Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

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 benefit from a warm, structured, highly supportive, caring and nurturing environment. They receive continuity of care and have consistency and stability in their lives. Young people enjoy good relationships with staff, with whom, they have strong and positive attachments.  Young people benefit from effective, good quality support from staff who promote their needs, effectively.  The safety of young people is consistently at the centre of staff practice. Risks associated with them, are well known and understood by staff. The use of clear risk assessment, safe working practice and effective behaviour management strategies contribute to a safe, supportive and protective environment for young people.  Young people benefit from prompt access to the services they need, when they need them. Staff work proactively with other professional agencies and they challenge, if decisions are not in the best interests of young people.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There is evidence of change and improvement for young people. The frequency and intensity of most risk taking behaviours, such as, going missing from care, aggressive behaviour, drug and alcohol use have reduced, considerably.  The needs of young people are complex. There are reoccurring issues with self-harm. Staff work with health professionals, young people’s families and social workers to support young people and protect them harm.  Care planning and practice is highly individualised to meet the needs of individual 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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The care planning standard

ensure that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; and review the placement of each child in the home; and 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. This relates specifically to updating the care plan and pathway plan from the placing authority. (Regulation 14.1) 01/02/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure staff have sufficient understanding of relevant health services, including the functions of the designated nurse for looked-after children in their area. They should support children to navigate these services, advocating on their behalf where necessary and appropriate. This relates specifically to ensuring young people have an annual health needs assessment completed. (The Guide to the quality standards, page 34, paragraph 7.8)

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Recommendations

 have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (The Guide to the quality standards page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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Information about this children's home

This section should outline:  The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 1 young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The home is privately owned and managed.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

06/03/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

good

Young people have good relationships with staff. They enjoy living at the home and have made good progress in relation to their individual starting points across most aspects of their welfare, physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. They benefit from staff who know them well and who promote their needs, effectively. Young people benefit from effective, good quality support from staff.

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good

Staff work sensitively with vulnerable young people and are consistent in their approach. They provide them with a structured, highly supportive, caring and nurturing environment. Young people receive continuity of care and this ensures they have stability and consistency in their lives.

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good

The homes’ Clinical Psychologist reports, ‘I feel staff have provided excellent care and support throughout this period of crisis. They have responded quickly and efficiently to any incidents of significant self-harm and have utilised the emergency services appropriately. They have provided her with sensitive and nurturing care which is evident from the good attachments she has formed with the care staff .’

p.6

good

The frequency and intensity of risk taking behaviours, such as going missing from care, aggressive behaviour, drug and alcohol use have reduced, considerably. Incidents of self-harm, which had reduced significantly, are now an issue, for young people but staff are working pro-actively with young people to control and minimise the risk of self-harm.

p.6

good

The young person’s independent reviewing officer reports, ‘I believe staff have supported (the young person) who has immensely complex and challenging needs, very well. She’s built some good relationships with staff members who, I believe, have responded very appropriately to her missing and self-harming episodes. I believe that they have exerted a reasonable balance of empathy and challenge.’

p.6

good

Staff work proactively and positively with the families of young people, their social workers and health professionals to ensure they receive and benefit from, the best possible help and support. There is evidence of change and improvement for young people. Most noticeably, with their educational achievements. For example, they have experienced excellent attendance at school and have successfully, completed all of their GCSE’s which is a significant achievement.

p.6

good

An independent reviewing officer reports. ‘This is remarkable given the amount of education she has lost over the years.’

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good

Staff actively promote contact for young people to help them sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them. Young people can have overnight stays and family contact is managed sensitively, by staff.

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good

A grandparent reports, ‘from the home, the care couldn’t be better. They have her well-being at the centre and they don’t give up on her, they care about the children…They’re more like family and really do care. The home’s the only place where she has ever been happy. She tells me what she’s been up to, where she’s been, and who has told her off. I don’t honestly think there is anything they could do to improve.’

p.7

good

Young people have access to a range of services to promote their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. They are encouraged to attend their health appointments and are taught about key health issues by staff. They are actively encouraged to take responsibility for their own health so they can lead and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Care planning and practice is highly personalised to meet the needs of individual young people. While relevant plans are provided by the placing authority, they do reflect young people’s changing needs and circumstances. As a result, they need updating to reflect them.

p.7

good

The arrangements for the storage and administration of young people’s medication are managed safely. Medical consent is in place so staff are clear about what health decisions and responsibilities are delegated to them. Their health needs are assessed appropriately, by the Looked After Children’s Nurse. Their next assessment is due, this month.

