Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 The inspector was aware during this inspection that serious concerns of a child protection nature were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. The investigation relates to the serious misuse of the office computer. Interim staffing arrangements, have been put in place pending the outcome of this investigation. These arrangements ensure young people are not alone with staff until the identity and motive of the person can be established.  Internet safety is ineffective. While the home has various blocks, filters and restrictions, there are no systems in place to ensure staff can be held to account for their internet activity. Also, the Registered Manager does not routinely monitor staffs browsing history and internet activity.  The manager has written an internet use policy during this inspection, in response to the serious concerns relating to the inappropriate use of the staff computer. However, this has not yet been disseminated to staff and cannot be

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The children's home strengths

 Staff demonstrate a care for young people and invest a lot of time in their success.  Positive relationships and attachments between young people and some staff have developed from their interpersonal interactions.  All young people have educational placements and their attendance is very good. Taking their starting points into consideration they have made significant improvements with regards their attendance and achievements.  Staff work proactively with education providers to meet the complex needs of the young people. This includes regular contact with teachers, attending meetings and ensuring that there is structured work in place for them to do with young people within the home.  Managers understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home and have clear plans to address them. Staff report that they feel well supported in their roles and feel listened to by the manager.

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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 protection of children standard, in particular the standard in paragraph (1), the registered person must ensure that staff-

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a)(v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person, and-

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Requirement Due date

(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to ensuring that the current investigation into staff using the office computer to search for advice on how to download child-pornography, is fully concluded and that the registered person can be sure that no member of staff presents a risk to young people. 30/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

13 The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, in particular, the standard in paragraph (1), the registered person must-

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Requirement Due date

(2) (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to having robust systems in place to assess and evaluate the progress made by children and young people since the start of their placement. 30/09/2015 The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect. This specifically relates to ensuring that a policy relating to computer safety is written, understood and implemented by staff on a day to day basis, including how staffs internet use is to be monitored. (Regulation 34(1)(a)) 30/09/2015

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately run children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/02/2015 CH – Interim improved effectiveness

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requires improvement

Young people are making small, but measurable progress in this home. They benefit greatly from the personalised and consistent support they receive from staff. Clear routines and boundaries in the home provide firm foundations that enable young people to live their lives in a reliable and nurturing environment.

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requires improvement

Staff do their upmost to encourage the development of secure relationships. However, at times this is met with varied success. Some relationships fluctuate on a day to day basis with young people choosing to ignore and disregard some staff. Staff do persevere and continue to treat young people with unconditional positive regard, even when they are at their most challenging. This was confirmed by a social worker who said, ‘Staff are great, they are very warm and understand young people’s needs. (Name) can be very reluctant to engage, but staff persevere and make sure (name) is given lots of opportunities to do things.’ Young people benefit from personalised planning, target setting and incentives. This has had a positive impact on young people’s behaviour. They are fully invested in their incentive plans and more often than not able to meet their agreed targets. This is positive as it enables young people to recognise their successes and

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requires improvement

Placement plans provide a good overview of young people’s needs and never lose sight of their individuality. These records are well written, but are extremely cumbersome and are not particularly child-friendly. This makes it difficult to engage young people in their plans as they are not accessible and easy to follow. This shortfall has been identified by the manager and a more child-friendly booklet is being produced. This will help young people to develop an interest in how their care is planned and reviewed.

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requires improvement

Young people live in a home where education is highly valued and promoted. Taking their starting points into consideration, young people have made significant educational progress. They enjoy 100% attendance and are enjoying improved outcomes. Staff place great value on education and work closely with providers to ensure that young people are progressing. This includes regular telephone calls, progress reports and discussion with teachers. Staff continue to encourage young people every step of the way and celebrate their achievement no matter how big or small. As a result young people are developing confidence and are now more able to accept recognition and praise for their achievements.

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requires improvement

Young people enjoy good health and are supported to attend their medical appointments. Staff provide good information and guidance on a range of issues, including smoking, substance misuse and sexual health. Young people enjoy a balanced and healthy diet that includes a range of different foods that take full account of young people’s likes and dislikes. Despite some reluctance to try new things, young people are encouraged to participate in a range of activities, a particular favourite being horse riding. These activities help young people to maintain good physical and psychological health.

