Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warrington

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:

 Staff have worked hard in helping the young person to achieve positive changes and engage with services that help him address offending behaviours.  He has engaged well in regular key work sessions where he has been able to reflect on his previous behaviour.  Staff promote the importance of education and are well motivated in supporting him to re-engage in his learning.  They have a good understanding of him so that he is provided with the right level of support, guidance and advice.  There is effective multi-agency working to promote his welfare and safety.  The core staff team are very experienced and have worked for the organisation for a number of years. However, they would benefit from some training on radicalisation to ensure their practice is informed by current research and developments in this particular area.  Risk assessments and behaviour management plans provide limited information on the steps taken to guard against the risks associated with

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The children's home provision is good because:

radicalisation.  The home is well maintained and decorated to a good standard. However, the kitchen units are in need of updating to bring it in line with the rest of the home.  Internal and external monitoring processes ensure that standards of care are maintained. However, the monthly visits are undertaken by another manager from within the organisation; potentially this compromises their ability to make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding 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

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1)) 08/01/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  For children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. This specifically relates to ensuring that the kitchen is maintained to a high standard in line with the rest of the home.(The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15 paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This specifically relates to ensuring that their placement plan and risk assessments include details of the steps taken to manage any identified risks.(The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff have the knowledge and skills to be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm; Specifically they have training in radicalisation.(The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 43 paragraph 9.12)

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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

05/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

08/01/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

The young person did not take part in this inspection. He has become increasingly safe from his starting point of placement, as prior to living here he engaged in significant risk taking and offending behaviours that resulted in being criminalised. Staff have worked hard in helping him to achieve positive changes and engage with services that help him address these behaviours. A professional said, the staff worked closely with us and their weekly updates inform our risk management plans.’

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good

He has engaged well in regular key work sessions where he has been able to reflect on his previous behaviour. Furthermore his emotional well-being has been carefully considered and he has engaged with a therapist from the organisations own clinical team. His social worker said, ‘to my surprise he engaged in therapy which was something he’s never done before. I think he possibly entertained the idea of another life.′ Together they have been proactive in guiding the young person to make more positive choices and improve his emotional well-being.

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good

The young person is able to exercise choice relating to his personal identity and religious beliefs. Staff regularly transport him to his place of worship where he has established positive links with members of the local community. This gives him a sense of belonging and promotes social inclusion.

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good

Staff promote the importance of education and are well motivated in supporting him to re-engage in his learning. Staff worked well with educational professionals to identify a post 16 training course, while a tutor worked with him at home to improve his English functional skills. Through his links in the local community the young person also secured a job with a local company.

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good

Good relationships exist between the young person and staff who are child-focused and provide a stable, nurturing and supportive environment. They have a good understanding of him so that he is provided with the right level of support, guidance and advice. They are very interested in him and listen to his day-to-day experiences. For example, the records of key working sessions show that they have spent a great deal of time talking to him about his religion to help them gain a better understanding this. This makes him feel valued and respected.

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good

The young person contributes to a range of household tasks, including shopping and travelling independently to assist with his journey towards independence. He can make his own decisions about how he spends his spare time and often chooses to spend time with his friends rather that going on planned activities.

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good

The support staff give to the young person initially helped him to become increasingly more safe and protected. However, in recent weeks he has not taken on board the advice and guidance offered by the adults once the restrictions placed on him by the courts expired. A professional said, ‘his engagement was great until near the end…the staff have fully supported the work we were doing…they responded well to all his needs but the pull is too much.’ The young person was placed away from home in order to keep him safe.

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good

There has been an increase in the missing from homes; good protocols are in place that staff follow. The manager and staff are working collaboratively with the police, and placing authority to ensure the young person is safe. The placing authority has served notice, but would like him to return to the home. In the meantime staff have maintained contact with the young person via mobile phone to ensure he is safe and well.

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good

The staff team have regular consultation with an in-house clinical practitioner. This provides staff with the opportunity to discuss the young person and for problem solving. He said, ‘they are very open and do engage with me…he did have significant periods with staff where he engaged.’ This ensures the care that he receives is centred on his particular needs. Good behaviour is promoted through structure and routine which helps the young person to respect boundaries.

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good

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans provide limited information on the steps taken to guard against the risks associated with radicalisation. That said, discussions with the Youth Offending Service confirm there has been effective partnership working to ensure the young person is not exposed to any unnecessary risk in the community.

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good

All staff undertaken regular safeguarding training so they are able to recognise and respond to any concerns about a young person's welfare. Regular health and safety checks ensure the home is a safe and secure environment to live in.

p.8

good

The Registered Manager has been registered since October 2012; she has recently completed her level 5 management qualification and is currently waiting for this to be signed off. She is also the Registered Manager for another two homes within the organisation, which means she is not in full time day-to-day charge of the home. However, there is a suitably qualified and experienced fist line manager who deputises in her absence. The staff feel very supported and enjoy their work.

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good

The home meets the aims and objectives of its Statement of Purpose, which provides young people, their families and placing authorities with a clear picture of the service provided.

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good

The manager and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering good quality childcare that enables young people to make progress however small. They have established very good multi-agency working with other professionals who all report a high level of satisfaction at the support given to the young person. They confirm they receive regular updates about young person’s progress.

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good

The core staff team are very experienced and have worked for the organisation for a number of years. They benefit from a good range of training, including specialist training to support them in meeting the needs of young people. For example, they have recently completed attachment training, but would benefit from some training on radicalisation to ensure their practice is informed by current research and developments in this particular area. New staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme that ensures they have the skills and knowledge to support young people effectively. Regular team meetings, supervision and appraisals strengthen the consistency of care provided by the staff team.

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good

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Internal and external monitoring processes ensure that standards of care are maintained. However, the monthly visits are undertaken by another manager from within the organisation; potentially this compromises their ability to make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding young people.

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good

The manager has addressed the one requirement and two recommendations made at the last inspection. Peer managers do not investigate concerns raised about another manager; instead this is done by a more senior manager within the company. That said, there have been no concerns raised about the manager or the home since the last inspection. The home’s development plan has been reviewed and updated to reflect the objectives for the coming year.

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good

The manager effectively challenges and takes action where she has concerns about the progress of a young person. She ensures that care planning is focused on improving outcomes and reducing risks for young people. She can demonstrate the positive impact that living at the home has had on individual young people.

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good

The home is well maintained and decorated to a good standard. Young people are consulted on the décor and encouraged to personalise their bedrooms to their own taste and style. However, the kitchen units are in need of updating to bring it in line with the rest of the home.

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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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