Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC061158 Inspector Gillian Walters Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Radical Services Limited Registered person address Rouse House, 2 Wyther Lane Kirkstall Leeds West Yorkshire LS5 3BT Responsible individual Luiz Miguel Guilherme Registered manager Ian Boyd Date of last inspection 28/01/2015 2 of 5 Inspection date 11/03/2015

p.1

Previous inspection outstanding Enforcement action since last inspection none

p.2

This inspection

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

p.2

This inspection

The home was last inspected on 28 January 2015 and despite the relatively short period of time between inspections the home has continued to strive to improve practice and the service it provides to ensure that young people’s achievements and opportunities are maximised. The home has addressed three recommendations made at the last inspection that have contributed to the home’s judgement on this occasion.

p.2

This inspection

Since the last inspection the property has benefited from extensive refurbishment and redecoration, creating a much more homely, warm and welcoming environment. This includes major re-plastering of the hallways and living room area; new flooring; some essential bathroom repairs and re-decoration that improves the look and comfort of the home for both staff and young people.

p.2

This inspection

Staff are clear in their communication with each other and young people, promoting an open and honest approach that provides young people with consistency in their lives that enables them to achieve positive and trusting relationships.

p.2

This inspection

Young people say they feel safe and well supported in this home and fully understand the reasons for their placement having had frequent opportunities to discuss this with staff. Young people are fully involved in their care planning and regularly contribute their views and opinions about their day-to-day care and future plans. This occurs both formally when reviewing residential placement plans in keyworker sessions but also more casually in daily discussion with staff.

p.2

This inspection

Young people feel confidence that staff are perceptive and open in their approach to addressing any issues they may have. As such they feel comfortable and able to raise any concerns or worries they may have, knowing that staff will be receptive to them and will act on what they say. One young person commented, ‘If something is 3 of 5 wrong I tell them straight off, they listen every time. They know when something is wrong with me and come and ask.’

p.2

This inspection

Young people thrive in this environment, appreciating the care that is taken to understand and meet their individual needs and requirements. Staff are appropriately mindful of the importance of maintaining young people’s links with their culture that helps promote their unique identity. As such young people feel valued and respected and fully included in the life of the home. One young person commented, ‘This is the best care home I’ve been in. The food is the best; no frozen stuff, I just get fresh food here. It is proper healthy here. They cook my type of food and they have learned to cook rice dry. That’s just how I like it. Staff have even bought new cookbooks to make sure I have the choice of meals I enjoy.’

p.3

This inspection

Young people are appropriately supported by staff to maintain and re-build contact with those that are significant to them. Following some disruption in contact arrangements for one young person noted at the last inspection, the home has taken action to review and re-negotiate arrangements with the young person and their placing authority. This means that some positive contact has been re- established enabling the young person to re-connect and keep in touch with some of his family, if not all.

p.3

This inspection

The home’s quality assurance arrangements have been further strengthened to ensure that the home’s independent visitor more regularly consults with appropriate professionals and young people to take into account their views in forming an assessment of the home’s performance. The Registered Manager has further developed his internal monitoring activity to successfully identify patterns and trends in behaviour. This provides invaluable information that enables more focused support to be provided at times when young people are likely to feel most vulnerable and anxious.

p.3

This inspection

Young people rarely participate in risk-taking activities that compromise their safety. Positive behaviour is appropriately supported by negotiated reward initiatives that provide excellent incentives for young people to achieve their agreed their targets. As such, the home has had no need to use physical intervention as a behaviour management strategy and has not experienced any incidents such as young people going missing or engaging in criminal activity. The home takes great care to prioritise young people’s safety and has developed a further child-friendly publication for young people to promote their awareness of the potential dangers in relation to fire, water and electricity. 4 of 5

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The service is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person of either gender who has experienced behavioural and emotional difficulties.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/01/2015 Full outstanding 31/01/2014 Interim good progress 28/08/2013 Full good 14/02/2013 Interim good progress Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5