Children's Home run by Aspire Child Care Ltd in Rochdale

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 report they feel safe and protected within the home.  Regularly reviewed and updated risk assessments, which are understood and implemented by the staff team, ensure young people are kept safe.  Risk taking behaviours, such as self-harming, staying out late and going missing from the home have significantly reduced.  Young people maintain contact with those who are significant to them as staff encourage, support and facilitate this.  Positive and regular communication with the manager and leadership team ensure staff are kept up to date with the progress young people make, their emerging needs and the plans which are in place to address these.  Good external monitoring of the home which incorporates the views of all relevant parties ensure the home continues to develop and improve  An experienced and suitability qualified management team, provide staff with relevant training, support and supervision to enable them to meet the

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The children's home provision is good because:

needs of the young person.  Young people are not involved in recruitment practice as reported within the current Statement of Purpose. In addition this document does not comply with regulations as it fails to highlight to outside agencies and family members how the complaints procedure and other policies can be accessed.  Young people’s physical health is not promoted. Health appointments identified within statutory health care assessments are not undertaken as these have not been highlighted within the homes health care plan.  Young people are not emotionally and practically prepared for their transitions out of the home as the Registered Manager has not effectively challenged the placing authority for an up to date Pathway Plan.  The managers, leaders and staff do not have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.  The present system for internal monitoring is ineffective. This does not

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The children's home provision is good because:

include the young person’s feedback, nor does it evaluate how the quality of care is impacting on the progress and experiences of the young person.

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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

10 The Health and well-being standard In order to meet the health and wellbeing quality standard the registered provider must ensure that staff help each child to –

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Requirement Due date

(i) achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically ensuring that all health appointments and immunisations identified within statutory health care assessments are highlighted within the home health care plan and undertaken within the prescribed time frames. 28/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

(2) (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

(g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

(ii) feedback on the experiences of children.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure the Registered Manager consults and evaluates the views of young people and partner agencies within the internal monitoring to ensure the home can continue to improve the experiences and progress of young people within it. 28/08/2015 14 The care planning standard— In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure-

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Requirement Due date

(2) (b) that arrangements are in place to—

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Requirement Due date

(iii) plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child's placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

(e) that the child's placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child's relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

(i) the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child's needs.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically ensuring that young people are emotionally and practically prepared for their transitions out of the home, by ensuring robust and thorough Pathway Plans are completed, held on young peoples' files and are implemented. 28/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1, and ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose (Regulation 16 (1)(5)) 28/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year, including that of the manager. (Regulation 33 (1) (4)(c)) 28/08/2015

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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 the registered manager can evidence what they have done to achieve engagement with the wider systems, including any actions they have taken to escalate their concerns (The Guide to the Quality Standards. Page 11. Paragraph 2.3)

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Recommendations

 Ensure the registered manager provides a nurturing and supportive home environment that meets the needs of their children, in particular ensuring that the new wardrobes in the young persons’ bedroom are painted and the plastering to the young persons’ bathroom is painted. (The Guide to the Quality Standards. Page 15. Paragraph 3.9.)

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Information about this children's home

 This private run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who may need support with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Inspection Judgements

The overall experiences and progress of children and young people living in the home are

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Good

Young people make good progress in relation to their starting points across many aspects of their welfare and development. They are increasing in confidence and gaining independent living skills, which will equip them in their preparation for independence. They achieve good outcomes in relation to their emotional well- being including a reduction in self-harming behaviours and going missing from home and returning late. Young people say they feel safe, well cared for, listened to and like living in the home.

