Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warrington

Inspection date 12/08/2015

Previous inspection judgement Sustained effectiveness

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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:

There are very good relationships between the staff and young person. The staff demonstrate a sound understanding of the young person’s needs and work hard to ensure that are addressed.  The young person recognises the significant progress he has made since coming to live here. This is because the staff have helped him to reduce difficult and risk-taking behaviours including criminal activity and missing from home.  The young person’s emotional and mental health needs are well supported. As a result, he is able to reflect on his past experiences and develop an understanding about his background.  The young person is encouraged to have his say in the running of the home, through participation in weekly house meetings and key work sessions. This provides him with the opportunity to discuss and seek solutions to any problems he may be experiencing.  Education is viewed as an important aspect of the young person’s life. Staff

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The children's home provision is good because:

work closely with education professionals to support attendance and participation. However, the young person has struggled to maintain his attendance over a sustained period of time.  Staff encourage and support the young person to take part in a wide range of social activities. This includes going to the gym, boxing, cycling and bowling. This not only promotes social inclusion but increases his confidence and feelings of self-worth.  The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. However, the Statement of Purpose does not include the age range of children for whom it is intended to care for.  The provider uses careful selection and vetting procedures to ensure all staff are suitable to work with young people. However, one staff file does not contain all the information required in respect of Schedule 2.  Staff say they are well supported and feel listened to by the manager. They

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The children's home provision is good because:

receive regular supervision and training to ensure they are skilled and competent to meet the needs of the young people they care for. However, some training records do not demonstrate that all staff training is up-to-date.

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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 education standard the registered provider must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(iii)understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

(iv) help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. 21/09/2015

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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. Specifically the age range of children for whom it is intended that accommodation is to be provided. (Regulation16 (1)) 21/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure full and satisfactory information is available in relation to an individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3)(d) 21/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 21/09/2015

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child with emotional and or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a large national private provider. 

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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good

The young person’s experiences and progress are good from his starting point. He is benefiting from the positive and warm relationships with staff, which are based on mutual respect. The staff are considerate to his cultural and religious needs, including any dietary preferences. As a result, the young person is thriving in a nurturing environment. The young person said, ‘I love it here…the staff make it a home…I can talk to them…we’re like a big family but they are always professional. I used to be out 24/7 in my other home but they have calmed me down here.′ A placing social worker said, ‘he is doing really well from where he was at in (name of the other home). He has calmed down a lot and established very positive relationships.’

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good

Staff support the young person to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This has led to improvements in the young person’s general health. For example, he has visited the dentist after not attending for three years. Furthermore, he regularly engages with the in-house therapeutic team to promote his emotional well-being. The young person said, ‘it is really helping me…I can talk to her about anything…she gives me strategies to help me.′ Consequently, the young person is developing effective strategies for managing his challenging feelings and emotions, which has had a positive impact on his behaviour and self- esteem.

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good

Staff actively promote educational attendance and engagement. However, despite being provided with one to one tuition in the home, the young person has struggled to engage with this. An alternative educational placement was found; however, the impact of this is limited because he only attended for a short time before finishing for the summer holidays. His end of year report stated that when he participates in lessons he engages really well but his lack of attendance has the potential to impact on him succeeding.

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good

The young person feels that the staff care about him and act as appropriate role models. He said, ‘(name of staff) is top…I want to be like him.’ This has inspired him to consider his future and to recognise the value of undertaking some vocational training in order to improve his life chances.

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good

Staff support the young person to develop a sense of his own identity. For example, he purchases food items that reflect his culture and also benefits from visiting his family to celebrate important religious festivals. This helps them to sustain important attachments and retain a sense of belonging. The young person is encouraged to participate in a range of activities with the staff. For example, going to the gym, bike rides, bowling and cinema trips. Plans for the week ahead are fully discussed at the weekly house meetings. This enables the young person to contribute to the running of the home. In addition, he is supported to undertake some household tasks, such as shopping and keeping his bedroom tidy. This helps to build the young person’s confidence in their own abilities.

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good

The young person said they feel safe and he can talk to staff if he is worried or concerned. Staff have a good understanding of the risks the young person poses to themselves and work very hard with him to reduce these. Consequently, the young person has not gone missing from the home or been involved in any criminal activity since moving into the home. The care and support provided is helping him to become increasingly safe.

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good

Strong partnership working further promotes the safety of young people. For example, should a young person go missing from the home they are offered the opportunity to talk to an independent person about the reasons for leaving the home. Where there are concerns regarding a young person’s welfare and safety the manager is proactive in arranging strategy meetings in order to share information between key professionals and inform risk management practice.

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good

A positive approach to behaviour management is helping a young person to learn to take responsibility for his behaviour. Staff engage him in regular key work sessions in order for him to explore more positive ways of managing his emotions. Strategies in place are proving effective as there have been no incidents of aggression since the young person moved into the home. In addition, staff regularly consult with an in-house clinician in order to help them understand the young person’s emotional responses and behaviour. Clear and consistent boundaries contribute to a feeling of safety and well-being for the young person.

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good

Young people benefit from an environment that is safe, secure and protects them from the risk of harm. All equipment is regularly maintained and serviced to ensure it is in good working order.

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good

The provider uses careful selection and vetting procedures to ensure all staff are suitable to work with young people. However, one staff file does not have a record of the DBS checks undertaken; the manager did confirm with the HR department that a DBS has been done, although it no requires updating. There have been no allegations relating to any staff working in the home since the last inspection.

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good

The registered manager has been registered since October 2012; she has recently completed her level 5 management qualification and is waiting for this to be signed off. Staff confirm she provides effective leadership and clear direction. Staff morale is very high and there is a culture of high aspiration. The staff have a sense of shared ownership about their practice which is having a positive impact on the young person currently living in the home.

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good

The young person benefits from a permanent and stable staff team. One of the team leaders is due to take up the post of first line manager, ensuring any absence by the manager will be suitably covered. Most staff have a minimum of a level 3 qualification. Their practice is underpinned by an ongoing training programme that provides them with the skills and knowledge to effectively meet the needs of young people. Staff have recently completed training on attachment and PACE. However, some training records do not demonstrate that all staff training is up-to- date, including safeguarding and first aid.

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good

Staff confirm they are well supported. Where there have been differences within the staff team, the manager has effectively challenged this. Consequently, staff feel able to raise any issues they have with her because they are confident they will be listened to. The home is achieving its aims and objectives as set out in the Statement of Purpose. However, it states that it provides care for young people up to the age of 18 years old. This needs some revision to ensure the age range of the young people cared for is much clearer.

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good

The quality of relationships between the manager, staff and other professionals is excellent. One said professional said, ‘they have been brilliant.′ A social worker commented, ‘they maintain regular contact with me…provide weekly updates…it is very homely and a nice environment.’

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good

The four recommendations made at the last inspection have all been met. The risk management plans clearly identify the control measures in place to help to keep young people safe from harm. This supports young people to take appropriate risks as part of normal growing up. For example, the young person is able to spend time away from the staff with his friends. Records are maintained to a good standard and provide a thorough account of the young person’s progress and experiences whilst living at the home. A manager from within the organisation monitors the quality of care within the home to ensure that care plans focus on improving outcomes and risks are reducing for the young person. The reports clearly reflect any areas for development.

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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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