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good

Staff are trained, skilled and experienced in working with young people, who self- harm. They recognise the triggers and anticipate issues that might lead young people to self-harm. Staff are supported by an experienced clinician in developing effective, risk and behaviour management strategies to help support and protect young people.

p.7

good

Initially, there was a significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of self- harm, as a result, young people were able to return home to live with their family. Unfortunately they went back into crisis and became emotionally vulnerable. Staff have been proactive in supporting them throughout this crisis in what has been a difficult and challenging time.

p.7

good

Partnerships are maintained with other professional agencies, including hospital staff and mental health services, to secure the right treatment and support for young people. However, following a rapid deterioration in their behaviour, the home no longer feels in a position to keep them safe, from actual harm. As a consequence, notice has been served to the placing authority. The home's clinician reports, 'Research and evidence suggests that children’s recovery often occurs in the context of positive relationships with caregivers and for that reason the team have gone above and beyond to try and prevent the placement from breaking down. However, I believe staff have also acknowledged that they might not be able to support her for much longer without more support from health services.'

p.7

good

Staff consistently place the safety and well-being of young people at the centre of their practice, irrespective of the difficulties and challenges this presents. They have shown resilience in managing young people’s high level, risk taking behaviour. That said, this is not sustainable over long periods of time. Staff have managed incidents well, and have shown a real drive and determination to help and support young people.

p.8

good

Staff have worked intensively, with both social care and health professionals to secure improved support, services and treatment for young people. There is evidence of the manager escalating concerns and challenging professional decisions, where they believe they are not in the best interest of young people.

p.8

good

Risk taking behaviours, such as the risk of exploitation, drug use, offending and going missing from care for lengthy periods have reduced, significantly. Should young people go missing, there are effective procedures and arrangements to promote their safe return. The use of clear risk assessment and effective behaviour management strategies are used by staff, to promote the safety of young people.

p.8

good

Staff are clearly focused on developing young people’s self-confidence and self- esteem. They routinely praise them for their achievements and ensure the use of sanctions, are kept to an absolute minimum. Restraint, if used at all, is only ever used as a last resort to protect young people from harm. There have been no restraints since the previous inspection. Young people know how to make a complaint and they have access to advocates to make representations on their behalf. Consequently, their rights are promoted effectively.

p.8

good

Staff are trained in child protection so they know how to protect young people from abuse, exploitation and all other forms of significant harm. Allegations of abuse are reported to the appropriate authorities, charged with a duty to protect young people. Consequently, young people are effectively safeguarded and protected. Young people benefit from a warm, homely, physically safe and appropriately secure environment. Health and safety arrangements are managed effectively, to promote a safe environment for young people. Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities so the needs of young people are effectively, prioritised. However, isolated incidents have not been reported to Ofsted, within the timescales specified. A recommendation is made, in respect of this issue.

p.8

good

There are effective systems for monitoring the activities of the home. External, monitoring visits take place each month and a written report is provided on the conduct of the home. The reports identify the home’s strengths and weaknesses and makes recommendations to secure, the home’s improvement. Any actions raised in relation to the conduct of the home are addressed, by the manager, to promote the smooth operations of the home.

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good

In addition, to the home’s external monitoring activities the Registered Manager also, monitors the performance of the home, to raise standards and improve outcomes for young people. Consequently, there are effective systems to review and improve the standard and quality of young people’s care.

p.9

good

The home benefits from an experienced, well qualified and trained Registered Manager who has been in post since 2010. Additionally, there are qualified senior staff to deputise in the Registered Manager’s absence. The home’s leadership and management arrangements are strong and there is effective, management oversight of the home.

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good

Leaders and managers track young people’s progress in relation to their plans. They develop effective partnerships with other professional agencies to meet the specific of young people. Staff are effectively supervised and supported. They benefit from good quality training and receive regular, professional supervision. This ensures there are positive arrangements for staff to develop their knowledge and skills in caring for young people. This includes, specialist training and support from the home’s clinician to help staff meet the needs of young people.

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good

The home’s Clinical Psychologist reports, ‘The Registered Manager has shown strong leadership and support for the staff, she is always available for them and provides excellent supervision.’

p.9

good

The home meets the aims and objectives of its Statement of Purpose. It provides young people with a good standard of high quality care that makes a positive difference to their lives. Recommendations from the last inspection have been addressed and met. There is improved recording of, and participation in fire drills, to improve staff and young people’s awareness of fire safety.

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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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