Children's Home run by Dalepeak Limited in Oldham

Unique reference number SC005553 Inspector Janine Shortman-Thomas Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Dalepeak Limited Registered person address Old Mill House 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge PRESTON PR5 6QE Responsible individual Andrew O'Reilly Registered manager John Allen Date of last inspection 16/10/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 26/02/2015

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Previous inspection outstanding Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the full inspection on 16 October 2014 the home was judged to be outstanding in outcomes for children and young people, quality of care, leadership and management, and safeguarding. The overall effectiveness of the home was judged to be outstanding.

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This inspection

Appropriate action has been taken to address two of the three recommendations raised at the last inspection. These relate to ensuring the home is decorated and maintained to a good standard, and ensuring any revisions to the Statement of Purpose are forwarded to Ofsted. As a result children, young people, their families, placing authorities and Ofsted are now aware of the services and support they can expect to receive from the home, and the home provides a comfortable home environment.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has yet to take appropriate action to address the third recommendation. The present system to notify the appropriate authorities, in particular Ofsted, of the occurrence of significant events in accordance with Regulation 30 continues to take between five and ten days and not within 24 hours as specified. As a consequence Ofsted is not always able to keep abreast of issues of concern. As such this has been re-issued as a requirement.

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This inspection

The home has declined in effectiveness since the last inspection following the breach of three further regulations. These relate to the admission and matching processes which have not always been effective in ensuring children and young people are appropriately placed together. As a consequence children and young people experience a period of disruption and anxiety which impacts on their emotional well- being. Two further breaches have been identified within the safeguarding practice of the home. These relate to a young person being admitted into the home while subject to a Child Protection Plan. This was not acknowledged or understood by the 3 of 7 Registered Manager, therefore safeguarding plans were not adhered to nor were implemented and significant core group meetings were not attended. As a consequence children and young people are not kept safe.

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This inspection

Children and young people living at the home benefit from good levels of individual care. They enjoy positive supportive relationships with staff and are beginning to develop some understanding of other children’s needs within the home. Children and young people are regularly encouraged to discuss their care needs, through residents meetings, key working sessions and through more informal day to day discussions. This allows them to contribute to their care plans and the daily running of their home. Children and young people continue to be encouraged to practice and develop their independent life skills in line with their age, understanding and levels of ability. This support prepares them well so they feel confident to move on with their transition planning into semi-independent living.

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This inspection

Children and young people continue to receive a good level of support and encouragement from staff to engage positively in their individual full time education provision. Attendance rates for some continue to be high and they are beginning to make good progress with their individual targets. When difficulties are experienced within the educational settings, staff are proactive at acknowledging this and address this through prompt meetings with education providers. This ensures that barriers to learning are addressed quickly and children and young people can access a suitable education provision specific to their individual needs.

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This inspection

Children and young people’s holistic health needs continue to be met through primary health services, and additional counselling services which have been provided by one child’s school. This ensures children’s current and emerging physical and emotional health needs can be identified and met promptly. Positive working relationships with specialist therapists provided by the company; specialist child sexual exploitation teams and the Looked After Children’s nurse ensure any emerging health needs can be identified and met swiftly. These positive working relationships with professional agencies, alongside children’s engagement in community based activities, such as cubs and attending the local youth club, attending after school clubs, going swimming and going on walks to the park, ensure children and young people enjoy good physical and emotional health.

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This inspection

Some children and young people report they feel safe and are well supported. They are complimentary about the quality of care they receive and feel staff are interested and concerned about their welfare. Some children and young people have constructive and trusting relationships with staff and express their views and frustration in an assertive and mature way. Most young people are growing in confidence in the community and have maintained positive relationships with their friends and families.

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This inspection

Reporting and recording are good and procedures for notifying partner agencies in 4 of 7 the event of serious incidents, accidents and allegations are robust, however the present systems which are in place do not facilitate this information being shared with all, specifically Ofsted, in a timely way. Effective internal and independent external monitoring systems, which routinely include views of the young people, parents and partner agencies, analyse the quality of care and care plans. The reports produced are evaluative and provide actions and recommendations which are then taken forward by the Manager. This ensures the service continues to develop and improve.

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This inspection

Children and young people continue to live in a home which is safe and maintained to an acceptable standard. A further period of redecoration is underway to continue to improve the standard of décor to the stairs, landing and hallway upstairs. Good health and safety arrangements enable staff to maintain a safe home environment for the benefit of all.

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This inspection

In order to promote the safety, welfare and progress of young people four requirements have been raised to improve outcomes for children and young people. These relate to ensuring all plans, particularly child protection plans are understood by the Registered Manager and implemented and adhered to by all; admissions and matching processes and notification of significant events. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/10/2014 Full outstanding 19/02/2014 Interim good progress 07/08/2013 Full outstanding 04/12/2012 Interim satisfactory progress

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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

9 (2001) ensure the registered manager undertakes from time to time such training as is appropriate to ensure he has the experience and skills necessary for managing the children's home. Specifically relating to understanding his role and responsibility in providing safe care and accommodation to children and young people who are subject to child protection plans 24/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there. Specifically ensuring that any child protection plans which are in place are understood and implemented by all (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 24/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

11 ensure that the home is conducted so as to 24/04/2015 6 of 7 (2001) promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there. Specifically that the home only admits those whose assessed needs they can reasonably expect to meet and that there is an assessment of the likely impact of a new admission on those already accommodated there. (Regulation 11(1)(a))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure if any event listed in Column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered shall without delay notify the person indicated in respect of the event in Column 2 of the table 08/03/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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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