Children's Home run by Oracle Care Limited in Cheshire East

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’s good relationships with staff have helped them to steadily move forward and make progress. Both young people said that staff at this home are caring, funny and approachable. A parent and professionals echoed these comments.  Young people are admitted to this home is a very structured and planned way. The manager ensures that the home can meet the young person’s needs and clinicians are part of this assessment process.  Staff demonstrated a good understanding of each young person’s vulnerabilities, their roles and responsibilities, and how following protocols and procedures protect young people.  Young people have good attendance at educational provisions. They are achieving in line with their peers and have ambitions for their futures. When educational placements have broken down, the home has quickly found alternative solutions to minimise disruption to their education.  Child friendly consultation documents are completed with young people

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The children's home provision is good because:

about all aspects of their care. However, they are not always fully utilised to inform or show what actions have been taken. For example, one young person said that he struggled to get up in the mornings and that he hated maths. These comments have not been taken forward or addressed in his education plan. As a result, the home cannot demonstrate that his voice has been heard or what support has been put in place.  Young people receive weekly therapy from clinicians. They assist young people to focus on their emotional health and to learn strategies to manage their feelings more constructively. One young person said, ‘This has helped me enormously, I have real anxieties but I am learning ways to cope.’ But this good work is not always recorded within the young person’s health plan. Therefore, it is difficult to measure their progress from their starting point.  The manager understands the strengths and weakness of the home and she

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The children's home provision is good because:

has clear plans in place to address them. She is looking at streamlining documents and records with information increasingly stored electronically. This helps the manager identify trends and patterns and to assess and evaluate information to improve the service. Several documents have not been signed by the author, manager or social worker. This does not ensure that all parties are in agreement with the plans for young people.

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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

7: The children's views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feeling standard the registered person must ensure (1) (c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. 31/12/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that case records are kept up-to-date and signed and dated by the author. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge to be able to respond to the health needs of children. This is specifically in relation to ensuring that young people's emotional health is included in their health plan. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 34, paragraph 7.12)

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Information about this children's home

The home, run by a private company, offers care and accommodation for three 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

09/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

22/01/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

Young people were extremely complimentary about the care that they receive. One young person said, ‘I really like it here. I am doing so well and I can see how much I have progressed.’ Young people said that their introduction to the home was very good. One young person said, ‘Staff visited me several times. I came up to the home to meet the other young person and I stayed for tea. I brought my things over gradually which helped me get use to the idea.’ She continued to say, ‘The manager asked me what colour I would like my bedroom and when I came it was all done lovely in violet, with violet accessories.’ As a result, young people have settled well. All admissions to the home are planned. This is in line with the homes Statement of Purpose. Good impact risk assessments are completed before admission and resident young people’s views are taken into account. The home’s ethos is based around a specific care package that includes therapy. Therefore,

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good

clinicians are involved in the matching process and also visit young people prior to admission. These good practices ensure that the home only admits young people whose needs have been thoroughly assessed. This also contributes to the stability of placements.

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good

Staff work closely with educational providers to ensure young people receive appropriate education and reach their full potential. Young people, who in the past have had little attendance at school are now engaging well. One young person was attending a college course which she didn’t particularly like. In the summer holiday’s staff supported her to identify a new course. She started the course at the beginning of the new term and is doing well. She said, ‘I struggled the first week because it was all new but I love it now. This week I have been helping other students with their projects and giving them advice. I am really proud of myself.’ She continued to say, ‘I wouldn’t have had the confidence before coming here, but that’s how far I have improved. I want to be a secretary.’ Another young person attends the company school. He said, ‘I want to do something in information technology. I am doing ok but my behaviour sometimes lets me down. I am trying

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good

hard.’ Detailed personal education plans highlight the academic level, targets for improvement and the support each young person needs so that staff can continue to improve educational success. There are several documents within the home that record young people’s education placements and progress. These included a child friendly consultation document completed by young people to discuss their progress and barriers to learning. But these views have not been captured or discussed in the formal documents. This means that the home cannot evidence that young people’s views wishes and feelings are consistently heard, acted upon and supported. Young people have clear plans for seeing their families. A visiting parent said, ‘The staff are really good. They ensure that he is here and ready. We go out together or I can stay and I feel comfortable in their company. It allows my wife and me to be part of his care.’ This shows that families are welcomed into this home and this

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good

helps maintain and strengthen relationships. Any restrictions to contact are clearly identified within young people’s plans. This ensures that young people only have contact with people identified within their care plan.