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Good

Young people receive a good level of care from a small, committed staff team who support them to engage with all aspects of their plans. Despite this, young people have mixed experiences within the home. When they are positive and engaging, they will seek out and get involved in activities which are offered to them. For example, representing the Children in Care Council, completing monthly training with the Child Looked After Nurse and undertaking short training courses with the Prince’s Trust. They have also successfully completed a mentoring award where they have achieved certificates in first aid and safeguarding training. These achievements have contributed to an increase in young people’s confidence, skills and self-esteem. However during times of heightened anxiety, young people will hide themselves away in their rooms and spend lengthy amounts of time on their own becoming socially isolated. Staff make attempts to re-engage young people at

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Good

these times but these efforts are not always welcomed or taken up by them.

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Good

Young people receive individualised care in line with their homes care plan and risk assessments, which are reviewed and updated regularly. Staff are aware of young people’s strengths, needs and vulnerabilities and work consistently in line with their care plan, which is completed by staff. However needs identified within statutory assessments and plans do not always translate into the homes placement plans resulting in young people’s health needs not being fully met. For example actions from Child Looked After reviews and statutory Health Care Assessments are not incorporated into homes care plan to ensure young people’s needs are met. In addition, outstanding Pathway Plans are not pursued by the Registered Manager to ensure a high level of care and support can be provided to meet the overall aims and objective of the young person’s care plans, including heir preparation for moving on.

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Good

Education and training is valued by staff for young people. Professionals have supported the young person to identify and locate a suitable training course and plans are in place for the college course to commence in September 2015. In the interim, the young person has recently sourced and commenced further training to increase their knowledge, skills and experience in preparation for the world of learning and employment.

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Good

Trusting and supportive relationships with the consistent, stable and trained staff team enable young people to share their wishes and views. Young people report they feel confident in sharing their likes and dislikes and feel supported and encouraged to engage in some aspects of their care planning. For example, young people have requested prolonged periods of contact with friends. These requests have been given careful consideration by the staff team, placing authority and subsequently implemented by the manager and her team.

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Good

Staff consistently promote and support young people to keep in contact with their family and other important people, in line with their individual care plans. When necessary staff transport young people to their places of contact and provide the necessary support to ensure it is a positive experience. This ensures that they can maintain relationships with their families and retain their personal identity.

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Good

Young people are consulted informally about their wishes and feelings and are routinely involved in choosing the activities they want to do and the meals they wish to eat. They have been encouraged to be involved in the decoration and personalisation of their bedrooms but have chosen to leave this to staff.

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Good

Young people are supported and encouraged to share their views in all aspects of their lives. They are supported to attend key working sessions and have regular informal discussions where they can discuss things they wish to happen or want to change. Young people know who they can contact if they feel their wishes and views are not being taken seriously and have the means, skills and abilities to contact external services if they feel they are being treated unfairly. The young person has recently demonstrated this by contacting her social worker, independent reviewing officer, the National Youth Advisory Services and Ofsted to raise their dissatisfaction about the timescales being proposed for them to leave their home.

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Good

Young people develop the skills and confidence they need in preparation for adult life. They are supported to increase their levels of independence relative to their age, level of understanding and ability. The young person proudly reported that they are now budgeting, preparing meals, shopping, cooking, cleaning and ironing and feel equipped practically, with the skills they require to leave and successfully move on to their own home. Judgement grade

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good

Young people living at the home say they feel safe. They are kept safe by staff who are clearly aware of their safeguarding responsibilities because they receive regular training and updates regarding this. Staff know about the homes whistle blowing policies and safeguarding procedures and report they feel confident to implement these should the need arise.

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good

Young people report they have made great progress in reducing their risk taking behaviours and attribute this success to the support they have received from the staff team and wider agencies. They receive good support from staff and specialist health services, such as child and adolescent mental health services. This helps young people to develop strategies for managing their feelings and behaviours more appropriately. As a result, young people are no longer engaging in self- harming behaviours.

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good

Young people feel the support they have received from the Registered Manager, staff and the local police officer has assisted them in reducing their anti-social behaviour. They no longer remain away from the home without authority. Partner agencies corroborate the achievements of this young person and attribute this to the quality of care that is provided to them within the home.