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requires improvement

Young people are making some progress in the development of independent living and self-care skills, relative to their age and level of understanding. They are able to make simple meals, take responsibility for keeping their room’s tidy, budgeting and independent travel. Preparation for independence is constantly under review and staff work in line with agreed plans. Staff are pro-active in encouraging young people to enhance their opportunities within the community, which is often met with some reluctance. Nevertheless, staff persevere and continue to encourage young people to develop their life skills and self-confidence. Judgement grade

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requires improvement

There are serious safeguarding concerns relating to the suspected misuse of the office computer. The manager has appropriately referred these matters to the relevant safeguarding agencies and they are currently being investigated by the police. Staffing levels have been increased on an interim basis until the manager can be sure that young people are not unnecessarily exposed to any person who may present a risk to them.

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requires improvement

Internet security within the home is not sufficiently robust. Currently there is no way of monitoring individual employees’ internet activity. The home does have web-protection software on all computers; however these systems fail to provide specific information about who is responsible for undertaking individual searches. Furthermore, staff do not have individual computer log-ins, which further impedes the managers’ ability to fully monitor internet usage. Currently the home does not have an effective policy that sets out the parameters for appropriate and acceptable computer use. A draft policy has been written and provides clarity on expectations and the consequence of any inappropriate use. However, it remains in draft form and has not yet been circulated among the staff team. Young people benefit greatly from clear and consistent behaviour management strategies. Staff work closely with young people to ensure they understand the

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requires improvement

consequence of their actions and what sanctions will be put in place. On a positive note, sanctions are extremely rare. This is because young people are now more invested in their individual incentive plans. These plans demonstrate that young people are meeting their agreed targets and all achievements, no matter how big or small, are consistently celebrated by everyone in the home.

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requires improvement

Young people do not place themselves at risk by going missing from care. This reduces the risk associated with anti-social behaviour, abuse and sexual exploitation. Individual protocols and risk assessments document the action required by staff in the event of a young person failing to return home. These include going out and searching the area, contacting them on their mobile phone and reporting to matter to the appropriate authorities. These measures help keep young people safe and well.

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requires improvement

The home has good relationships with the neighbourhood police, the Local Authority Designated Officer and placing social workers. This facilitates effective communication on child protection matters to ensure suitable action is taken when required.

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requires improvement

Evidence gathered at this inspection highlights that the manager takes appropriate steps to ensure that the homes recruitment and vetting procedures are robust. In addition, visitors to the home are checked and supervised appropriately. This demonstrates that reasonable steps are undertaken to limit the chances of unsuitable people gaining access to vulnerable young people.

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requires improvement

The Manager of this home was registered with Ofsted in April 2014. She is suitably qualified and has over five year’s management experience within a social care setting. This validates her suitability to manage the home. A new deputy manager has recently been appointed. This means that the home can continue to operate effectively when the Registered Manager is away.

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requires improvement

Currently the Registered Manager does not monitor individual employee’s computer use. While specific data reports can be requested, this is not something the manager routinely does or monitors. These reports provide some information about the type and amount of web-searches that have taken place. However, it fails to provide information relating to the specific user. This means the manager isn’t able to effectively challenge or address any misuse, which has been highlighted by a recent incident of suspected computer misuse.

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requires improvement

The home is well resourced and employs a sufficient number of staff who work well as part of a team. Staff spoken with during the inspection confirm they feel supported by their manager and enjoy their role. One member of staff said, ‘I really enjoy working here. I feel much supported by my manager and the rest of the team.’ Staff benefit from regular supervision which enables them to reflect upon their practice, recognise their strengths and considerer areas of development. Staff are very well supported and feel that good management oversight enables them to operate successfully as a team. The skills and qualifications of staff are developing with a number of them holding recognised qualifications and all others either enrolled to start or actively working towards their qualification. Staff are enthusiastic about their development and willingly engage in ongoing training. This includes first aid, safeguarding,

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requires improvement

therapeutic approaches and attachment. This means that reasonable steps are taken to ensure that staff practice is in keeping with current legislation, frameworks and statutory guidance. Young people’s records are generally well organised and present a good overall picture of their experiences in the home. However, information relating to progress is not fully captured and evaluated in a coherent format. This makes it difficult to analyse information and demonstrate the full impact the service has had on the lives of young people. Monthly independent visits are undertaken to review the home’s performance and identify areas for improvement. The Registered Manager has a realistic understanding of the strengths of the service and promptly addresses areas where improvement can be made. This is further supported in the continued use of a detailed development plan that sets out clearly a plan to drive further

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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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