Children's Home run by Appletree Treatment Centre Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC386003 Inspector Gillian Walters Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Appletree Treatment Centre Limited Registered person address Appletree School Natland KENDAL Cumbria LA9 7QS Responsible individual Clair Ann Davies Registered manager Hazel Lee Date of last inspection 09/07/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 18/02/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

Young people settle well into this home and benefit from an environment that is nurturing and supportive of their needs. The home offers continuity in its staffing arrangements and as such young people have a good opportunity to develop trust and meaningful relationships with the staff team. Young people on the whole enjoy spending time with staff and report to feeling safe and well cared for. Young people speak positively about their relationships with staff but most especially those they share with their keyworkers. They feel sufficiently safe to discuss and explore their feelings and raise any worries or concerns they may have, enabling them to move positively forward in their lives, ensuring that their voice is heard. One young person commented of his keyworker, 'He's a nice guy, sometimes I chat to him and he's really good at listening. I feel safe here. Staff are always here for us and know how

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This inspection

Staff show patience in supporting young people making it possible for them to learn and progress steadily at their own pace. This has the positive effect of reducing frustration and enabling them to focus on learning new tasks that will ultimately prove essential in achieving certain independence as they move towards adulthood. Staff take an active role in supporting young people with their education, liaising on a daily basis with the provider's teaching staff to promote a seamless approach between education and care that will optimise their learning. Young people engage positively with individual education programmes that are successfully matched to both their needs and ability. For some this includes work experience placements that provides good opportunity to identify and build on particular talents and skills, enabling young people to explore their potential for future employment once they leave the home.

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This inspection

Young people are well prepared to make the transition to adult life having been supported within the home to learn a range of household tasks such as cleaning, 3 of 6 cooking, and budgeting their finances. This activity ensures that they have the necessary skills to promote their independence. Young people are encouraged to explore their abilities to the full and are provided with good opportunities to help them achieve their goals. For instance, the home has committed to providing driving lessons from an approved instructor for those that are of age to hold a provisional licence and demonstrate the maturity to undertake lessons. For those currently engaged in this activity, there is enjoyment and a clear growth in confidence and self-esteem.

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This inspection

Young people have ready access to a good selection of toys and board games within the home and also participate in wide range of activities in their community. These include such as swimming, climbing, snooker and table tennis and these are enjoyed on an individual basis with staff. Young people have also enjoyed some group outings to places of interest, including pleasure parks and go-karting that have created some memorable occasions for young people as well as providing fun and excellent opportunities to socialise.

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This inspection

The home is effectively managed by a suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager that is eager to promote her own professional development and that of her team. For instance, the manager has recently completed the company's own extended programme of training to ensure that she has a thorough understanding and appreciation of the more complex needs of young people placed. This is a training programme that the company is promoting with all existing and new staff to enhance staff knowledge and skill.

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This inspection

Good arrangements exist to ensure that the home is effectively monitored both by the Registered Manager and by an independent visitor. Although regular reports are sent by both to Ofsted, the Registered Manager's review report lacks some evaluation and does not yet adequately reflect patterns and trends identified by monitoring arrangements and action subsequently taken in response. This is a shortfall that was identified in the last inspection and highlights that the Registered Manager is still not effectively using this particular opportunity to demonstrate how she is improving her service.

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This inspection

However, the home has successfully addressed all other requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. The quality of records held within the home has significantly improved ensuring all relevant documentation is available in young people's individual files; that recording is clear, non-stigmatising and provides the relevant level of required information. As such young people's records are accurate and provide a clear and effective account of both their daily living in the home and future plans.

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This inspection

Staff are well supported to carry out their roles receiving regular supervision and appraisal opportunities that monitor their practice and inform their development. In addition, they benefit from regular opportunities to meet with the psychologist and therapists commissioned by the company to discuss and develop their understanding 4 of 6 of the young people they care for. This produces more consistent practice across the staff team and provides opportunities for staff to review and consider alternative strategies that will be effective in supporting individual young people.

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This inspection

The home is well maintained and provides a homely environment for young people. Young people's bedrooms are decorated and furnished to their taste, enabling them each to reflect their unique identity. The home has benefited from some recent redecoration and the installation of a new boiler, improving comfort and the general appearance of the home. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private company and provides care and education for up to four young people. The home is registered to care for young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2014 Full good 25/09/2013 Interim inadequate progress 30/05/2013 Full good 23/01/2013 Interim good progress

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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 in relation to Regulation 34, a copy of the monitoring report is completed identifying any trends and issues of concern arising from monitoring of matters set out in Schedule 6. This relates to providing a report that is evaluative in its content and that supports continuous improvement in the quality of care provided. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.14) 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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