaviours associated with going missing and self-harm incidents to the care that is provided. One social worker commented, ‘The placement has been fantastic for (Name), from going missing at least twice a week for days on end, there has been one and only for a couple of hours.’ 7 of 10 Young people live in a large comfortable detached home which is well maintained and clean throughout. Young people report that they are encouraged to personalise their own bedrooms and communal areas to reflect their individual taste. The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard in the bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, kitchen and dining area. As a consequence young people live in a safe and homely environment.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Staff place the well-being of young people at the centre of their work, irrespective of challenges they face. Young people state they feel safe and are kept safe. They have developed strong and meaningful relationships with the core staff team. This enables them to raise any issues or concerns as they arise and ensures that effective action is taken to reduce the incidents of risk taking behaviour, especially in regards to self- harm. As a consequence young people are kept safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Care plans clearly identify risks and strategies required to reduce these. Staff are aware of factors that may trigger unsafe behaviours and are proactive in taking action to minimise these. They have a good understanding of young people’s needs and through positive, trusting relationships are able to encourage them to consider their actions if these are felt to be unsafe. As a result, young people have a strong sense of safety and well-being and acknowledge risks associated with their behaviours. This, along with positive working relationships with partner agencies, has reduced incidents of missing from care and self-harming behaviour.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

When children or young people are not managing to regulate their emotional responses, use of physical restraint may be necessary. Staff receive appropriate training and only use this to prevent injuries occurring to young people or others. Effective recording of the incident highlights the method used and the duration of the incident. The record also includes who was involved and the young person’s account of the event. The manager evaluates all incidents regularly to analyse and identify any triggers and trends to develop care practice.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people say the rules in the home are fair. They are fully involved in setting their own behaviour targets which they aspire to achieve. Achievements are rewarded with treats such as days out or additional pocket money. This incentivised approach has been effective in helping most young people modify and improve their behaviour to ensure the use of physical intervention is reduced.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Staff are vigilant and take appropriate steps to verify the identity of visitors to ensure young people are kept safe. The home's procedures for recruiting staff are vigorous. Potential staff are subjected to a challenging interview process and relevant checks are undertaken prior to staff commencing employment. This ensures they are suitable and safe to work with vulnerable children and young people. 8 of 10 Children, young people and the staff understand the evacuation plans which are detailed, understood and regularly practiced by all. This is because a range of health and safety procedures, risk assessments and routine checks are undertaken which protects them. As a result young people live in a physically safe environment.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Young people live in a home that is effectively managed by a newly registered manager who is presently undertaking the required Level 5 National Vocational Qualification. An experienced and enthusiastic deputy manager and senior staff members support and share the registered managers’ aspirations and motivation to improve care practice, which continues to drive the service forward. Child focused practice is embedded within the home's ethos which has resulted in young people achieving positive outcomes in many aspects of their lives. The managers’ knowledge, skills and experience to provide clear leadership and management to the committed stable staff team is recognised by all partner agencies as being a contributory factor to these achievements.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The management team works closely with the young people, staff, social workers, health and education colleagues to promote consistently high standards of care. Managers routinely monitor and develop the staff team through regular and purposeful appraisal, supervision, in house training and more informal support such as team meetings. Young people’s views on staff performance are routinely sought before staff supervision to ensure high standards of care are achieved. New staff are inducted well and are given the opportunity to commence a recognised childcare qualification upon completion of their probationary period, however this is not always started as soon as prescribed within good practice recommendations.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Managers utilise a number of internal and external systems to regularly monitor and review the quality of care provided for young people living at the home. An independent person undertakes the monthly Regulation 33 monitoring visits and provides written feedback to the Registered Manager. These external and internal monitoring systems allow managers to identify strengths and address any shortfalls. The management and leadership team are clear and transparent about the strengths and weaknesses of the home and are in the process of addressing these through the development and training plan.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The Statement of Purpose and Children’s’ Guide provides detailed information about the home’s aims and objectives. This ensures that young people, families, placing authorities and other agencies are informed of the care and support young people can expect to receive. These documents are shared with placing authorities and young people when they arrive.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Young people’s records are of a high quality. They are reviewed regularly and provide 9 of 10 a good insight into young people’s individual and diverse needs. Information is securely stored and is shared appropriately with children and young people, staff and stakeholders. This ensures young people's safety and privacy are maintained.

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Leadership and management outstanding

There were no recommendations or requirements made at the last inspection and the home have continued to demonstrate an ability for continued improvement. In order to improve practice one good practice recommendation has been raised in regards to staff training. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management outstanding

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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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