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good

Young people have a range of independent people to talk to if they have concerns. They are confident that they could raise a complaint or concern without fear of reprisals. One young person said, ‘I can talk to any staff, you (inspector), the responsible individual, my social worker and loads more.’ Young people confirmed that when they have raised an issue it has been taken seriously and they have been happy with the outcome. One young person said, ‘There’s nothing to complain about. It’s all good.’ Another young person said, ‘I have not complained for a while but the manager listens, you get a letter saying what’s happened about it and what they have done.’ This shows that young people receive a formal response to their concerns. They also discussed the good arrangements of talking about the home, staff and any issues within young people’s meetings.

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good

Young people receive individualised health care. The company employs health clinicians to work with young people on an individual basis. Young people have built up good relationships with an identified clinician. Over time, they have been able to reflect on their background, safety and risks factors that have impacted on why they were placed here. They are learning to self-regulate and use coping strategies. One young person said, ‘My anxieties are high but I have learnt a breathing exercise that allows me to focus.’ Several staff said that they are able to encourage and remind her to use this when she becomes agitated. The young person also discussed her anxieties of being left on her own. She said, ‘We have put a plan together where I will be on my own for short periods of time but I will know were staff are and be able to contact them. This will build up over time. I am confident that this will work.’ This means that young people have a better

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good

understanding of their complex issues and that their emotional health has improved. Clinicians attended the home weekly to discuss findings from consultations and provided good reports on a weekly basis and in preparation for reviews. But these conclusions, agreed strategies and outcomes have not been recorded within the young person’s health plan. Therefore, the health plan does not identify how the young person has progressed from their starting point, especially in regards to their emotional health. In contrast to this, excellent arrangements are in place for young people who receive controlled medications. This ensures that they receive their medication in line with their prescription and safely. Young people who are being prepared for semi-independence are supported to self-administer their own medications. Young people are supported to eat healthily and take exercise but one young person has struggled to take advice

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good

on making better food choices. A parent and professional both said that this was a small area of concern; but recognised that he had lost some weight recently. Alternatively, another young person said, ‘I am learning to make food from scratch. This is healthier and much cheaper and important for when I live on my own. I make a good curry, chilli and spaghetti bolognaise.’ Both young people attend the gym on a regular basis. One young person said, ‘What has been really great, is that all staff have gone out and bought gym clothes, so anybody can come the gym with me.’

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good

Young people live in a warm, welcoming environment and they are very much involved in the design and decoration of the home. One young person has added flower stencils to the hall which adds to homely environment. One young person is now receiving support and rewards for keeping his bedroom clean and tidy. Therefore, there is a marked improvement in this area.

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good

Both young people described staff as excellent. One young person said, ‘They are like family.’ Another said, ‘You could not wish for better staff.’ Both said that staff cared for them very well; they listened and tried to make things happen. They were able to reflect that their progress was down to these good relationships. Professionals said these excellent relationships are the basis of the good care given here. A parent said, ‘He gets on well with all the staff but I don’t think they should be as friendly. He calls them his mates. But I suppose this is working because he has been able to share difficult things with them.’ Staff said that they were clear of their professional boundaries when working with young people. These good relationships have enabled young people to talk about past traumas. Therefore, they are getting the help and support that they need to work through these areas.

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good

Young people said that they were safe at this home. They said that safety issues and strategies are discussed with clinician’s to keep themselves safe, with each other and within the community. At first, young people are fully supervised and explicit risk assessments show how they are to be supported and how independent time is achieved. Careful consideration is given to interactions within the community. For example, the home has worked closely with college safeguarding tutors to protect young people. All professionals, spoken to as part of this inspection process said that young people’s safety is prioritised here. They said there are good systems to protect young people and to help them understand how they put themselves at risk. As a result, young people have reduced the concerns that adults had for them.

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good

Young people’s risk assessments identify their individual vulnerabilities. Staff work consistently with the strategies identified within them and take the agreed action when an incident occurs. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and discussed within staff meetings. This means that staff can contribute to them and that they know of any changes made. This ensures that all staff follow the agreed protocols and procedures and that young people receive good continuity of care.

