Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Rochdale

Unique reference number SC456542 Inspector Angela Whiteley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Cambian Childcare Limited Registered person address Pinnacle House 2 Oakwood Square, Cheadle Royal Business Park CHEADLE Cheshire SK8 3SB Responsible individual Michael Ore Registered manager Rachel Grima Date of last inspection 13/11/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 19/03/2015

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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

Since the last full inspection the service has demonstrated continued improvement in the quality of care and outcomes for young people. There was one requirement and seven recommendations made at the last inspection. The Registered Manager has fully addressed the requirement and the majority of the recommendations, which demonstrates her commitment to improving the service.

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This inspection

There are currently no young people accommodated in the home. The placing authority agreed the return of a young person to his family following an incident of being missing from the home. He was new to the home, having been placed only for a few weeks. Another young person who experienced a long term stable placement at the home has made a smooth transition into adult life. He is living in his own property in the local community with high levels of support to ensure his safety. The staff team have been deployed to other homes in the organisation while referrals for new admissions are considered by the Registered Manager. The home has benefitted from some redecoration in preparation for a new young person.

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This inspection

Young people come to the home with already established high levels of risk-taking behaviour, such as gang culture, sexually harmful behaviour and going missing from the home. Staff work closely with young people to keep them safe, together with other professionals from relevant agencies. Young people benefit from regular one to one sessions with staff and in-house clinicians that help them to make sense of their behaviours and begin to build their confidence and self-esteem.

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This inspection

Young people engage well with education and with community work placements. They learn practical skills within the home that help them to prepare for adult life. Some young people have been supported to move to their own property but continue to be provided with high levels of support to keep them and others safe. 3 of 6 The home is able to demonstrate good communication and partnership working with placing authorities and other professionals tasked with helping young people that present high risk behaviours. As one professional commented, ‘Staff are friendly and hospitable and each and every one knows their job and what is expected of them; they do an amazing job.’ Another commented that, ‘The outcomes achieved are excellent to see.’ The Registered Manager is assertive in calling for case planning meetings when needed and ensures clear and robust plans are generated. This helps to ensure a focused approach to dealing with some serious harmful behaviour.

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This inspection

The staff make a professional contribution to agency meetings ensuring all relevant information is considered. This helps to safeguard young people.

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This inspection

Staff are not deterred when young people display risk-taking behaviours. They take appropriate action to ensure young people’s safety and welfare. Any serious incidents that do occur are dealt with promptly and appropriately.

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This inspection

Incidents of young people going absent without permission or going missing from the home are rare. However, when they do occur staff promptly implement the policies and procedures; go looking for young people and encourage them to return. Staff are familiar with the most up-to-date police protocols for their area and for other areas when young people are placed from outside the local authority. Copies of the protocols are now kept in the home.

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This inspection

Some young people who do not want to live at this home have gone missing as a means of demonstrating this. They compromise their progress by making choices about key areas of their lives. They make their own decisions about where they are to live, which may place them at risk of harm. Staff continue to keep in daily contact with young people and visit them to encourage their return. Despite staffs efforts some young people refuse to return to the home. These incidents are appropriately reported to the relevant agencies and the care plan is reviewed by the placing authority social worker, which thoroughly considers young people’s safety and welfare.

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This inspection

Young people new to the home receive high levels of support and supervision from a committed and experienced staff team. This enables them to settle quickly into their daily routines and they begin to make some progress from their starting point. As a result young people begin to experience some positive outcomes in respect of engagement in education, activities and improved contact arrangements.

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This inspection

Young people’s behaviour is modified and improved through clear and consistent messages from staff that understand and support young people to achieve. They respond positively to praise and rewards and begin to develop trusting relationships with staff. As a result, there have been no incidents requiring physical restraint or sanctions since the last inspection. In addition, no police involvement has been needed to deal with any challenging behaviours within the home.

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This inspection

Young people benefit from the improved skills, knowledge and understanding of 4 of 6 staff that have recently completed e-safety training. However, some staff still need to attend child sexual exploitation training, which the Registered Manager is addressing with the training department. The Registered Manager is also introducing staff development topics at team meetings. For example, she is taking two different policies and procedures to each team meeting for open discussion. This ensures the staff team are up-to-date with their practice and are able to meet the current and emerging needs of any young person in placement. Staff receive regular supervision, which provides an opportunity to reflect on practice. Records of sessions are kept for each member of staff including the Registered Manager and are signed.

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This inspection

The home has a comprehensive Statement of Purpose that has recently been reviewed and sent to Ofsted. It now provides clear information about the home and accurately reflects their aims and objectives. A review of the children’s guide has also taken place, which ensures all relevant information is included for young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has developed effective monitoring and quality assurance systems that help her keep good oversight of the quality of care and outcomes for young people. Her quarterly reports and the home's development plan are clear and contribute to the home’s improvement agenda. Monthly monitoring visits to the home are currently undertaken by Registered Managers from other homes within the same company, which presents a conflict of interest. The provider is preparing to appoint an independent person to undertake these visits to ensure the home is compliant with the regulations.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager provides strong leadership, which promotes good quality care and positive outcomes for young people. Young people are protected through a number of measures, including thorough risk assessments, robust care planning, effective quality assurance systems and frequent communication with a range of statutory and other agencies. This contributes to the effective management of risk and as a result, young people are safeguarded in the placement. Any area of weakness identified is dealt with promptly by the Registered Manager, which ensures the standards within the home remain high and continue to improve. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately run and is registered for up to one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2014 Full good 18/02/2014 Interim good progress 12/09/2013 Full outstanding

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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 the registered provider appoints an independent person to visit and report on the children's home. (Regulation 33 (1) & Children's homes regulations amendments 2014, paragraph 2.8 - 2.9, July 2014) 30/04/2015

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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 all staff have access to appropriate training that keeps them up-to-date with professional, legal and practice developments, with particular regard to child sexual exploitation. (NMS 18.1) 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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