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good

Safer recruitment practice is followed. All staff are employed following a thorough selection and interview process. Systematic checking of all references and documentation ensures only those suitable to work with vulnerable young people do so.

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good

Young people live in a safe, homely environment and feel increasingly safe as a result of the care that is afforded to them by staff. There have been no complaints or allegations made. Young people do not raise concerns about bullying and there have been no incidents of physical intervention. A range of health and safety checks are routinely carried out to ensure young people and staff are kept safe.

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good

The impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers

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requires improvement

The manager, who has been registered with Ofsted since October 2009, continues to manage the home successfully. She maintains her responsibilities as the responsible individual and Registered Manager for this home and another two bedded children’s home, which is part of the same organisation. She has the necessary skills and qualifications to lead and manage the small team of care staff comprising of one deputy manager, three full time and one part time care staff. She has previously achieved the Level 5 Diploma and maintains her knowledge and skills through regular attendance at training and consultation events.

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requires improvement

The manager has some understanding of the recent changes to the legislation, guidance and inspection framework. She has openly shared these changes and other relevant information with the staff team as a means of ensuring their knowledge is current.

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requires improvement

Four of the five recommendations made at the last inspection have been adequately addressed. Any review and revisions of the home’s Statement of Purpose are now forwarded to Ofsted as required; the Registered Manager is now receiving adequate supervision; staff have received the required fire training and the Children’s Guide has been reviewed and updated. Some progress is noted in meeting the fifth recommendation. New wardrobes have been purchased and fitted in the young persons’ bedroom. However, these need to be painted and the plastering to the young persons’ bathroom which has been completed now needs to be painted.

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requires improvement

Young people have a good understanding of what the home can provide and are aware of who can support them should they wish to complain. The Children’s Guide has been recently reviewed and updated to include information on agencies and services that can support young people to make representation if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care planning. This document also provides detailed information about the home’s aims and objectives, which means young people are clear about what support they will receive in the home.

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requires improvement

The Statement of Purpose does not fully reflect current practice and does not comply with the Regulation. For example, the document states young people are involved in recruiting new staff but this has not been implemented. Also, the document does not fully inform the reader of how they can access the complaints and safeguarding procedures and access the behaviour management policy.

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requires improvement

External monitoring systems are in place to review the quality of care provided by the home. Monthly monitoring visits are undertaken by an independent person. This monitoring incorporates the views of the young person and placing authority and highlights the strengths and areas for development within the home. However internal monitoring undertaken by the Registered Manager is not as effective. This monitoring does not incorporate any feedback from the young person or partner agencies and does not evaluate the progress and experience young people make within the home This means the Registered Manager is less able to report on the homes impact on the young people’s experience and progress to inform future service delivery. Young people benefit from being cared for by a sufficient number of well trained and experienced staff. They are well supported in delivering a high standard of care and meet young people’s general needs. The Registered Manager and Deputy

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requires improvement

Manager provide additional staff cover to ensure consistency is maintained during periods of staff sickness or annual leave. Regular monthly team meetings and monthly supervisions ensure staff have the opportunity to reflect on their practice and further improve their approach to caring for young people. One member of staff who required an appraisal of their work received this and plans are in place to undertake others who are approaching their twelve months in employment. However appraisals are not undertaken for managers and leaders. Therefore their performance and fitness to perform their roles has not been evaluated.

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requires improvement

Young peoples’ information is stored securely and only shared with authorised persons. This ensures young people's right to privacy is maintained. Case records reflect young people’s everyday lives and the work that is undertaken by the staff team.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager has not effectively challenged the placing authority for the outstanding Pathway Plan for one young person. This plan is not held on the young persons' file, despite their age and plans for them to move on in October 2015. As a consequence the homes care plan cannot fully reflect the support and transition arrangements needed to ensure the young person can be emotionally and physically prepared for their transition into their new home. The young person commented that this lack of firm planning has caused an increased level of anxiety for 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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