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good

Young people rarely go missing from this home. When this has happened it has been for a short period of time. Due to the vulnerabilities of the young people they are reported to the police straight away. This is in-line with their individual risk assessment and agreed protocols. Staff will search for young people and try to make contact via their mobile phones. When young people have been missing the home has ensured that return interviews are completed by an independent person. This gives young people the opportunity to discuss any issues that may have impacted on them leaving the home.

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good

Clear and consistently applied behaviour management strategies ensure that young people understand about acceptable behaviour. Consequences for unacceptable behaviour are minimal but when applied, young people said they were fair. Some young people have apologised and try to make amends. Young people have not been physically held. All staff have received training in holding young people safely and several associated safeguarding courses. Staff are very clear about their responsibilities for keeping young people safe. They know what to do if they have concerns and take action to protect young people. Young people’s good behaviour is encouraged through reward and incentive schemes. As a consequence, one young person is taking more responsibility in keeping his bedroom clean and tidy. Another young person’s attendance has improved in education. One young person said, ‘I like to live in a clean house, so I help out all the time but staff also

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good

recognise this and give me treats. I don’t expect it but it’s great.’ Therefore, young people not only learn that there are positive consequences to their actions but that staff appreciate help when it is not asked for.

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good

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2013. She has nearly finished the leadership and management award and she hopes that it will be signed off in December 2015. She has the relevant experience in caring for young people and has successful built up her skills in leading a staff group and managing the home. There has been a recent overview, by the company, on staff development, structure and pay. As a result of this, she is now supported by two qualified senior staff members. Therefore, she has been able to delegate more duties to them and focus on developing the home. For example, the company has lots of documents that say the same thing which can often lead to staff spending time repeating the same information. She is working with the company to have a format which will capture’s all the necessary information, within each outcome, in one document.

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good

Professionals confirm they have received the home’s Statement of Purpose and that it provided very good information about the service. Young people said that they are welcomed into this home and part of this is receiving a welcome booklet. They say that it is child friendly and gives them good information about the home. They continued to say that staff take time to go through this with them. This helps them settle and know the boundaries of the home. It also provides them with details of independent people who they can contact, if necessary.

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good

Records clearly reflect the plans for young people and mostly show the progress they have made over time. But some records have not been signed by the author, manager or social worker. This does not ensure that all parties are in agreement with the plans or information supplied. Young people said that they can contribute and influence their plans. They often make comments and sign that the information is factual. These good practices ensure that young people are fully involved in their care.

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good

Professionals and young people said that in the past, staffing has been an issue at this home. Young people now say that there are no issues for them and they are cared for by staff who know them well. There is a core staff team of staff who have worked at the home for a significant period of time. The manager has worked hard in recruiting the right people who have the skills to work with young people. Two new staff have commenced employment with another awaiting clearance checks to be completed. In addition to this, she has ensured that the staffing ratio is in line with the homes Statement of Purpose. Therefore, although the home can accommodate three young people, they have remained at two and will for the forthcoming months. As a result, young people receive continuity of care. A robust recruitment process ensures that young people are cared for by suitable adults.

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good

All new staff complete an induction period which includes shadowing staff at the home. They also complete all mandatory training as part of their induction. Training is refreshed periodically to ensure staff are kept up to date with any changes. Staff also receive additional training from clinicians in specific areas around emotional, sexual and mental health such as attachment training. This means that staff have the skills to support young people well and that their skills and knowledge are continually built upon.

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good

Most staff are qualified in caring for young people. Two staff are completing this award. Staff said that the support they receive from the manager is excellent. They said they were fully involved in the development of the home and all decisions or changes were fully explored within staff meetings. In addition to this, they said supervision is completed timely and supports their practice. Appraisals give staff opportunities to develop in the service and this is evident in the two new recent senior posts.

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good

Independent monitoring of the home takes place monthly. The visitor uses these opportunities to consult with young people and a wide range of professionals to ensure a high standard of care. Any suggestions for improvement are taken forward to her development plan. As a result, the home continues to strive forward.

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good

Ofsted and relevant parties are now informed of any notifiable incident promptly. This means that all parties are aware of any action taken by the home and the outcome. As a result, all professionals commented on the excellent communication between them and the home. One professional said, ‘Communication is excellent, if they cannot contact me by telephone I will receive an e-mail and further telephone calls. Therefore, I am fully updated on all things.’

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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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