Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Oldham

Unique reference number SC066072 Inspector Stella Lovie Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Meadows Care Limited Registered person address Egerton House Wardle Road ROCHDALE Lancashire OL12 9EN Responsible individual Niel David Shelmerdine Registered manager Catherine Veronica Donnelly Date of last inspection 07/11/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 03/03/2015

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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

The home was last inspected in November 2014. This was a second full inspection following a previous full inspection in September 2014 which judged the home to be inadequate. The home dealt well with the issues of concern and received a judgement of adequate at the second inspection. Nevertheless, a substantial improvement plan was put in place with two requirements and six recommendations to further improve practice. At the point of this interim inspection, all aspects of that improvement plan have been fully addressed. This demonstrates that the manager learns from inspection activity and uses feedback to make effective changes. As a consequence, standards of care have improved and young people’s outcomes show significant progress.

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This inspection

One of the key areas of improvement is in relation to the stability of the staff team. There is now a clear and focussed team in place, and the home no longer has to rely on excessive use of reserve staff. This has enabled young people to build trusted and secure relationships with adults working at the home. This promotes better continuity of care so that young people live in a stable environment with consistency in their lives. Staff know the young people well, develop positive relationships with them, protect them and promote their welfare. This includes getting to know the young people's friends and making them welcome at the home. It has helped young people to develop an appropriate sense of permanence, trust and belonging in the home.

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This inspection

Young people live in a safe, caring and supportive environment. This enables them to make good progress relative to their age, individual circumstances and time in placement. Young people feel that their lives have improved since they have been at the home and they say they feel safe here. For example, there are significant reductions in the level of anti-social and risk-taking behaviours since the last inspection. Relationships with partner agencies are effective. They ensure that 3 of 5 young people are protected and their needs met without delay. This leads to improvements in the quality of care provided and in young people’s sense of well- being.

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This inspection

Leadership is visible and effective. There is a suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager in post who can demonstrate the positive impact they have had on young people’s lives. She has successfully completed her management qualification since the last inspection. This has provided her with an opportunity to reflect on the learning from the last two inspections. She is very well supported by a highly competent deputy manager. Together they provide strong and motivating management.

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This inspection

Monitoring of young people's progress and development is good and the manager has a sound understanding of the strengths of the home and areas for development. The atmosphere in the home is much more purposeful and organised. Leadership messages to staff are very clear about how to maintain consistency and clear boundaries for young people. As one member of staff commented: ‘I feel more comfortable coming into work as I know that things get done as they should. Having a good solid team has made all the difference and we are now all working together well.’ This has helped young people to settle down and provides them with useful role modelling.

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This inspection

The service is therefore able to demonstrate unequivocal improved effectiveness. One recommendation is made in respect of deep potholes in the unmade road leading to the home. Previously identified plans by the provider to address these hazards have not been followed through. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This home is also registered as a school.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2014 Full adequate 10/09/2014 Full inadequate 20/03/2014 Interim good progress 17/12/2013 Full adequate

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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 is well maintained and avoidable hazards such as potholes are removed. (NMS 10.3) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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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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