Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are safe in the home and they are not involved in risk taking behaviours.  Young people engage well with education and are making good progress.  Young people are able to manage their behaviours well and physical interventions have not been required.  Young people are able to maintain contact with family and friends.  Young people are involved in a wide range of activities in the community.  Young people are tolerant of each other and enjoy positive relationships.  Recent refurbishment of the home has resulted in a high standard of accommodation.  Staff engage well with young people and are keen to involve them in the running of the home.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person should ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child (Regulation 13(2)(e)) 26/06/2015

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(b)(c)) 26/06/2015

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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 placements for children are only accepted where the home are satisfied that they can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children (The Guide para. 11.4)

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Recommendations

 ensure that staff take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child's needs; specifically that previous risk taking behaviours are acknowledged and assessed. (The Guide para. 9.7)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate up to six young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. The home provides accommodation for up to five young people in the main building and one young person in a separate annex. The home is owned by a private organisation.

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good

There have been a lot of changes in the home over recent months. Some young people have moved on from the home as a result. However, the young people currently living in the home continue to make good progress now that the home is again settled. One social worker commented, ‘X has been a little unsettled by the changes but key staff have remained in place and X continues to make progress here. I am happy with the placement. X is happy and settled and has a really good routine.’

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good

New young people have been recently introduced to the home. Positive relationships were evident during the inspection between the young people, who are able with the encouragement of staff, to value each other’s differences. There is a warm and homely atmosphere in the home. Young people engage in activities alone and with each other. For example, young people were arranging an evening to watch a DVD together during the inspection. They access a wide range of social activities in the community and benefit from a weekly diary that reminds them of their commitments for the coming week. Young people currently attend youth club, cadets, go swimming and horse riding, therefore integrating with those in the local community, whilst learning new skills and their self-confidence is increasing as a result.

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good

All young people attend full-time education. They attend a variety of educational settings, according to their needs and abilities and staff pro-actively seek feedback on young people’s progress. They receive support to take examinations and plan for their future, having access to the internet to support their learning and all have an area for private study in their bedrooms. One young person spoken to had a clear career pathway and was working hard to achieve his goals.

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good

Staff listen to young people and are keen to involve them in day to day decisions about the running of the home. More formalised young people’s meetings also take place giving them the opportunity to express their views. Young people are able to personalise their bedrooms and make this space their own. This helps young people feel that they belong here.

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good

Young people have the opportunity to develop practical skills which will help them when they move on from the home. This includes helping with shopping, meal planning and preparation. Young people are becoming more competent and are developing confidence as a result. One young person was negotiating with staff a suitable opportunity to cook a meal for his girlfriend. Such arrangements are possible, as in a family home, with negotiation and planning.

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good

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff, they enjoy spending time with them and respectful relationships are evident. Young people are able to identify a trusted staff member that they could talk to in the event of any difficulties and are aware of the process of how to make a compliant. An independent advocate also visits the home regularly so that young people can raise any issues of concern with a known individual.

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good

Staff ensure that young people are able to maintain contact with their family and friends facilitating contact both within and outside of the home, so that these important connections are maintained. Young people also have friendships in the local community and staff support these, illustrating to young people that it is important to invest in these relationships.

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good

Young people spoken to during the inspection were positive about living in the home. Comments included, ‘I like living here’, ‘everything about the home is good’ and ‘I like the other young people who live here’.

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good

Young people are safe in the home. Staff complete safeguarding training during their induction to the home and regular update training is available they are aware of the procedures to follow should they have any concerns.

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good

Young people currently living in the home do not engage in risk taking behaviour, they do not smoke or use drugs. Staff provide young people with information and engage young people in conversation about keeping themselves safe, they do not go missing from home and staff are aware of their whereabouts when they are out in the community. But this does not prevent staff supporting young people to take age appropriate risks. For example, traveling on public transport alone.

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good

Staff recruitment processes are thorough. Pre-employment checks ensure that only those who are suitable commence work in the home. Managers refer appropriately to other agencies with a safeguarding role, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). Staff request identification from visitors to the home; ensure that they sign in the visitor’s book and ensure that they accompany them within the home. These measures ensure that young people are protected from those who may wish to cause them harm.

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good

Positive behaviour is promoted in the home. All staff working in the home are trained in behaviour management, including the safe use of restraint. However, staff are good at escalating negative situations and restraint is rarely required. Young people receive effective support from staff to develop their own coping mechanisms. The ethos of the home is to reward good behaviour and young people are responding well to this approach. Young people are successfully learning about socially acceptable behaviours.

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good

Personalised risk assessments help inform staff about the issues pertinent to each young person and ensure that staff are aware of and understand the most appropriate strategy to deal with them. These are subject to regular review. However, on one occasion a young person’s historic behaviours had not been acknowledged on their initial risk assessment following admission to the home. Consequently, staff may not be vigilant to this behaviour and it may result in the young person receiving an inconsistent response.

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good

Young people live in a home that is physically safe and secure. Regular environmental safety checks are undertaken and staff and young people regularly practice evacuating the home in an emergency.

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requires improvement

There is a new manager in charge of the home. He took up post in April 2015 and is currently in the process of formal registration with Ofsted. He is appropriately qualified and has previous management experience in a children’s home. An experienced deputy manager supports him, but she is also new to the home.

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requires improvement

The consistency of the staff team is a concern. The current provider purchased the home in December 2014. Two young people who were living in the home at this time remain here. They have experienced many staff changes in this six month period. Many individuals have left the home resulting in some disruption to the care afforded to young people. This has had some negative impact on young people, as they have lost contact with some individuals who they have known for a long period of time. The senior management have recruited to vacant posts and staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of young people currently resident. New staff are currently being introduced to the home. Many of these have yet to obtain a qualification for working with children and young people.

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requires improvement

Weaknesses are also evident in the support offered to staff, which may have impacted on their commitment to the home. While the new manager has ensured that staff have been supervised since his arrival, many have had a period of many months without any formal supervision. Similarly, staff have not had the opportunity for an annual performance appraisal. This impacts on the morale and practice of staff working in the home. Staff have found the period of transition from one provider to another difficult and have struggled to accept change.

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requires improvement

Independent monitoring reports are good and they did identify supervision and support as an issue. However, it has taken some time for the provider to address these concerns. Reports on the operation of the home are thorough and provide constructive challenge. They help the home to improve.

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requires improvement

The organisation is keen to equip staff with the skills they need to care effectively for young people. The availability of staff training is good and is targeted at meeting the specific needs of the young people resident in the home.

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requires improvement

Young people’s case records contain the necessary documentation and young people are cared for in accordance with their care plans. Good records are maintained and staff produce good quality reports outlining young people’s progress. Social workers report that communication with the home is good and that any requests they make are actioned. They appreciate staff keeping them up- to-date.

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requires improvement

The manager appreciates the significance of careful matching of young people’s needs and young people currently resident in the home get on well together. However, the last impact risk assessment completed failed to acknowledge the needs of the young people already resident in the home.

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requires improvement

The new manager is developing an appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and is keen to involve young people in the home’s development. However, he is yet to draft a targeted development plan for the home. The home operates in accordance with its Statement of Purpose, which receives regular review. One social worker confirmed this saying, ’the home have done over and above what they said they would do.’

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requires improvement

The home has undergone a substantial amount of refurbishment over recent months. All young people’s bedrooms now have en-suite facilities. The home is decorated to a good standard and has a homely feel. Social workers and family members spoken to during the inspection commented on the improvements to the home. Plans are also in place to utilise the substantial grounds of the home to keep animals. Chickens and guinea pigs have already been introduced. A farmer is employed to ensure their well-being. Young people have welcomed their introduction and enjoy helping to take care of them.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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